ATLANTA – State Representative Karen Bennett (D-Stone Mountain), chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC), today issued the following statement regarding Senate Bill 288, which was signed into law on Wednesday, August 5, 2020:
“The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus supports the signing of Senate Bill 288 into law. This bipartisan legislation received unanimous support from the House and Senate, and it is another step towards comprehensive criminal justice reform, which is a priority for our caucus and the community we serve.
“We are proud of the leadership shown by State Senator Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia), lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate, who also serves as vice-chair of the GLBC. She, along with State Senators Harold Jones II (D-Augusta), Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), State Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) and others have demonstrated what can be achieved when policymakers work for the common good.
“The law allows for some misdemeanors to be restricted and sealed as long as the offender does not commit another crime in four years and the misdemeanor was not violent or sexual in nature.
“For many, this will remove the scarlet letter of being in the criminal justice system. It allows Georgians to receive a second chance at transforming their lives and moving beyond mistakes made in the past. Our state needs to embrace restorative and redemptive policy, acknowledging all life is precious and valuable.
“The caucus will continue to pursue legislative and budgetary solutions that address the inequities in the state criminal justice system. The passage of Senate Bill 288 absolutely moves us in the right direction.”
Established in 1975, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is a 501(c)3 non-profit, nonpartisan organization comprised of 65 Georgia House and Senate members.
For more information about the GLBC, please click here.
For more information on Senate Bill 288, please click here.
Representative Karen Bennett represents the citizens of Districts 94, which includes portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 and currently serves on the Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism, Health & Human Services and Regulated Industries committees.
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