The Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP will host the 9th Annual Criminal Justice Seminar on Saturday, June 4, at the UTC University Center from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
"Through public advocacy, workshops, presentations, and forums, the seminar strives to shed light on how legal issues, social challenges, and advents in the legal system effects the social welfare, upward mobility, and life sustaining options of average everyday citizens," said Dr. Eleanor Woods, president of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County NAACP. "Trust in the law, faith in the legal process, and hope for a better tomorrow are all key elements of allowing justice to live throughout the community. The necessity of this event is also meant to be a way to address many of the legal grievances and complaints received on an annual basis as well."
The theme this year is Focus on the Community: Our Struggles! Our Strategies! Our Solutions! Featured presenters this year include: Hon. Nancy Harr, U.S. attorney Eastern District Tennessee, who will discuss the Department of Justice's Road Map to Reentry: Reducing Recidivism through Criminal Justice Reform. Robert Ford, president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Executives, will highlight Vantage Points Law Enforcement and Public Perspectives.
The featured youth series includes Camilla Bibbs Lee, Hamilton County Coalition: Rational decision making and conflict resolution.
One of the longstanding purposes for the seminar is "Know Your Rights" education, and Chattanooga State Community College Police Chief Curtis Greene, UTC professor Gail Isles, Juvenile Court Judge Rob Philyaw and other featured panelists will provide an analysis and overview on how schools, students and parents can become more aware of these rights in schools and in the community.
The keynote speaker will be Craig Hargrow of the Tennessee Commission of Children and Youth, who is head of Tennessee's Second Look Commission which advocates against child neglect and abuse. Topics Mr. Hargrow will detail are the significance of understanding ways to eliminate Adverse Child Experiences, Juvenile Justice, strategies to sever the school to prison pipeline and other examine disparities in minority confinement.
Chattanooga Assistant Police Chief Tracy Arnold is the recipient of the 6th Annual Thurgood Marshall Award.