Criminal Justice
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An Inside Look at Addiction Recovery Stigma
“What’s right with you?” That’s the first thing people hear when they go to an addiction recovery workshop hosted by the nonprofit People Living in Recovery. Tucked inside the second floor of a Christian ministry in Athens, PLR provides a safe, positive space for people on the journey to recovery.…
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Forensic Sketch Artist Who Sketched Recent Suspect Has Solving Crimes Down to an Art
When a crime is committed, Kelly Lawson takes matters into her own hands. Kelly Lawson is a forensic sketch artist at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. And while the job may look fun, it’s far from easy. Lawson has her victims recall memories from some of the most traumatizing moments…
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Forensic Medical Exams: A Look Into the ‘Rape Kit’
A forensic medical exam (FME) is an examination offered to survivors of sexual assault after an assault has occurred. An FME is designed to meet the medical needs of a survivor while collecting any forensic evidence. Often called “Rape Kits” in popular media, FMEs can be provided at a hospital,…
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How Authorities are Trying to Fix Local Student Misconduct Problems
Student misconduct and discipline measures remain upfront concerns for the Clarke County School District. What They’re Doing “To address discipline, there’s many different approaches,” said Dawn Meyers, associate superintendent of policy and school support services at the CCSD. “The best way to address it is through having a positive…
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Favor House: A Mission Against Addiction, Recidivism
Rev. Dr. Charles McDonald was very quick to tell me that Favor House Ministries is not a halfway house. To its residents, typically numbering in the dozens at a time, Favor House may be a last resort, a longshot opportunity to salvage their lives and relationships. Inversely, it may mark…
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CSI Effect: Television’s Portrayal of Forensic Science Leads to More Acquittals
In 2015, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” was canceled after 15 years on the air, but crime-television lovers are still at risk of distorting their reality when it comes to forensic evidence thanks to a phenomenon called the CSI Effect. First reported on in a 2004 USA Today article, the CSI…
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Reviewing the Immense Power of Prosecutors
The official who holds the most power in the criminal justice system may not be the judge or the jury, but the prosecuting attorney who represents the state, charges defendants and negotiates pleas. According to Edward Brumby, staff attorney under Judge Lawton Stephens and former prosecutor in District Attorney Ken…
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Popularity of Substance-Free Activities at UGA Continues to Grow
Students at the University of Georgia are starting to push back against the alcohol-infused mentality many associate with typical college culture. Kelly Truesdell, who works closely with groups organizing these events through her job with the UGA Fontaine Center, says one of the major driving factors behind this trend has…
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Local School Credits Athletics With Lowering Crime Rates
A recent study shows that 68 percent of incarcerated males do not have a high school diploma. The Athens-Clarke County school system is striving to help reduce crime rates by strengthening the school system. “The single best thing we can do as educators to reduce crime is to start in…
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DUI Arrests Decreasing Each Year in Athens-Clarke County
Since 2007, the number of DUI arrests in Athens-Clarke County has decreased steadily from 827 cases in 2007 to just 350 cases in 2018. Two factors may contribute to this decline: a decline in the number of police officers and fewer people choosing to drive drunk. Since 2016, the…