Gwinnett County Sheriff + District Attorney Race
The Sheriff and District Attorney races in Georgia this year, specifically in Gwinnett County, have so much at stake for our communities. Gwinnett residents deserve to have a Sheriff and District Attorney who represent our values while prioritizing the needs of all constituents, irrespective of race, creed, or immigration status. Both of these seats are up for election this year, and it’s time for our communities to take a stand against bigotry and hate. During such a polarizing time where communities of color often feel as though we are under attack from the very individuals meant to protect us, our local officials must realize that their election into office depends on their constituents.
As the top law enforcement officer in a county, the Sheriff has a great deal of responsibility they are accountable for. The Sheriff’s Office’s responsibilities include but are not limited to: transporting inmates, maintaining custody of incarcerated persons for court, conducting investigations, and serving arrest warrants. The actions of the deputies in the Sheriff’s department directly impact their communities, specifically community members of color. According to a study done by Pew Research, Black adults are about five times as likely as whites to say they’ve been unfairly stopped by police because of their race or ethnicity (DeSilver, et al). The next Gwinnett County Sheriff should prioritize the protection of all constituents by ending the harmful, racist policies that target communities of color. Unfortunately, the current Sheriff’s department upholds policies that disproportionately target Black and Brown people, and they maintain anti-immigration policies that sustain mass incarceration. With this election, Gwinnett voters have a chance to take matters into our own hands and adjust policing policies to protect everyone in the community.
There are a few key issues in the Sheriff’s race that voters should be aware of. A huge topic of conversation has been the implementation of the 287(g) program in Gwinnett county, which is an agreement between local police departments and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce federal immigration law. This program permits police officers to identify, process, and detain immigration offenders that they encounter during their regular law enforcement routine. In other words, regular Gwinnett County officers within the Sheriff’s Department get to act as ICE agents. Unfortunately, the implementation of 287(g) has only undermined public safety amongst our immigrant community members, thus increasing fear of deportation while causing hesitancy prior to reporting a crime (Hermann). Additionally, the future Sheriff has the ability to end solitary confinement, which experts compare to torture. The United Nations states that prolonged solitary confinement of more than 15 consecutive days is regarded as a form of torture (United Nations News). Both Sheriff candidates have been staunch on their positions with these issues. If elected, Democrat Keybo Taylor commits to ending 287(g) and solitary confinement, while his opponent, Republican Luis Solis commits to upholding 287(g) and solitary confinement. We have a responsibility to elect a sheriff that will listen to all constituents while cultivating a prosperous relationship with community members.
Along with the Sheriff’s race, the District Attorney’s race is just as important for a constituency such as Gwinnett county. The District Attorney (DA) is an elected official that serves as the chief prosecutor in the county. The DA typically reviews police arrest reports, decides whether to bring criminal charges against arrested people, and prosecutes criminal cases in the court. The DA’s authority to decide which charges are filed against someone who is guilty of committing a crime is significant enough of a reason to raise concerns about who makes these decisions. With the growing concern of mass incarceration in our nation that has a history of anti-Blackness and systematically upholding racism, it is important that a community as diverse as Gwinnett county have a say in who is making these decisions. If Gwinnett county's next District Attorney commits to protecting all members of our community, there’s a chance that unfair charges will not be brought up against convicted people, and a proper solution can be implemented rather than excessive jail or prison sentences. This year, Patsy Austin-Gatson (Democrat) is running against incumbent Danny Porter (Republican), who has been running for District Attorney unopposed since 1992.
When it comes to the DA’s responsibilities, a pressing concern amongst Gwinnett residents has been the hindrance of the cash bail system. Cash bail perpetuates inequities that are excessively felt by lower income and communities of color (Caruso). Those who can’t afford to pay for bail have to spend time in jail before their trial date. Spending even a few days in jail can result in people losing their jobs, homes, and even custody of their children. Another pressing issue that excessively impacts communities of color is the enforcement of misdemeanor marijuana possession cases, which is known to impact Black people 3.64 times more likely than their white counterparts (American CIvil Liberties Union). States continue wasting billions of dollars that could have been allocated elsewhere in marijuana possession arrests and cases. When people are arrested for carrying a small amount of marijuana, it can have collateral consequences that affect their eligibility for public housing, job opportunities, child custody decisions, and immigration status. Porter supports bail reform to ensure fair and impartial resolutions to a case and has no response in regards to misdemeanor marijuana charges. Austin-Gatson seeks to reform the cash-bail system and reduce pretrial detentions, and she commits to ending the enforcement of misdemeanor marijuana possession in all cases (Edwards).
Determining the next Sheriff and District Attorney in a district that is appreciated for its thriving diverse community like Gwinnett County, is crucial. It is imperative that we vote for a candidate who will ensure equal opportunity for all residents, regardless of immigration status, race, or creed. With policies that have a history of targeting communities of color, we need to make our voices heard and elect people who prioritize the wellness of everyone in Gwinnett rather than a select few. In order to ensure a thriving future for us all, we implore you to make the right decision when casting your vote for Gwinnett’s chief law enforcement officer and the top prosecuting attorney on November 3rd.
Resources
DeSilver, Drew, et al. “10 Things We Know about Race and Policing in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 17 Aug. 2020, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/06/03/10-things-we-know-about-race-and-policing-in-the-u-s/.
Hermann, Anneliese. “287(g) Agreements Harm Individuals, Families, and Communities, but They Aren't Always Permanent.” Center for American Progress, 12 Dec. 2018, www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2018/04/04/448845/287g-agreements-harm-individuals-families-communities-arent-always-permanent/.
United Nations News “Connecticut Prison Warning: Prolonged Solitary Confinement May 'Amount to Torture', UN Expert Warns | | UN News.” United Nations, United Nations, news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1058311.
Catherine Caruso·July 6, 2020, et al. “How Money Bail Perpetuates Inequality in the Criminal Justice System.” Liberal Currents, 18 Aug. 2020, www.liberalcurrents.com/how-money-bail-perpetuates-inequality-in-the-criminal-justice-system/.
American Civil Liberties Union. “New ACLU Report: Despite Marijuana Legalization Black People Still Almost Four Times More Likely to Get Arrested.” American Civil Liberties Union, 16 Apr. 2020, www.aclu.org/press-releases/new-aclu-report-despite-marijuana-legalization-black-people-still-almost-four-times.
Edwards, Ezekiel. “NEW REPORT: Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Marijuana Arrests.” American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, 9 July 2018, www.aclu.org/blog/smart-justice/sentencing-reform/new-report-billions-dollars-wasted-racially-biased-marijuana.