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Human Rights Watch slams Augusta’s private probation services

rban Pro NEWS • COMMENTARY

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The CSRA’s FREE WEEKLY NEWSPAPER VOL.3 NO.22

ENTERTAINMENT FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

HOMECOMING FOCUS:

During the final minutes of the Paine College Homecoming women’s basketball game, the Lady Lions anxiously wait for their teammates to score a basket, which will bring the team to a season-high score of over 100 points against Barber-Scotia College on Feb. 8. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Eddie Bussey 706-772-9800

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AUGUSTA The Yerby selection committee is proud to announce the top five candidates for the 2nd annual Yerby Literary Award for Fiction. The Finalists are Jessica Hawke for Phantom Touch; Alicia Michaels for Children of the Sacred Earth; Regina Jeffers for The Mysterious Death of Mr. Darcy; Charmain Zimmerman Brackett for The Key of Elyon; Tyora Moody for When Rain Falls.

The five finalists will be at the Yerby House on the campus of Paine College at 1:00 pm, February 28, 2014 for the Yerby Roundtable discussion. This discussion will be moderated by Dr. Anthony Neal, Chair of the Yerby Selection Committee. After the discussion, there will be a tour of the Yerby House on Paine’s campus.

Later that Friday evening from 6-8 at the Main Library Branch on 823 Telfair St., the 1st, 2nd, and

3rdPlace winners will receive their awards at the author’s reception. Frank Yerby’s nephew, Gerald Yerby will be on hand to personally congratulate them.

For more detailed information, please visit the official website at: http://www.augustaliteraryfestival.org or you can contact: Cheryl Corbin - coordinator@augustaliteraryfestival.org.

Sheriff Roundtree to speak at Neighborhood Association Alliance scholarship banquet The Richmond County Neighborhood Associations Alliance (RCNAA) will conduct it Eighteenth Annual Scholarship Banquet, 7:00 PM, Friday, February 28, 2014 at the Gordon Club, Fort Gordon, Georgia. This year’s theme is “Personal and Community Accountability” Our guest speaker is the Honorable Sheriff Richard Roundtree, Sheriff, K-12 RECRUITMENT FAIR EMPLOYER EXPO CAREER FAIR

GRU to host pair of career expos

AUGUSTA Georgia Regents University will host two career expos this month – one aimed those looking for a job in education and the other for those looking for general employment.

The K-12 Recruitment Fair, for those interested in meeting administrators and recruiters from local and regional school systems will be Feb. 20. GRU’s Employer Expo Career Fair, featuring more than 50 employers offering opportunities including internships, summer and seasonal openings and full- and part-time employment, will be Feb. 21.

Both events will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Christenberry Fieldhouse on the university’s Forest Hills Campus.

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring several copies of their resumes. For a current list of employers planning to participate, visit GRU’s Career Center website atwww.gru.edu/careerservices or call 706-737-1604.

Fifth Third Bank Awards $5,000 Grant to Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Business League

Augusta – Fifth Third Bank awards $5,000.00 grant to the Central Savannah River Area Business League, Inc.“We are grateful for this needed gift from Fifth Third Bank and we look forward to forging a wonderful partnership, not only will the grant allow us to update our computer lab to serve our current clients, the lab will also be utilized for technology training for a Women Empowerment Program we are looking to develop in the very near future.”- Ellis B. Albright, Central Savannah River Area Business League.

Fifth Third Bank’s Community and Economic Development funding will be used to purchase computers and color printers for the CSRA Business League which will be used to support technology training for small, disadvantage and minority owned businesses and to train the next generation of business owners through its Youth Entrepreneur Program.

Augusta/Richmond County Georgia.

Lauren Walsh of WAGT 26 News will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies.

We will award scholarships to six very deserving Richmond County high school seniors.

The annual scholarship banquet serves as the public cornerstone of our organization. It highlights the achieve-

ments of our city, the organization, and individual neighborhoods.

The Richmond County Neighborhood Associations Alliance represents thirty-five Neighborhood Associations throughout Augusta-Richmond County.

The Alliance actively works with local, state, and federal officials to provide a safe and desirable quality of life for all

Augustans. A major component of this vision is the Leroy Steed Scholarship Award.

A host of sponsors and everyday citizens who share a common goal to improve our city, prevent crime, and preserve our neighborhoods supports the Neighborhood Alliance.

3 UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

Top five finalists named for the 2014 Yerby Award

UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

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The City

PROBATION OUTSOURCE KINGS: Sentinel Offender Services. Allegations are that the firm collected fees from probationers until they couldn’t get any more, then got Richmond County judges to throw the people back in jail. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Local private probation service firm highlighted in abuse report

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. Urban Pro Weekly Staff Writer AUGUSTA There was a time in our nation’s history when a person accused of owing money to a private company did not have to fear going to jail — not anymore.

