• Plymouth District Attorney 2001-Present
• President of the Massachusetts District Attorney's Association (MDAA)-served for 5 terms
• Chair of the Plymouth County Drug Abuse Task Force
• Member of the National District Attorney's Association Opioid Working Group
• Board of Directors Marshfield Boys and Girls Club
• Member of the Bridgewater State University Criminal Justice Advisory Board
• Graduate of Boston College and Suffolk Law School
• Developed the Childhood Trauma Initiative's-Handle With Care program- a nationally recognized program that focuses on overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences, for child victims, child witnesses & Drug Endangered Children
• Main Proponent of Legislation signed into Law that closed existing loopholes regarding the commitment of Sexually Dangerous Persons
• Past Vice President of the Massachusetts District Attorney's Association (MDAA)
• Past Massachusetts State Director of the National District Attorney's Association (NDAA)
• Past Vice President of the National District Attorney's Association (NDAA)
• Past Member of the Board of Directors, Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance (MOVA)
• Past Member of the Board of Directors Signature Health Care
• Past Member of the Board of Directors Old Colony YMCA
• Past Chairman of the Forensic Technology Subcommittee of the Governor's Commission on Criminal Justice Innovation
• Past Member of the Governor's Council on Capital Punishment
• Past Member of the Department of Corrections Advisory Council
• Past Member of the Forensic Sciences Advisory Board
• Past Steering Committee member for the Comprehensive Approaches to Sex Offender Management Program.
• Former Adjunct Professor at Massasoit Community College, Brockton, MA

Awards & Recognitions

• 2021 Appreciation Recipient/White Ribbon Night Ambassador, Love Life Now Foundation, Inc.
• 2019 Community Impact Award, United Way of Greater Plymouth County
• 2018 Leadership in Community Policing, International Association of Chiefs of Police for Plymouth County Outreach, (PCO)
• 2018 White Ribbon Night Ambassador, Love Life Now Foundation, Inc.
• 2016 Impact Award, Bridgewater State University in recognition of his extraordinary work in the region to address the opioid and drug addiction epidemic. 
• 2013 Exceptional Leadership Award, Covanta Energy, in recognition for protecting Plymouth County residents and the environment from the improper disposal of drugs.
• 2010 Excellence in Public Service Award, BAMSI, for his innovative strategies to reduce violent crimes in Plymouth County, along with his highly successful partnership with BAMSI through the Plymouth County Children’s Advocacy Center.
• 2010 White Ribbon Day Champion, Statehouse, Boston, MA
• 2009 Community Service Award, Massachusetts Bar Association in recognition of his service as District Attorney and for the contributions he has made to his community.
• 2007 Gala Star Honoree, in recognition of his support for the Boys & Girls Club.
• 2007 Hopeline Hero Award, Verizon Wireless, for his tremendous support of Verizon Wireless’s Hopeline program to support survivors of domestic violence.
• 2006 Criminal Justice Advisory Board Recognition, Bridgewater State University
• 2006 STOP Safe Teen OUI Prevention Recognition, Silver Lake Regional High School
• 2004 Ally Award, The Ally Foundation
• 2004, 2002 Partnership for Safer Communities, National Night Out Against Crime
• 2004 OFS Summer Sports Program Recognition 
• 2004 Outstanding Local Prosecutor’s Office, Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Achievement Award, US Department of Justice.
• 2003 Community Service Award, Brockton Housing Authority
• 2003 Massachusetts State Police Certificate of Appreciation 

Guns, Drugs and Violence

Since 2001, Tim has served as District Attorney of Plymouth County.  During this time, he has worked to protect and promote the public safety of the nearly 500,000 residents of Plymouth County.  As chief law enforcement officer, and in conjunction with local, state and federal police departments, Tim’s primary responsibility is to enforce the law by investigating and prosecuting criminal cases.  Toward that end, Tim has strived to take guns, drugs and violent felons off the streets, while partnering with agencies and initiating programs to address the social, economic and health challenges facing our communities.  Through his office, Tim has appointed an opioid point prosecutor who is devoted to prosecuting drug trafficking cases and those involving subsequent offenders and gangs.

