Jackson, TN–October 16, 2021) Structural discrimination, unjust policing, prosecution, and incarceration practices unfairly impact Black & Brown Communities, building a just system urgently demand reform. When we talk about Race & Justice, we’re talking about the ways that discrimination, policing, prosecutions, and incarceration practices impact Black & Brown communities.
Our criminal justice system is shaped by biased policing and unfair judicial precedents rooted in anti-blackness & racial disparity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Rutherford County (Murfreesboro) TN, where the Juvenile County Judge, Donna Scott Davenport, and one of her lieutenants enforce.
Police Officer Chrystal Templeton “made up” charges that they called “Criminal Responsibility for the conduct of others”. There are no such laws or charges but with these made-up charges, citations were issued and police were sent to Hobgood Elementary School and children from 8 to 12 years old were placed in handcuffs, put into a squad car & taken to a jail cell. Their supposed crime – they were videoed watching a fight between two younger children that they didn’t break up.
Juvenile Judge Davenport has made herself judge & executioner in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro has locked up 48% of the juveniles that come to its courts whereas the State average is less than 5%. This judge is being rewarded for her inhuman treatment of juveniles! She has her own radio talk show where she lauds her accomplishments. The county has built her new facilities where she now “rents out” beds for juvenile offenders from other cities & counties.
Jackson, TN–October 16, 2021) Structural discrimination, unjust policing, prosecution, and incarceration practices unfairly impact Black & Brown Communities, building a just system urgently demand reform. When we talk about Race & Justice, we’re talking about the ways that discrimination, policing, prosecutions, and incarceration practices impact Black & Brown communities.
Our criminal justice system is shaped by biased policing and unfair judicial precedents rooted in anti-blackness & racial disparity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Rutherford County (Murfreesboro) TN, where the Juvenile County Judge, Donna Scott Davenport, and one of her lieutenants enforce.
Police Officer Chrystal Templeton “made up” charges that they called “Criminal Responsibility for the conduct of others”. There are no such laws or charges but with these made-up charges, citations were issued and police were sent to Hobgood Elementary School and children from 8 to 12 years old were placed in handcuffs, put into a squad car & taken to a jail cell. Their supposed crime – they were videoed watching a fight between two younger children that they didn’t break up.
Juvenile Judge Davenport has made herself judge & executioner in Murfreesboro. Murfreesboro has locked up 48% of the juveniles that come to its courts whereas the State average is less than 5%. This judge is being rewarded for her inhuman treatment of juveniles! She has her own radio talk show where she lauds her accomplishments. The county has built her new facilities where she now “rents out” beds for juvenile offenders from other cities & counties.
The TN NAACP said in 2016 and we say in 2021, the behavior of this judge and officers (and all of those involved) is nothing less than criminals.
We call on the elected officials of Murfreesboro to admit their role in allowing this Juvenile Judge and her employees to run “rage causing permanent damage & irreparable harm to an untold number of juveniles who passed through Davenport’s Court.
We further call for the resignation of Juvenile Judge Donna Scott Davenport and we request that the Justice Dept. investigate Judge Donna Scott Davenport and the Juvenile Court’s Detention Center operations in Murfreesboro TN.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
The TN NAACP said in 2016 and we say in 2021, the behavior of this judge and officers (and all of those involved) is nothing less than criminals. We call on the elected officials of Murfreesboro to admit their role in allowing this Juvenile Judge and her employees to run “rage causing permanent damage & irreparable harm to an untold number of juveniles who passed through Davenport’s Court. We further call for the resignation of Juvenile Judge Donna Scott Davenport and we request that the Justice Dept. investigate Judge Donna Scott Davenport and the Juvenile Court’s Detention Center operations in Murfreesboro TN. Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