In Augusta, if you owe the wrong private company, you are in for a big surprise. That company is Sentinel Offender’s Services and it handles its business with the authority and, apparently, the blessing of the city’s state court judges.

Last September, the Richmond County Commission renewed its contract to outsource probation services to Sentinel, despite widely reported allegations that the private probation services company is abusing its clients and having people sent to jail for not paying its onerous fees and overcharges for nonexistent services.

In arguing for the city to renew its 12-month contract with Sentinel Chief Judge (State Court) Richard Slaby told commissioners that he and his judges had full confidence in the professionalism of Sentinel.

When questioned by Commissioner Donnie Smith about the legal challenges the company was facing at the time, Judge Slaby downplayed the veracity of the charges and suggested that his

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court has approved the way the company is providing services.

“They have always been very responsive to us. They have always been very diligent and professional in how they have dealt with us. Periodically, people complain about things. We have always looked into those complaints and we have always found a resolution or quite frankly found they aren’t valid,” Slaby said.

If Sentinel was abusing its probationers, Slaby said he hadn’t heard anything about it.

Slaby’s reluctance to part ways with Sentinel is understandable when you realize that his court is strapped for cash. The state’s court and criminal justice systems view the collection of legal debts as a critical revenue stream.

Perhaps, Slaby had never heard of the difficulties of Thomas Barret (see next page) even though they were playing out in his own courtrooms. Barret was jailed after falling behind in his attempts to maintain his monthly payments to Sentinel.

While Slaby may have turned a blind eye to Sentinel abuses, they have not escaped the notice of Human Rights Watch, one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights.

Simply put, the organization investigates abuses and it has placed

Publisher Ben Hasan 706-394-9411 Managing Editor Frederick Benjamin Sr. 706-306-4647

Augusta and Sentinel in its latest report “Profiting From Probation: America’s Offender-Funded Probation Industry.”

The report includes the plight of Thomas Barrett (see next page) as well as that of another Augusta man.

According to the report: “Human Rights Watch documented one case in Augusta, Georgia where a court sentenced an offender to electronic monitoring through Sentinel even though it was actually impossible for him to comply. Quentone Moore is an ex-marine in Augusta who pled guilty to misdemeanor battery charges and was sentenced to probation with Sentinel. The court required him to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet that only works in conjunction with a landline telephone. But Mr. Moore was homeless at the time, and spent 52 days in jail simply because he had no residence where a landline telephone could be installed.”

According to Human Rights Watch, the above case was not an isolated incident. The reports says: “Every year, US courts sentence several hundred thousand people to probation and place them under the supervision of for-profit companies for months or years at a time. They then require probationers to pay these companies for their services. Many of these offenders are only

Sentinel’s fee structure According to its contract with the county, Sentinal can collect the following fees from every probationer: •($25.00) per month in those cases in which Sentinel is collecting fines, surcharges and/or restitution ordered by the Court in a probated or suspended sentence. The fees assessed in these pay-only cases shall not exceed 50% of fine, surcharges and/or restitution ordered.

• ($35.00) per month in those cases in which Sentinel is providing probation supervision or monitoring services for conditions other than the payment of fines, surcharges and/or restitution.

• Sentinel may charge a one-time ($15.00) “enrollment fee” to defendants that require supervision of conditions of the Court’s sentence.

Continued on next page

The above fees over the typical 12-month probation period come to $828.00. That money all goes to the private probation service. That’s their pay for collecting the court-ordered fines and “counseling” the probationsers. Sentinel has been dragged into court for adding months and y;ears to the above fees after illegally extending probation periods.

Sales & Marketing Phone: 706-394-9411

email: Ben Hasan bzhasan54@yahoo.com

Photography and Social Media Courtesy of Vincent Hobbs

Frederick Benjamin Sr. editor@urbanproweekly.com Vincent Hobbs coolveestudio@gmail.com

SENTINEL from page 4

By the time Thomas Barrett hit rock bottom, he had lost just about everything he had to addiction. One day in April 2012, he walked into a Georgia convenience store and was caught stealing a $2 can of beer. He pled guilty and was sentenced to a $200 fine and 12 months’ probation with Sentinel Offender Services.

Richmond county State Court Judge David Watkins’ sentence also required Barrett to wear an alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet, a service administered

by Sentinel.

Barrett spent more than a month in jail because he could not afford to pay an $80 “startup fee” to Sentinel. Eventually, he persuaded his Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor to give him the money and was released.

Once free, Barrett faced a rapid accumulation of monitoring fees that he had no way of paying. He was unemployed, living in subsidized housing and subsisting largely off food stamps. He earned his entire cash income by selling his own blood plasma.

“You can donate plasma twice a week as long as you’re physically able to,” he explained. He could make up to $300 a month this way. “Basically what I did was, I’d donate as much plasma as I could and I took that money and I threw it on the leg monitor.” Still, he said, “It wasn’t enough.”