Tim has been a leader at responding to the Opioid epidemic.  In 2015, in an effort to address the opioid crisis, Tim partnered with Sheriff Joe McDonald to create the county’s Drug Abuse Task Force.  The Task Force serves as the clearinghouse for coordinating law enforcement efforts, education, overdose prevention, outreach and data dissemination.

 In 2017, the Task Force partnered with all 28 police departments to develop and implement Plymouth County Outreach (PCO).  PCO is a police assisted recovery intervention program where a police officer and a recovery coach conduct outreach visits to victims in the hours after an overdose. 

To address violence in the county, Tim has increased law enforcement suppression efforts by administering the federally supported Project Safe Neighborhoods and Weed and Seed programs.  Strategies implemented include the vertical prosecution of violent gun cases from high crime neighborhoods, Ceasefire offender notification panels, and a partnership with the Brockton Police Department to install ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system.  Through the office, Tim has implemented a Gang and Community Prosecutions Unit to focus on the most dangerous individuals affecting violence in the area.

In 2015, in response to an uptick in violence in the City of Brockton, Tim created the Safe Streets Task Force.  Safe Streets Task Force is a coordinated effort led by Tim, working in conjunction with law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal level to reduce gun violence in Brockton.  Through prevention, enforcement and re-entry services, Safe Streets helps to keep the lines of communication open between Brockton residents and members of law enforcement.

Protecting Children

Tim has worked to put children in Plymouth County first, establishing a full-service, one-stop Children's Advocacy Center for child victims of sexual and physical abuse or severe neglect.  Tim and his staff are doing ground breaking work with drug endangered children.  Training members of law enforcement and school faculty in the county and around the state on how to identify and support students with Adverse Childhood Experiences.

As District Attorney, Tim holds regular informative trainings for law enforcement, schools and the community.  Those include trainings on opioids and human trafficking investigations, mandated reporter courses and grant writing workshops.

Protecting Us

Tim has been a strong leader and voice for the residents of Plymouth County.  He helped draft legislation that calls for a prison sentence for those convicted of firing a weapon at a police officer and was a main proponent of legislation to close loopholes in the commitment of Sexually Dangerous Persons.

Tim also formed a Human Trafficking Task Force to improve investigations and prosecution of human trafficking cases, and get services for victims.

Tim utilizes his role as District Attorney to promote positive change in the community.  His Diversion program addresses first-time offenders who may have faced a number of difficulties and pressures associated with growing up.  The program has been successful in putting the lives of young men and women back on track, and allow them alternatives to criminal records.

Tim utilizes special courts, such as Drug Court and Veteran’s Court to hold offender’s accountable but also offer help to break the cycle and stay out of jail.  The Plymouth County District Attorneys Office is currently participating in a district court pilot program to screen applications for complaints in an effort to improve court efficiency.

Another important part of District Attorney Cruz’s job as a prosecutor is the protection and support of victims of crime. In any given year, the office will meet with thousands of victims and the office has 18 victim witness advocates to assist victims of crime in many ways.

Outside the courtroom, District Attorney Cruz is working in the community.  He and his staff conduct Cyber Safety trainings and Drug and Alcohol Awareness presentations to students and parents, so that they make smart choices outside of the classroom.  District Attorney Cruz works to protect seniors in conjunction with the county’s TRIAD programs.  During the pandemic, District Attorney Cruz hosted regular virtual trainings for seniors to get them information and resources on how to protect themselves against scammers.

District Attorney Cruz supports restorative justice programs and partners with the Plymouth County Sheriff to hold job fairs for those who have been justice involved.  Last year, District Attorney Cruz established a Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), to investigate claims of wrongful conviction or actual innocence.