State and local nonprofits are gathering at the Athens Library Thursday evening to take part in a Smart Justice Roundtable. Organized by the American Civil Librerties Union of Georgia, the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement, and the Economic Justice Coalition, the discussion is aimed at addressing the issue of mass incarceration in Georgia.
The focus is on Athens joining in the ACLU’s multi-year effort to reduce the jail and prison population by 50% and to combat the racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
While organizers support Governor Deal signing Senate Bill 407 into law as part of the effort to reform the state’s criminal justice system, they say more needs to be done. Topics to be discussed include bail Reform, Community Reentry, Parole Reform, Prosecutorial Reform, and Sentencing Reform.
Guest panelists are Rep. Deborah Gonzalez, Superior Court Judge Eric Norris, Police Chief Scott Freeman, Life the Griot-Founder of Chess and Community, and Athens 4 Everyone.
The Smart Justice Roundtable begins at 5:30 Thursday evening at the Athens Library.
