(Photo: Reginald Duncan / 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. 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. 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 city’s criminal justice system. No other time in American history have women made up all of a city’s first set of criminal justice leadership.
This amazing first was not planned. However, it is a testament to the reason the city was founded in the first place – self-reliance and local control that properly represents the community in which they serve.
“Our goal is to ensure justice for everyone,” Sellers said. “However, as African American women we are sensitive to the history of criminal justice in our country. We want to be an example of how to do things right.”
Under Sellers’s leadership, the demographics of the court are not the only progressive attributes. Incorporated in the foundation of the City of South Fulton’s municipal court policies are details not found in other systems that have existed for years, including guaranteed access to an attorney, a robust diversion program that is infused into the court process, and overall respect for victims and the accused alike.
Sellers insists on courtroom decorum that shows respect to the accused, victims, and visitors. Likewise, the South Fulton court insist on giving each person and their case the respect they deserve from the moment they walk in the door.
Further, Sellers spends much of her time ensuring everyone fully understand what is happening in the system. The hope is to restore faith in the justice system for many of the citizens who have had less than stellar experiences in other courts.
The city’s pre-trial diversion program will allow offenders to keep a clean record in exchange for community service, education, and counseling where appropriate. The diversion program, “Second Chance South Fulton,” is paid for by the court budget and overseen by the City Solicitor, LaDawn “LBJ” Jones.
Many cities of this size do not have diversion programs.
“One of the primary purposes of laws is to protect citizens and the city,” Jones explained. “You can do that without sending everyone to jail or enforce high fees. Most people do better when they know better.”
Another progressive component of the court system is the appointment of the public defender. In most jurisdictions, a public defender is only assigned after someone proves they cannot afford a private attorney.
In South Fulton, everyone that appears before the court has an opportunity to receive appointed counsel prior to making a decision on their case.
“Although we handle misdemeanors, the cases can have serious long-term effects on the person accused,” Powell said. “Having an opportunity to advise clients ensures justice is received by all.”
In all matters, whether it is the operation of the probation department or bond considerations, the city, as well as the rights of the victims and defendant are considered.
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.
“What a great amazing story” Wow! I need to start lookng at properties in the area for a home. I would love to be amoung the poeple of this community and make it better. As She said “if you know better you do better” I will keep my eyes on this city for becoming a future resident and help these sisters with their vision by all means.
It is so nice to finally see a change in this country. Thank you South Fulton for paving the way. God is Good!!!!
Shouldn’t the headline read “…holds all the reins…” rather than “reigns” ?
The news is enlightening and significant, but modified by a disappointing use of the very language meant to attract us.
Well….black women ARE Queens.
So the use of the word REIGNS is appropriate. Lol
Lisa, the correct spelling is reins for this caption.
This story makes me very happy. The headline, though, maddens me because the word you need here is “reins,” not “reigns.”
Copy-editing is apparently an archaic art these days.
We welcome all feedback, Ms. Galloway, even comments like yours that are meant to excoriate, rather than uplift. Copy editing is not a lost art at all. This one just slipped by us! We acknowledge our humanity along with our capacity to make mistakes, so we’ll use this as a teachable moment for our team and continue our quest to achieve perfection. We hope we haven’t lost your readership, though. Thanks again for your thoughtful reproach!
Also, it should be “Georgia law school graduate and the *city’s* first chief judge,” not “the cities first chief judge.”
Perhaps, you can volunteer your services for the good of the community.
Excellent response to a condemning reaction. Well played. 🙂
I am excited to read about this, so uplifting, I will be keeping my eyes on South Fulton as things get off the ground, nothing is ever easy, I pray this brings about great things that we can all as a country be excited about!!
So much for diversity???
Did you ever notice that diversity and multiculturalism are wonderful where white people are involved? Blacks can be openly racist, and no one cares.
Karma is a itch!
OK but could be better.
Unintended result? Hardly! The absence of Black men is conspicuous. What, “no qualified applicants”?
First of all… please educate yourself about the accurate meaning of racism.
affinitymagazine.us/2017/02/19/dear-white-people-your-dictionary-definition-of-racism-is-wrong/
Next… understand that diversity is the brilliance of creation and that what you’re really attacking is your privileged perception of a lack of inclusion. We, melanin deprived citizens, collectively and individually, seem to react as if we’ve been assaulted at our soul when we see the balance changing as people of color, especially our citizens who are the descendants of the African people our ancestors enslaved, are celebrated and truly included in the foundational fabric of our communities and nation.
True inclusion demands the annihilation of supremacy in every form… this is inclusion and the balance that it is bringing about will make whiteness less prominent… HALLELUJAH!!
I celebrate you South Folsom and I continue to hold me fellow white citizen’s in love, prayer and accountability as we heal our national soul wound.
In the service of Love,
Rev. Rafe
I hope to hear more about the City of South Fulton’s progress in the future. These comments exemplify one of the challenges this city will face. While we work, others destroy the momentum with one word. Today, it happens to be ‘reins’. We need to support these women warriors for justice in any way possible. This may include asking the harried to take two seats while we build.
Grace… strategic systemic GRACE versus pecuniary compensation and effectiveness consults to insure city administration full benefits; top federal grants, State and project support. Per original Congressional (E. Norton office) recommendations made in 1994 for application to D.C. Government wide use. Retired Activist, Lee B. Mack…
I enjoy seeing my sisters make history and suceed. However, there needs to be some diversity in terms of race and sex. I hopeful that this will happen as South Fulton grows and succeeds.
why should you think they need white folks to make things just.
Why would you think they need black folks to make things just?
