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Senate Approves MLK Advisory Council

ATLANTA (March 16, 2011) – The Georgia State Senate today voted in favor of Sen. Emanuel Jones’ (D-Decatur) bill to create a Martin Luther King, Jr. Advisory Council to coordinate activities in observance of the MLK holiday. Senate Bill 141 aims to promote awareness and appreciation of the Civil Rights movement and Dr. King’s legacy.

“Dr. Martin Luther King overcame seemingly insurmountable odds to bring peace and justice to his fellow man. Every year, we celebrate Dr. King’s noble work. The council will allow for better coordination at the state and local level to educate Georgians on his teachings,” said Jones. “The MLK holiday should represent more than just a break from our daily routine. His life and work is too important for only a moment’s pause of remembrance.”

The advisory council will be housed within the Department of Community Affairs and will be composed of nine members, including the commissioner of DCA, members of the Senate and House and six governor appointees, two of whom must be between the ages of 18 and 22 years old.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Sen. Emanuel Jones represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Henry counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.0502 or via e-mail at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 16, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
Kallarin.Richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

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Sen. Jones Introduces Bill to Give Juvenile Offenders the Opportunity for Parole

ATLANTA (February 17, 2011) – Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) has introduced legislation to give juvenile offenders the opportunity for parole.  Senate Bill 105 establishes a three-person juvenile parole panel within the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) that will have the authority to establish and maintain parole guidelines for designated felons.

“With limited financial resources and the severe overcrowding in our jails, we must begin looking at alternatives to incarceration.  This bill is aimed at juvenile offenders who have committed only designated felonies, a step down from those charged with a serious offense,” said Jones.  “A rehabilitation-focused approach to juvenile justice will help improve our public safety while also saving taxpayer dollars.”

Panel members will be appointed by the DJJ commissioner, and will decide which designated felons are eligible for parole.  If granted parole, they will remain under the supervision of the DJJ until their maximum sentence expires.  Only those who have demonstrated good conduct and completed the educational and program requirements will be considered.  The panel will also be responsible for any parole violations, aiding parolees in finding employment and determining which designated felons are fit for relief from the panel.

The law currently requires all children convicted of a designated felony to be confined to a youth development center (YDC) for 12 to 60 months, with no option for parole. This bill deletes any mandatory minimum time of confinement and allows for parole.

Georgia has the fourth highest incarceration rate in the nation, costing taxpayers $1 billion a year.

Jones has noted that the overall purpose of the legislation is geared toward helping children become productive members of society.  The bill is a follow up to the law Jones passed last year that curbs the abuse of zero-tolerance discipline policies in schools.

Sen. Emanuel Jones represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Henry counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.0502 or via e-mail at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 17, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

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Legislative Black Caucus Heritage Dinner Tomorrow

ATLANTA (February 16, 2011) – The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) will host its annual Heritage Dinner at the Georgia Freight Depot tomorrow, February 17.  The Caucus will honor Dr. Joseph E. Lowery with the Man of the Century Award, the highest honor the GLBC has ever bestowed on a member of the community.

WHEN: Thursday, February 17, 2011
6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Georgia Freight Depot
65 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Media will be asked to sign in at will call

Sen. Emanuel Jones serves as chairman of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. He represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Henry counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.0502 or via e-mail at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.

ADVISORY
For Immediate Release:
February 16, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

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Henry County Legislative Delegation to Host Public Hearing

ATLANTA (February 3, 2011) – The Henry County Legislative Delegation will hold their annual public hearing on Thursday, February 10, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. at the Henry County Government Building, 140 Henry Parkway, McDonough, Georgia.

The 2011 Session of the Georgia General Assembly began on Monday, January 10.  The public hearing will give Henry County residents the opportunity to be heard on issues being considered this legislative session.

For more information, please contact Senator Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur), Chairman of the Henry County Legislative Delegation, at 404-656-0502. 

Sen. Emanuel Jones represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Henry counties.  He may be reached at 404.656.0502 or via e-mail at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 3, 2011
For Information Contact:
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

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Sen. Jones to Host Families and Communities Summit during Atlanta Global Peace Celebration

ATLANTA (November 23, 2010) – Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) will host the Strengthening Families and Communities Summit on Thursday, Dec. 9 during the Global Peace Celebration Atlanta 2010 to address the significant social challenges facing families and the community of Atlanta.  Jones has launched the Strengthening Families and Communities Coalition (SFCC), a collaboration between federal, state and city agencies as well as private partners and faith and academic institutions to look at four critical areas in the community, including economic development and financial literacy, teen pregnancy, school dropouts and youth violence. 

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