Tackling Racial Injustice: Hillsborough County Group Gets To Work

TAMPA, FL — Leaders from across Hillsborough County’s Black community will sit down with prosecutors starting Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to begin tackling tough, systemic issues as Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren convenes the first meeting of the Office’s Racial Justice Work Group.

The work group is one of five Action Steps for Fairness & Engagement that Warren announced last week to turn ongoing talk in the community into action to address racial injustice, increase transparency and pursue greater equality in the criminal justice system.

Members of the 16-person work group include:

• Members of the faith community
• Grassroots organization leaders
• Mentors for at-risk youth
• Returning citizens
• Prosecutors

“We’ve been working hard over the past four years to tackle racial disparities. But this work group is built on the idea that the more input we have from the community, the more likely we are to find solutions to the problems that we know exist,” Warren said.

In response to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May, Warren said he has been reaching out to and listening to community members calling for change and reform.

"Prosecutors have unique responsibilities and can actively help build a more fair and equitable criminal justice system," he said. "We have listened as our community has called out for progress. We have analyzed our own role in delivering sensible reforms. We recognize that only in partnership with our community are we able to build a strong system of criminal justice that prioritizes public safety and fairness."

Warren said the Racial Justice Work Group will study race and criminal prosecution in Hillsborough County with the goal of identifying important community issues pertaining to racial injustice and develop consistent case-by-case decisions that address these inequities. The group will study criminal justice data, examine actual cases and develop policy recommendations.

Additionally, the group will expand existing efforts to decriminalize poverty, address bail reform and expand effective diversion programs that steer people away from the criminal justice system.

Among topics to be reviewed are:

Use of Deadly Force Review

"Our prosecutors review every law enforcement and civilian use of deadly force incident to determine whether the actions taken were permissible within the bounds of the law," Warren said. "This role provides an important check and balance in our criminal justice system that ensures no person is beyond the reach of the law, even those who enforce it. Our office will continue to update the community regarding our review, analysis and findings for use of deadly force incidents in response to inquiries from community groups and the media."

He said his office will provide a detailed report of each review on the state attorney's website within a week of its decision. This report will include an initial release of video, photos and documents related to the case. Further, Warren will hold quarterly meetings with the public to address questions regarding these cases and other important issues.

"Providing this information for review and discussion will help our community gain a better understanding of what takes place in such an incident, the legal limits of using deadly force, and promote a greater level of transparency," he said.

Additionally, his office will present the findings of any incident involving the use of deadly force by law enforcement to the Racial Justice Work Group and keep the group informed during the investigation. Warren will also update the Hillsborough NAACP president regarding these investigations during their monthly meetings.

Community Engagement

The state attorney's office will encourage prosecutors to participate in community groups and events on a continuous and ongoing basis. Community involvement will be evaluated as a regular part of a prosecutor’s performance review and promotion eligibility. Whether it is neighborhood associations, the ACLU, the NAACP, Metropolitan Ministries, Realtor associations, Equality Florida, chambers of commerce or any of the dedicated civic groups in our community, the goal of this participation is to better connect our team with our community.

Additionally, Warren will continue to meet regularly with community leaders, including monthly meetings with the NAACP president and quarterly meetings with members of the clergy, leaders of grassroots organizations, and the community at large.

Recruitment of Minority Prosecutors

"It is critical that our office’s prosecutors reflect the community in which we live and serve," Warren said. "To maximize the recruitment and retention of minority prosecutors, our office is taking two additional steps beyond its current efforts to increase diversity among prosecutors."

• For two years, the office has supported prosecutors who wish to participate in the National Black Prosecutors Association. This organization is the only professional membership organization dedicated to the advancement of Black prosecutors. Warren said he will formalize his office’s investment and participation on an annual basis to enhance the professional development of the prosecutors.
• His office will work to establish partnerships with historically Black law schools to connect talented new attorneys with careers in the state attorney's office.

Better Sentencing Analysis

"Criminal prosecution that ends in two people charged with the same crime and with similar criminal histories receiving vastly different plea offers or sentences destroys the equality and fairness central to an effective criminal justice system," Warren said. "To that end, our office will increase existing efforts to study and analyze fairness in sentencing. We will examine the role sentencing guidelines have in prosecutorial discretion. We will dedicate resources to providing better tools for our prosecutors to ensure fairness in their evaluations of potential criminal sanctions.

"George Floyd’s murder and the national discussion that has ensued cast a spotlight on racial injustice and systemic issues within the criminal justice arena," Warren said. "As prosecutors, we believe this moment represents a chance for government institutions and our community to increase our recognition of systemic racism and develop meaningful partnerships. While there is no single proposal to instantly solve these challenges, we are committed to taking necessary steps to walk further down the path towards equality and a better, stronger community."

Residents who wish to suggest a potential topic for the Racial Justice Work Group to address should fill out this form.