Event Information
Over the past several decades, contact with law enforcement has become increasingly likely to result in arrest and jail booking. This contributes to jail crowding and unnecessary detention, especially for people of color and others historically and systemically excluded from economic investments. Citation in lieu of arrest is a proven alternative that keeps people at home while they’re awaiting their day in court and shifts the way that communities use policing resources.
During this 30-minute conversation, our panel shared practical strategies for implementing citation release policies, while also exploring their potential to alleviate—or exacerbate—racial disparities.
Speakers
Meghan is driven by a passion for building community wellness and dismantling structures of oppression. Over the past 17 years, she has worked on a broad range of national, state and local training and technical assistance initiatives that critically examine and improve the way public systems function—most recently helping local coalitions and jurisdictions develop antiracist solutions for pretrial policies and practices.
Chief Dan House has been a law enforcement officer for over 23 years. He started his career with the Wilson Police Department in Wilson, NC, and eventually left the agency to become Chief of Police with NC State University. He is a team member of The Citation Project at the UNC School of Government Criminal Justice Innovation Lab, and a past president of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police.
Shavonte Keatonhas dedicated her 15-year career to advocacy and direct service for vulnerable communities. She has worked as both a peer and professional advocate for foster youth, served as a case manager for homeless youth and families, and provided legal services to marginalized communities. Her work has consistently centered on partnering with those most impacted to develop solutions to the unique challenges and barriers faced by system-impacted individuals and their families. Guided by her experiences as a former foster youth and the child of a formerly incarcerated parent, Shavonte brings both lived experience and legal education to her deep commitment to advocacy and systemic change. She strives to create processes that bridge the gap between systems and impacted communities, fostering safer and healthier outcomes for all. Guided by her experiences as a former foster youth and the child of a formerly incarcerated parent, Shavonte brings both lived experience and legal education to her deep commitment to advocacy and systemic change. She strives to create processes that bridge the gap between systems and impacted communities, fostering safer and healthier outcomes for all.
Resources
What If: 10 Questions for Sparking Local Pretrial Change
These ten questions — along with a discussion guide and valuable tools and resources — examine the issue by reframing safety and community wellness.