Who or what inspired you to get involved in politics?
The results of the 2016 election were a motivator for me to get involved. I had never been involved in politics before, but knew I needed to do something so I participated in a democratic committee retreat in Athens and the rest is history. Since then, I’ve been inspired to get into good, necessary trouble by US Representative John Lewis; to look at the long arc of the universe that bends towards justice by MLK Jr., and be a fierce defender of the marginalized- by the Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. But my biggest inspiration comes from the young people I see every day – from my own grandchildren to the school kids I engage with when I visit their schools to the young musicians, dancers, and athletes throughout our community. They are our future. We are building a safe community for them, in the future.
How would you assess the performance of our current DA’s office?
The office is beginning to thrive with new staff who bring new energy and new skills. We are leaner than ever and have met every challenge with determination. Even with our limited staff and resources we have served over 15,000 victims in the past 3 years and resolved over 8,000 cases - including getting rid of cases that did not need to be prosecuted and prioritizing the ones that seriously impact our safety. We’ve implemented reforms, like restorative justice in our juvenile system, as well as created an Apprenticeship program, and a new social work internship program. We created a community services division to partner with our community for prevention, intervention, and re-entry services.
The office has evolved and so have I, I’m not the same person I was 4 years ago – I’ve learned and grown to be a better District Attorney. It takes time to learn the system from the inside – who the players are, what the policies really mean, and the nuances of the law and procedure, and then to understand where and how to make the changes that are required.
This hasn’t been easy and the office has struggled at times. We are only human and it is normal for any elected official in their first term they learn from the inside what true institutional change looks like, as well as the opportunities and restrictions to do the job well. We learn from each challenge and implement procedures and training so that we succeed in the future.
Considering we operate in a “fishbowl” where everything we do is scrutinized, and due to the political climate we were never given an honest chance to show what we could accomplish, I am proud of my team and am confident the community will soon see the great work I see every day.
You can see our 2023 Impact Report for more: bit.ly/3SNAPCB
Which reforms or alternatives would you implement to maintain a fair court process? Why?
I am proud to say we have already implemented a number of reforms since I’ve been in office.
I've implemented restorative justice in our juvenile division and a new social work intern program, as well as a community outreach division that makes sure everyone’s voice is heard.
· I partnered with the Georgia Justice Project and our Solicitor General to open a Second Chance Desk for record restrictions and more.
· I partnered with the Southern Center for Human Rights to do 2 re-sentencings – another 2 with private defense attorneys – and working on 3 more. These re-sentencings allow us to look at old cases and rectify past injustices such as over-sentencing.
· I partnered with the Vera Institute of Justice to lead professional trainings for my attorneys; and with Innovation Justice Labs on data projects to inform our decision and policy making.
· I put together a proposal to create a Community Justice Center, based on evidence-based models, that would give the community more control over how to resolve conflicts in their neighborhoods without a judge, prosecutor, or jury present. This is a dream I hope one day can be implemented in our community.
· I did all this as our circuit was in the midst of a pandemic that changed the way work is perceived and justice demanded.
How do you feel about the concerns of erosion of law and order in the court system?
Change is hard for people, and systemic change means we need to change people’s mindset. I reject the notion there has been an erosion of law and order. We still have laws, and according to the Athens-Clarke Police crime is down 6.8% over the previous year.
Policies and procedures are still being followed in terms of prosecution. We evaluate each case that comes into the office – consider the seriousness of the crime, the background of the defendant, their possible criminal history, the impact on public safety, and the facts of the case. Each case is unique and requires due diligence. We have more options than ever on how we can hold someone accountable – for example, a mother who worked full time but wanted to take responsibility for the crime she committed. We worked with the defendant so she could serve her sentence on the weekends when she had access to child care. This meant that the family could stay together and the children did not end up in the foster system. Using alternatives reduces recidivism and restores justice. It helps people become stable so they can provide for themselves and their families. In the end, it makes our community safer and more sustainable.
Describe how you plan to reinforce a sense of safety in our community.
The ACCPD shared a December 31, 2023, report which indicated that crimes against persons and crimes against property are down by 6.8% and 2.6%, respectively. Aggravated Assaults are down 11.5% and Burglaries are down 31.1%. This is the second year in a row that Aggravated Assaults have decreased more than 10%. This includes shootings in our area – currently down almost 22%. These facts show that our community is safer than the current narrative. These statistics demonstrate that humane polices like reform or fair and just prosecution do not increase crime in our communities. The opposite effect is happening. We are becoming safer, and we are proving the old “tough on crime” approach has done much more harm than good. These numbers also point to the fact that safety is not just in the purview of the DA’s office. It requires partnership with other law enforcement agencies and the community as a whole.
I will also continue to recruit experienced prosecutors who can focus on serious major crimes like rape, child abuse, and murder, and fight for resources to hire and maintain them in a highly competitive field. We will continue to make training a priority area for our team. The more we know the better we can serve justice. And last, I will provide opportunities for the public to learn about our efforts and successes, so they can feel assured that our community is a safe place to live work, and raise a family.