His monitoring fees totaled some $360 a month and he had to use some of the plasma money to pay for his own basic needs.

Barrett said that when he explained his situation to his Sentinel probation officer, “They just said I need to pay

what I could and when [the arrears] got to a certain amount, then I’d have to go in front of the judge and they were just pretty matter of fact about it.”

He started skipping meals—which saved money but sometimes left him too debilitated to donate plasma— and regularly went without household essentials like laundry detergent and toilet paper. In spite of all these efforts, by February 2013 Barrett owed Sentinel more than $1,000 in monitoring fees—more than five times the amount of the fine the court had sentenced him to. The company filed a petition with the court to revoke his probation.

“We went back in front of the judge and well, it didn’t work out in my favor,” he said. The judge told him he could stay out of jail if he paid several hundred dollars of what he owed Sentinel right then and there. “And I’m thinking, ‘But the whole problem is, I don’t have money.’ So they locked me up. And I just said, ‘Golly.’ I just felt like they kept putting me behind the eight ball.”

Thomas Barrett’s story has a Kafkaesque twist to it. The court’s decision to put him on alcohol monitoring in the first place served no discernible purpose because his probation did not include a condition that he refrain from consuming alcohol.

As Augusta attorney Jack Long put it in an interview with Human Rights Watch, “He could have sat around and drank beer all day and it would have monitored that but it would not have been a violation of his probation.”

— From the Human Rights Watch report released this month.

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. . . by February 2013 Barrett owed Sentinel more than $1,000 in monitoring fees—more than five times the amount of the fine the court had sentenced him to. The company filed a petition with the court to revoke his probation.

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Hasan

Commission District 6 Always moving our community into the future

UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

guilty of minor traffic violations like speeding or driving without proof of insurance. Others have shoplifted, been cited for public drunkenness, or committed other misdemeanor crimes. Many of these offenses carry no real threat of jail time in and of themselves, yet each month, courts issue thousands of arrest warrants for offenders who fail to make adequate payments towards fines and probation company fees.”

These are the types of warrants that Judge Slaby and his associates routinely provide for Sentinel.

In fact, Sentinel places the abuses that companies like Sentinel enjoy squarely at the feet of the courts that hire their services.

According to Human Rights Watch, companies like Sentinel can act with impunity because public officials allow probation companies to profit by extracting fees directly from probationers, and then fail to exercise the kind of oversight needed to protect probationers from abusive and extortionate practices.

Two Augustans, one a judge and one an attorney have played prominent roles in reining in abuses of companies such as Sentinel despite Judge Slaby’s feigned ignorance.

Attorney Jack Long has sued Sentinel on behalf of clients whom they have allegedly abused. He has also challenged the constitutionality of the use of private probation services companies. Long charges that private probation companies are using police, a taxpayer resource, as a collection agency.

Judge Danny Craig has also taken aim at Sentinel abuses and declared that some of its practices are unconstitutional. Craig temporarily stopped Sentinel from operating in Richmond and Columbia counties in 2013.

The Georgia General Assembly, up until just recently, had been poised to give “private bill collectors” even expanded powers. [That bill has been tabled as of this writing, but it could be revived at any moment — see article on page 12].

Georgia’s Supreme Court will review the practices of private probation firms later this year. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled it is unconstitutional to jail someone too poor to pay a court fine or fee.

The case of Thomas Barrett

UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

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7 UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014 Aalyiha Wright (R) goes for the net during the Paine College Homecoming women’s basketball game against Barber-Scotia at the HEAL complex.

The Lady Lions crushed the Lady Sabers 102-53 in the final score. Photo by Vincent Hobbs

Paine Claims Two Homecoming Wins

THE PAINE COLLEGE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS successfully defended their home court in their final Homecoming during basketball season. The Lady Lions (8-12, 5-5) defeated Barber-Scotia (3-24) 102-53 and the Lions (11-10, 7-5) defeated the Sabers (0-24) 97-45 in front of a capacity crowd inside of the HEAL Complex on Feb. 8.

The Lady Lions got off to a quick start and they were up by 22 points in the first 10 minutes of competition. At halftime, Paine led 45-24. In the second half, the Lady Sabers were still unable to catch up to the Lady Lions. The Purple and White led by as much as 52 in the second half. Defensively, Paine’s pressure spooked the Lady Sabers as they turned the ball over 44 times compared to Paine’s 16 turnovers. The Lady Lions scored 62 points off of Barber-Scotia turnovers and Paine’s bench accounted for 32 of their points.

Ashley Watts scored a game high 31 points and had three assists and five steals. Ariel Brown scored 20 points and had nine rebounds, three assists, one block and two steals.

