Attorney Damon R. Stevenson for Hinds County

At bible study last night the speaker discussed how people are angry, fierce, and quick to respond. As judges, we constantly hear cases that quickly escalated because no one was willing to walk away. No one was willing to say being right is not as important as staying alive and staying out of trouble. Does it make sense to protect your pride but lose your life or your freedom when you could easily walk away? Let’s teach our young people sometimes the best thing to do is just walk away and remove yourself from the environment before something happens that everyone regrets.

We are seeing way too many felony fleeing cases. The failure to stop for law enforcement can lead to a felony charge and possible prison time. Why risk your life, and the lives of other innocent people only to rack up more serious charges? Even if you go to jail, you can fight it in Court, but a family can’t fight it if they have to go a cemetery. The neighborhoods where our children play should never become racetracks.

One of the wonderful systems in the Hinds County Court is the Drug Court lead by Senior Judge Winston Kidd. Drug Court provides a means for individuals struggling with addiction to turn their lives around. Drug court is cheaper than incarceration and allows a person to receive help while being involved in their family and community. Tonite we celebrated those individuals who successfully completed the program. As a judge I have no problem sending people to prison who won’t turn their lives around. But if a person has a desire to overcome their weaknesses and is willing to put in the work and they are not a threat to public safety, I support 2nd chances!