Some would say this country creates and profits from mental health problems. As a district attorney, what role does mental health awareness play in your prosecution?
Mental health problems are a reality we face every day in the criminal legal system. It is an important factor for all in my office to be aware of so we can better serve justice in our community. Most times this topic focuses on defendants’ mental health but we also have to pay attention to the issue of mental health and our victims. Victims are any individuals who have been harmed by the actions of a defendant. They are the ones who suffer the direct hurt – whether physical, mental, emotional, or psychological. They may have lost a child, lost their property, their innocence and sense of well-being, spent days or months in a hospital, or years in counseling. In this conversation let us not forget their suffering, what they are going through, how they have to learn to heal, one excruciating day at a time after a devastating incident. We have a victims’ compensation fund that is funded by the fines and fees paid by defendants. It is limited in what it can provide for victims, but it helps pay for funeral expenses, hospital bills, and counseling – up to a point. No amount of funds is enough if we do not have the providers for the services needed. We are sorely lacking in licensed professionals who can help our victims, especially children. I encourage people to study, prepare, and become licensed psychologists and therapists. I am proud that I have made social work backgrounds a preference in our victim advocates, so they can understand and be better advocates for our victims.
Describe how you have distinguished whether a defendant's acts were a result of mental illness or criminal intent.
We look at the facts first and note how the defendant was acting, and what they were saying; we have conversations with the defense attorneys who will usually let us know of any diagnosis; the defense may put in a motion to have the defendant’s competency evaluated with the DBHDD (Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities) and we receive a report with their findings to let us know if the defendant is competent to stand trial and if not whether they can be restored to competency. I’ve had a number of conversations with defense attorneys about the risk for someone who is mentally ill to get stuck in the system through the cycle of competency proceedings. Currently, the DBHDD is short-staffed and is behind in completing evaluations. This delays the judicial process and makes it difficult for defendants to get the services they need.
If you had to rate 1-10 what would you rate Athens district attorney's office prosecution performance when it comes to dealing with defendants that suffer from mental health issues? Why?
I would rate us an 8. We do everything we can when we know what the issue is. but we do not always get the information about the defendant’s mental health and when we do we are limited as to what can be done with the individual. There are not enough mental health providers in the system and in our community (as I’ve already stated). Some of the ones we have require insurance or are just too expensive. Even with the Accountability Courts that we have – Felony Drug Court, Veteran’s Court, and Treatment and Accountability Court (TAC) – there are not enough spots, and eligibility factors limit how many can participate. These are long-term programs (18-24 months) that have a number of commitments participants must meet.
Tell us about your career in the courtroom. What have you experienced that can convince us that you are prepared for the responsibilities that come with becoming a district attorney?
I think there is a misunderstanding about the responsibilities of a District Attorney as only being focused in the courtroom. The skill set required to prosecute in a courtroom is very different from the skill set required to be the District Attorney and run the office. The last four years have given me a vast number of opportunities to hone those leadership and management skills required of a DA, as well as my skills in the courtroom. For court, you need to evaluate the evidence, spend hours reviewing law enforcement body cam (Axon) or surveillance video, listen to phone calls, and conduct interviews with victims and witnesses. You are looking backward trying to put together the pieces of what happened in the past. You are arguing legal motions in court, and presenting what you are given by law enforcement to grand juries and trial juries. You are digging deep into legal precedent as cases progress to the Court of Appeals. But as District Attorney, you are also ensuring that justice gets served by leading a team of dedicated professionals. As a District Attorney you are responsible for getting the resources and tools they need to get the job done – that means knowing how to navigate the budget process of two different county governments (in my case); it means you know how to nurture relationships in and out of the courthouse because you understand that what happens inside the courthouse affects our community and what happens in our community affects what happens in the courthouse; it means you can communicate clearly with the public to educate them about the system and the changes that need to happen; it means you can bring people together and provide training and mentorship opportunities for their professional development; it means you can see the overarching picture of this system, its various tentacles and their reach, and put in place policies and procedures to ensure the work is fair and just; it means you face the media and the public scrutiny every day and shield your people from the nonsense so they continue doing the good, necessary work they are doing. The responsibility of the District Attorney is to be the representative not just of the State, but of the people, and to serve justice as the people want it served.
What imprint do you believe the proposed police training facility in Atlanta will leave on law enforcement throughout Georgia and here in Athens? Why?
I’m not sure what you mean by imprint. There is a reality that to do good justice work in the community we need the right resources – that takes money. Many of the facilities that currently house aspects of the justice system are old, outdated, and no longer effective or even healthy. For example, our own local courthouse. Every community has to determine what resources they want to commit to the justice system, what they want to fund, and how they want to fund it. It is the community’s money and they should have a say in what it is spent on and how it is spent. Budgets are value statements. What a community spends its money on, tells you where it puts its priorities. The Atlanta authorities talk about the facility in terms of providing a space for training. Is training important? I would say yes, training is very important. You want people to do a good job, and training them is one way to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to do so. Saying that, I do believe that government should not silence the voices of the community and violence against protestors is not a solution. Killing a protestor is never an acceptable collateral consequence.
Comments