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In the City of South Fulton's justice system, black women hold all the reins
In the City of South Fulton’s justice system, black women hold all the reins
June 04, 2018
By Marshall A. Latimore | The Atlanta Voice
As America waits to see if Georgia will make history by electing the first African American woman governor in the country this November, African American women in one of Georgia’s newest cities are already making U.S. history. Only a year after the creation of the City of South Fulton, Georgia’s fifth largest city is breaking American barriers.
In January 2018, the city’s Municipal Court began operating and in March 2018 the city’s police services officially began. The city is the first city in American history where every criminal justice department head is an African American woman. Chief of Police Sheila Rogers is a career law enforcement professional with more than twenty-six years experience. Chief Rogers is the city’s first police chief and one of a few women police chief around the country. Chief Judge Tiffany Carter Sellers is a University of Georgia law school graduate and the City’s first chief judge. Judge Sellers was selected through a panel of experienced judges from the surrounding community. Judge Sellers hired and appointed the Court Administrator, Lakesiya Cofield, and the City’s first Chief Court Clerk, Ramona Howard. Also appointed to represent the two equally important components of any criminal justice system were two attorneys, City Solicitor LaDawn “LBJ” Jones, who prosecutes the cases and City Public Defender Viveca Famber Powell, who defends those accused of crimes.
Together these African American women make up all the portions of the criminal justice system in the new city. No other time in American history has black women been appointed to the top position in every department in an entire cities criminal justice system. No other time in American history have women made up all of a city first.
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The City of South Fulton will grow as citizens looking for a place to settle chose to live in a community where they are reassured that the police and courts in their city will be partners in making the community better. In the City of South Fulton’s justice system, African Americans are far less likely to be arrested, prosecuted, or detained in custody because of incidents like those seen in recent news. These assurances help law-abiding citizens, particularly African Americans, feel less tense when they see blue lights in their rearview. In addition to making history, South Fulton may become an example for the rest of the country.
https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/in-the-city-of-south-fultons-justice-system-black-women-hold-all-the-reigns/
June 04, 2018
By Marshall A. Latimore | The Atlanta Voice
As America waits to see if Georgia will make history by electing the first African American woman governor in the country this November, African American women in one of Georgia’s newest cities are already making U.S. history. Only a year after the creation of the City of South Fulton, Georgia’s fifth largest city is breaking American barriers.
In January 2018, the city’s Municipal Court began operating and in March 2018 the city’s police services officially began. The city is the first city in American history where every criminal justice department head is an African American woman. Chief of Police Sheila Rogers is a career law enforcement professional with more than twenty-six years experience. Chief Rogers is the city’s first police chief and one of a few women police chief around the country. Chief Judge Tiffany Carter Sellers is a University of Georgia law school graduate and the City’s first chief judge. Judge Sellers was selected through a panel of experienced judges from the surrounding community. Judge Sellers hired and appointed the Court Administrator, Lakesiya Cofield, and the City’s first Chief Court Clerk, Ramona Howard. Also appointed to represent the two equally important components of any criminal justice system were two attorneys, City Solicitor LaDawn “LBJ” Jones, who prosecutes the cases and City Public Defender Viveca Famber Powell, who defends those accused of crimes.
Together these African American women make up all the portions of the criminal justice system in the new city. No other time in American history has black women been appointed to the top position in every department in an entire cities criminal justice system. No other time in American history have women made up all of a city first.
<...>
The City of South Fulton will grow as citizens looking for a place to settle chose to live in a community where they are reassured that the police and courts in their city will be partners in making the community better. In the City of South Fulton’s justice system, African Americans are far less likely to be arrested, prosecuted, or detained in custody because of incidents like those seen in recent news. These assurances help law-abiding citizens, particularly African Americans, feel less tense when they see blue lights in their rearview. In addition to making history, South Fulton may become an example for the rest of the country.
https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/in-the-city-of-south-fultons-justice-system-black-women-hold-all-the-reigns/
This was a subject of discussion on Joe Madison's show this morning when a caller alerted to it. There were some callers who currently live there and who gave a brief background on how this city was formed (via combining previously unincorporated towns and land) and the debate around doing such. Doing some quick research on this - the state had to approve it (and did) and there was a 1 year waiting period before the city was "officially" up and running (as of January 2018). The new City Council wanted to name it "Renaissance" but the mayor vetoed the name change due to issues that would come up regarding current contracts, etc., but the name change issue is still active depending on any next steps by the City Council.
Link to city website here - http://www.cityofsouthfultonga.gov/
In any case, this is a place to watch to see how they do.
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Mahalo for letting us know about this, BRDS!
Some of the things they are suggesting for improving the justice system are excellent and the hope is that this will help.
The new D.A. in Philly was elected to do similar. The institutionalized racist system of justice, with disparate targeting, charging, and sentencing (including lack of resources that results in jail time because the accused is unable to make bail or pay fines) is so entrenched, that it will take time to reform, but you gotta start somewhere!
