by Allison L. Williams Hill In-Vesica Art Design Energy
“Do All Things In-Vesica.”
Posted on October 26, 2021
Donna Scott Davenport, Juvenile Court Judge in RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE Used Fake Law to Jail Black Children
I choose to believe that someone in Tennessee will run against this woman, who needs to be prosecuted and sentenced. There are fourteen counties in this state. How many young Black children has she directed into incarceration?
Posted: Oct 11, 2021 / 06:46 PM CDT / Updated: Oct 13, 2021 / 12:22 PM CDT
RUTHERFORD CO., Tenn. (WKRN) – A Rutherford County judge illegally jailed children even when there was no crime committed.
According to a report from WPLN and Propublica, Judge Donna Scott Davenport instituted a policy that all children charged with crimes be processed at the detention center. In 2016, 11 Black elementary school children were detained and or locked up after allegedly witnessing a fight between a 5 and 6-year-old.
UPDATE: (10/13) Middle Tennessee State University has cut ties with Judge Davenport, sending out an email stating that she is no longer affiliated with the university.
Davenport, the sole Rutherford County Juvenile judge, is facing renewed scrutiny over a “filter system” which allowed jail staff to determine when a child is released.
“There has to be something done to everyone who was involved in this,” said Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville). “It’s my understanding that they created a law that wasn’t even on the books in order to make that happen.”
The alleged crime was “criminal responsibility for the conduct of another” — a fake law.
“That is a horrible abuse of power,” Johnson said. “We have the Administrative Office of the Courts, I believe they should take action and investigate.”
“You can’t make up the law,” said James McCarroll Jr., Senior Pastor of First Baptist Murfreesboro.
First Baptist Murfreesboro held the first community meeting, following the arrest in 2016. McCarroll said there cannot be two systems of justice.
“We have a responsibility to all of our citizens to give them a system that looks out for them, that allows them not only have a constitutional right but to have people who are assigned to carry out that constitutional right who have hearts to make sure that people are in the best state and space that their lives could have,” said McCarroll.
Multiple Rutherford County commissioners say, because of pending litigation, they cannot comment.
In 2014, 48% of children were jailed under Judge Davenport’s watch, the statewide average at the time was 5%.
“We are letting kids fall through the cracks in all different ways and this is just one more way we have discovered where DCS has dropped the ball and they need to be looking closely at these programs to make sure that they are following our laws,” Johnson said.
In 2016, lawmakers called for a federal investigation into the arrest and detainment of black elementary school children in Rutherford County. Representative John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville), who was among those lawmakers in 2016, released the following statement this week:
“As I stated in 2016, there is no rational justification for any of this in our society. Both the state and county have obviously failed children and families, predominantly Black individuals, in this and countless other ways. This has notably been true throughout American history in our legal and penal system, and it’s way past time to reevaluate the structural framework which allows such instances of inequity and injustice. Those of us in whom the public has placed its trust have a duty to correct the multi-layered legal and administrative issues facilitating this type of unchecked barbarism. Looking ourselves in the mirror as decision-makers within an inherently flawed system, we must admit that we’ve failed too many for far too long.
As an attorney, I am limited in sharing my personal opinion on sitting judges, but these individuals, through their own acts and admissions, have proven themselves wholly unfit for the important positions they currently hold.”
In a settled lawsuit in 2017, Rutherford County agreed to pay out $397,500 to the 11 children. The officer who signed off on the charges was suspended for just three days.
“It’s a horror show plain and simple, it’s abusive and it doesn’t even resemble law,” said Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville).
As of Monday afternoon, Governor Bill Lee, Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, and Lt. Governor Randy McNally, all Republicans, did not respond to request for comment or if the legislature should take this issue up in the next regular legislative session.
Allison L. Williams Hill is an artist, designer, planner, healer, Integrative Health Coach, and inventor. She shares her work and services through
Metaphysical Services and Spiritual Art
“Do All Things In-Vesica”
Registered Medium and Spiritual Counselor, Certified Spiritual Healer, Church of Wisdom, and a member of the Holistic Healers/Healing Works Professional Association.
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