Rutherford county juvenile court judge

Rutherford County is suing its insurance provider for refusing to cover its settlement in a large class action lawsuit over its unlawful policies for arresting and detaining children.

For two decades, Judge Donna Scott Davenport oversaw the illegal arrests and detentions of more than a thousand children in her Rutherford County courtroom. Her actions eventually caught up with her — the county settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit, and an investigation by WPLN News and ProPublica brought to light what had been happening for years, unchecked. Lawmakers called for her ousting, the governor asked for a review and Middle Tennessee State University cut ties with the judge. There were nationwide calls for reform. Almost Nothing Happened to the Adults in Charge. As pressure mounted Davenport announced her retirement as juvenile court judge one afternoon in January, leaving the community to pick a new judge to fill her seat.

Rutherford county juvenile court judge

Donna Scott Davenport born Scott is the first judge to have overseen the Rutherford County, Tennessee juvenile justice system, filling the newly created position in She presided over the juvenile court and legal system for the county, appointed magistrates formerly, referees , set protocols, directed police and heard cases involving minors, including parents charged with child neglect. She subsequently received bachelor's, then master's degrees in criminal justice from MTSU , followed by a J. She wrote the Tennessee State bar exam about a year after graduation. After failing the exam four times, Davenport passed in , on her fifth attempt, [1] then began teaching as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at MTSU the following year. Davenport was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in , nine years after receiving a law degree. She left the law firm and became a full-time court referee in The following year, the county violated federal law times by keeping kids incarcerated for longer than legally allowed. Interviewed, Davenport estimated that half of the noted violations were levied for children uttering curse words to her or another, for which she typically punished them with between two and 10 days in jail, despite admitting to the illegality of the sentence: "Was I in violation? But am I going to allow a child to cuss anyone out? Heck, no.

Senator Heidi Campbell and Representative Gloria Johnson sponsored a resolution to authorize the Tennessee State Senate and House leaders to choose a judicial panel to consider the case for removing Davenport from the bench.

A bill seeks to regulate the arrests of juveniles after former Rutherford County Juvenile Court Judge Donna Scott Davenport, in green judicial robes, came under fire in for the detention of more than a thousand children. Photo: RutherfordCountyTN. Mike Sparks is pushing legislation he believes would have stopped the aggressive lockup of children. Sparks, a Smyrna Republican, is preparing legislation prohibiting interviews or interrogations of children without the presence of legal counsel, parent, guardian or custodian. In addition, children would be told of their constitutional rights to legal representation when taken into custody, and a video recording of any interviews would be made.

After lawmakers said they were looking to unseat her , Rutherford County's juvenile court judge announced Tuesday she would retire from the bench at the end of her term. Judge Donna Scott Davenport was the first female judge to serve in Rutherford County and the first independent juvenile court judge by private act. I wish my successor the best and hope that this job provides them the same fulfillment it has provided me over the years. NewsChannel 5 learned that for years, Davenport gave jailers the discretion to keep kids locked up who they perceived as a threat. Children were forced to wait in detention until their day in court and sometimes it meant staying days behind bars before being formally charged with a crime. The most recent data given to NewsChannel 5 has shown that at its height, jailers locked up kids nearly 10 times more than the state average. Attorneys for the kids, who in some cases are now adults, said kids were improperly put behind bars more than 1, times. A disproportionate number of which were minorities. The most drastic example goes back to when Davenport approved Murfreesboro Police to detain 10 children for watching a fight not far from Hobgood Elementary School. Critics were quick to call out the judge after officers pulled students from class and placed some in handcuffs before transporting them to the detention center.

Rutherford county juvenile court judge

Whenever children are charged with violating criminal statutes, it is the duty of the Court to provide a simple judicial procedure which assures the juvenile a fair hearing and due process, while protecting the constitutional and legal rights of all parties. Additionally, we strive to accomplish the following goals: to provide for the wholesome moral, mental, and physical development of children; to substitute treatment, training, and rehabilitation for the consequences of criminal behavior by children; and to remove children from the custody of their parents only when absolutely necessary for the child's welfare or in the interest of public safety. We always seek to ensure that our community is safe, and that violent or dangerous juveniles are held in detention if no other, less-restrictive alternatives exist. Our Court offers programs and services which provide troubled youths with the necessary skills they lack in order to be successful in life. Many times, we are the last line of defense for a family that is desperate for a bridge to fill the gap between the child's delinquent behavior and the possibility of learning new and positive behaviors. We seek to rehabilitate, not punish children. The Court believes in the inherent goodness of every child and every child's need for parental guidance. Our work begins and ends with the goal of keeping children out of State custody and preserving or restoring the family unit. Search Search. Juvenile Court Staff.

General reezy

Sparks, nevertheless, points out that as of , two dozen states required police to allow parents to be informed and present during interrogations of their children and 19 states required those interrogations to be recorded. Tennessee Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville. The new judge will preside over court starting in September while a new Juvenile Detention Board will oversee incarceration operations. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription for all dnj. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville. She presided over the juvenile court and legal system for the county, appointed magistrates formerly, referees , set protocols, directed police and heard cases involving minors, including parents charged with child neglect. Police arrested one girl who had been at a pizza party at the time of the incident as well as a little girl who was trying to stop two young boys from punching another boy. Marshals Service. But am I going to allow a child to cuss anyone out? Hide Caption. Retrieved October 11, The court wrote that the "illegal detention" is causing "irreparable harm every day" to children in the jurisdiction.

Eleven children were charged with a crime that doesn't exist, the attorney said. There is renewed criticism of a juvenile court judge in Rutherford County, Tennessee, following a joint ProPublica and Nashville Public Radio report that alleges Judge Donna Scott Davenport oversaw a juvenile justice system where Black children were disproportionally and illegally hit with criminal charges.

After failing the exam four times, Davenport passed in , on her fifth attempt, [1] then began teaching as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at MTSU the following year. We have failed our children. In addition, children would be told of their constitutional rights to legal representation when taken into custody, and a video recording of any interviews would be made. Article Talk. Warning signs: Rutherford County officials rejected study showing they jailed too many children. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, who chairs the House subcommittee on elections and campaign finance, led the effort against Lyle. Sparks, nevertheless, points out that as of , two dozen states required police to allow parents to be informed and present during interrogations of their children and 19 states required those interrogations to be recorded. Davenport is up for reelection this year. For instance, if a child is caught skipping school and picked up by authorities for petty theft, the youth should be apprised of his right to have an attorney or his parents present, but the youngster might not know whom to call or his parents might not be able to get off work. Marshals Service. Detention staff led by Director Lynn Duke have been reporting to Judge Davenport, but the Rutherford County Commission decided to establish the board to oversee the detention services for children. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Skip to footer. Hide Caption.