Why is is necessary to have diversity with race and sex? Ok, Black men yes, but why race? Black prople have been disenfranchised for far too long a d now here we ha e an opportunity to dominate and you think there should be diversity. Well, Mr. Leo, im sorry to inform you that Diversity has not worked and likely will never work to where there is fairness all around. When black children attend diverse schools, they’re often not treated fairly when it comes to the grading system and for sure discipline. Black students are suspended two times more than their white counterparts; Black employees are often passed on promotions when theyve met all criteria, showed exemplary skills etc for a White person who may not necessarily meet the requirement but because he/she is white get the promotion. Diversity of race isn’t always the best solution.
You said they need black men? I hope you aren’t getting it in your head to hamper or try to sabotage these black women in high positions just to try to help black men. Black men do not do the same for black women. Please get that in your head. Black men look out for themselves and the black woman is expected to look out for them instead of other black women.
The only people who look out for black women are black women. Look around. These six BW have worked VERY hard for the positions they have. Do not try to mess things up for them for black men because BM will not do that for us.
May I ask if all these wonderful ladies achieved their relevant positions through merit and not simply because they are female and black.
such a shitty, misogynistic thing to say, and completely expected to come from a man. There’s just no way in your brain that all of these black women could be qualified, right?
There is no way in our brains that these black women are the ONLY qualified people. No Spanish? Asian? White? Not a single male? Literally no other type of person was more qualified than any of these women? Does that really make sense to you?
Makes PERFECT sense. You might want to spend your time more factually by going back 600 years forward to TODAY and telling ALL of those WHITE MALES what you just said to us about the segregated SYSTEM they created and used to privilege themselves & white WIMEN & whites in general for generations!!! GENERATIONS !!!
We don’t & won’t emulate your past behavior and WILL include people of COLOR THAT HAVE THE SAME SENSE Of HUMANITY THAT WE DO!!!!
Thank you! Well said! I wany to know why these people are complaining when Blacks havr neen and still are being disenfranchised in almost all asprcts of our lives. Im sure this young man doesn’t complain about corporate America being dominated by middle age White men holding all of the executive positions, or the court systems in other cities where they again hold high positions. I know he believe all white men who dominate in executive positions earned their way to the top…Hmmm! Slave mentality to believe any and all black is given to us and not achieved based on merit. Same with others who may complain, no one says anything about walking into a Miami-Dade government office and all holding high positions are Spanish!
This is nice. But would like to see more diversity.
Why? After 600 plus years of ALL WHITE CONTROL & subjugation Of people of color, I’m ecstatic. I have NO DOUBT THAT BLACK WOMEN will NEVER be the same purveyors of discrimination& EVIL that whites have been. Please don’tjudge Us using white privileged standards!!!!
Well said!
THESE ARE MULES. THE DE FACTO U.S. DEMOCRACY (WHICH WAS NEVER SANCTIONED BECAUSE THIS IS A REPUBLIC: ART. 4 SEC 4 ) ARE USING THESE WOMEN TO CONTINUE/FURTHER SUBJUGATE THERE PEOPLE BY DENATIONALIZING THEM AND MAKING THEM 14TH AMENDMENT CORPORATE CITIZENS SO ALL THERE PROPERTY AND INHERITANCES ARE OWNED BY THE CORPORATE STATE. SELLOUTS.
Why only here?
I’m all for diversity but I’m also for taking giant leaps forward wherever possible for people who have been historically left out of the picture; women and people of color.
I do find it interesting that white people only tend to notice when white people are missing. It makes me wonder if the people calling out the lack of diversity would make the same comment if the South Fulton’s justice department photo was published and everyone was white.
Yes, very interesting. Iys that white privilege aytitude that brings them to say such things, but its also very threatening for them to see people of color, especially women rising. On the other hand, blacks who are proclaiming “diversity would be nice” are just those with trained minds to believe suspicion when it comes to such and cry out they rose to the top nased on color and npt merit. Slave mentalities are still strong…Whites are supreme to them!
Yes, very interesting. The white privilege attitude that brings them to say such things, but it’s also very threatening for them to see people of color, especially women rising. On the other hand, blacks who are proclaiming “diversity would be nice” are just those with trained minds to believe suspicion when it comes to such and cry out they rose to the top nased on color and npt merit. Slave mentalities are still strong…Whites are supreme to them!
After hearing horrible news every single day from Trump and all this racism from police to every day Life, it feels good to hear this.
Where is the diversity? I see all women. Are there no qualified black men in South Fulton? If the picture were of all men…people would point that out out and rightly so. I guess the phrase, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” should be replaced with “what’s good for the goose is the best thing ever”
I think the pun is reigns because they are ruling
Indeed!
This is sooooo amazing!!! Congratulations to all of you ladies!! Wow, we set the tone in a lot of things! YAS!
Whether or not the appointment of these women was planned (my understanding of the article leaves me believing it was not), it is inspiring and hopeful to see. There is alot to be said for positive discrimination towards groups who still are brushed over in favour of white middle class males. It is particularly heartwarming in the criminal justice system in which there has been a policy of mass incarceration for the past several decades, where black people are 40% of the prison population and yet only 6.5% of the American population. Perhaps, with so many black women in positions of power, the balance will start to be redressed, the numbers reduced, the innocent left to live their lives, the guilty educated and rehabilitated.
I send my congratulations to all of these women and wish them well in their challenging roles. May South Fulton be a beacon of hope for all those wrongly incarcerated, and the beginning of change that sees black people being treated with respect equality.
This is so amazing! I am so proud of you all! I want to live there.
This is a wonderful story. It needs to be proofread, though.