Criminal Justice
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Challenging the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Athens-Clarke Youth
Mokah-Jasmine Johnson wears many hats. She teaches GED courses, hosts a podcast and speaks at public events. She is also an outspoken activist and co-founder/president of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM). Much of Johnson’s work centers on combating discrimination and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. The school-to-prison pipeline refers to the…
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Georgia Hate Crimes Legislation Stalls in Senate, Proponents Hope for Passage in 2020
The state’s first hate crimes bill, HB 426, passed the Georgia House but stalled in the Senate and will not be taken up until the next Georgia state legislative session in 2020. Dacula Republican Rep. Chuck Efstration sponsored House Bill 426 in the most recent 2019 legislative session. HB 426…
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Georgia Supreme Court Changes How Breath Tests Are Used As DUI Evidence
Prosecutors are changing how they approach DUI cases after the Georgia Supreme Court declared a key piece of evidence inadmissible. The court ruled that the refusal to submit to a breath test cannot be used against a defendant because it violates protections against self-incrimination. How the Case Affects…
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Georgia Preparatory Academy: The Unsung Heroes in Education
Transitioning into middle and high school is hard: new teachers, difficult classes, and tough social settings. But these difficulties are no match in comparison to the transition from juvenile detention back into the school system. The Georgia Preparatory Academy strives to aid this transition by creating a learning environment that prepares…
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Taking Hits in the Classroom: Teaching at the Georgia Preparatory Academy
The Georgia Preparatory Academy in Milledgeville, Georgia, educates the 26 incarcerated youths at the Milledgeville Youth Detention Center. The GPA provides education that ensures a smooth academic transition back into their previous schools. The teaching staff faces challenges many public school teachers do not have to face: specifically overly-aggressive and…
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Can Foster Homes Keep up with the Increase of Children Entering the Foster Care System?
Dr. John DeGarmo lost his first child 23 years ago. This loss fueled a passion in Dr. DeGarmo to help children who are suffering. He and his wife Dr. Kelly DeGarmo opened their doors to more than 60 foster children. Nationwide the increase in the number of children in need…
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Somebody Call 9-1-1: How it All Works
Strict procedure and technological innovation has allowed 9-1-1 centers, like those in Athens-Clarke-County, to be able to locate exactly where an emergency call is coming from. They can use this real-time information to readily dispatch the appropriate officers to the scene. RapidSOS One of the key tools 9-1-1 dispatchers…
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‘It Was A Big Burden’: Life as a Former-911 Dispatcher
When Megan Bocanegra started working as a 911 dispatcher, she expected it to be temporary. She’d just finished her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and debated whether to attend graduate school. In 2005, she decided to work at the communications center in her hometown of…
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Athens-Clarke County to End Cash Bail, So What are the Alternatives?
According to Mayor Kelly Girtz, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission plan to take steps to end cash bail at the municipal court level this spring. The Municipal Court handles county ordinance violations, state misdemeanor traffic violations, state misdemeanor crimes of theft by shoplifting, possession of less than an ounce…
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Life After Sexual Assault: Finding Ways To Cope With Trauma
Just a little over one year ago, someone sexually assaulted Katie Camp. In the days following her assault, Katie slept on the floor of her bathroom with all of the lights on because it felt safer. She faced night terrors and sleep paralysis most nights and wouldn’t be able to…