Freshman Imani Parr also scored in double digits. Parr had a career-high 15 points to accompany her three rebounds, five assists and five blocks. Tannasia Rhodes had 10 steals and nine assists to go with her six points and four rebounds Much like the Lady Lions, the men’s team came out energized and ready to dominate the game. They began the game on an 8-0 run in the first four minutes of play. By halftime, the Lions had stretched their lead to 35 and they went into the half leading 54-19. Arnis Libazs turned in a double-double for Paine scoring 10 points and pulling in another 11 rebounds. Patrick Petty (11) and Toby Veal (10) were the next top scorers for the Lions. Kedric Taylor dished out eight assists and Warner had seven rebounds.

Ashley Watts (center) and Aalyiha Wright (R) celebrate as the team scores over 100 points during the Paine College Homecoming women’s basketball game against Barber-Scotia at the HEAL complex.

Watts scored 31 points, 3 assists and 5 steals. The Lady Lions crushed the Lady Sabers 102-53 in the final score.

Photo by Vincent Hobbs

CSRA Business League to host 44th Anniversary Celebration

UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

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The CSRA Business League will celebrate its 44th Anniversary on Friday, 14 March 2014 at 7 p.m. in the Oglethorpe Ballroom of the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites, with noted author and motivational speaker, State Representative and Candidate for Georgia State School Superintendent the Honorable Alisha Thomas - Morgan, as the keynote speaker.

Representative Thomas - Morgan is the author of No Apologies: Powerful Lessons in Life, Love & Politics.

The League will present the Harvey L. Johnson Small Business of the Year, the Henry H. Howard awards to honor the memory of two of its staunchest supporters, a Women Entrepreneur of

the Year to a woman owned business in the CSRA and recognize a local not for profit organization.

The CSRA Business League has been a bridge to success for small, women, disadvantaged, veteran and minority owned businesses in the CSRA for the past 43 years.

Tickets for the event are $50.00 and may be purchased at the League or from any member of the Board of Directors.

For information call 706 722 – 0994, Ms. Shirmaine Ivey at sgirmaineivey@ business-league.org or Ellis Albright at ellisalbright@business-league.org.

The Board Chair of the League is Mrs. Veronica Shareef.

Soirée: Jazz and Wine

An evening of live jazz and lovely people.

Every 4th Saturday at the Jessye Norman School of the Arts, 739 Greene St., in downtown Augusta The event begins at 7:30 PM, and features classic jazz music performed by the area’s top artists, various wines selected by the host, and light eats provided by Augusta’s finest chefs. All presented with state-of-the-art sound and lighting in a beautiful, historic building. Dress like you mean it.

RSVP Required due to limited seating. Dial 762.233.JAZZ (5299) Complete Performance Schedule: • Feb22: Soiree - Rob Foster • Mar22: Soiree - Not Gaddy Trio • Apr26: Soiree - A Step Up

• May24: Soiree - 4 Cats in the Doghouse • Jun28: Soiree - B. Courtland & Friends • Jul26: Soiree - Augusta Big Band Aggregate • Aug23: Soiree - 3 Sides of Jazz • Sep27: Soiree - Travis Shaw 3 • Oct25: Soiree - UNITY Jazz • Nov22: Soiree - Dennis DiSano Jessye Norman School of the Arts 739 Greene Street Downtown Augusta GA Visit http://ssme.to/SOIREE or email (name, number in party, telephone number) to info@gardencityjazz.com

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FEBRUARY Feb. 18, 25: Records of Resistance @ Augusta Technical College Feb. 20: Niki Haris @ Union Baptist Church Feb. 22: Soiree - Rob Foster Feb. 28: Spring Fever Concert Series @ Pendleton King Park

MARCH Mar. 14: Spring Fever Concert @ Pendleton King Park Mar. 15: Augusta Market Opening Day Mar. 22: Soiree - Not Gaddy Trio Mar. 23: Mahogany (Jazz) Lounge Mar. 28: Spring Fever Concert @ Pendleton King Park

MEETING NOTIFICATION Augusta Aviation Commission Meeting The Augusta Regional Airport Aviation Commission Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers located in Administration on the 2nd floor of the Airport.

Please feel free to contact Airport Administration at 706-798-3236.

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Garden City Jazz : 2014 Calendar Of Events

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UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

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BLACK HISTORY EVENTS CALENDAR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 @6 pm Alternative Education Center and P.T.A. Salutes Black History Month, 970 Baker St, Augusta. Enjoy food, fun and prizes THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 @ NOON Screening of Hodges Usry’s “The Steering Committee” at GRU Children’s Hospital of Georgia, conference room BT-1809. The documentary will begin at noon, followed by a question and answer session.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 @ NOON Urban Bush Women, special lecture at University Hall, room 170, beginning at noon. Speaker will be Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, founding artistic director, about 30 years of Urban Bush Women.

FRIDAY, FEB. 15 @ 7:30 - 9 pm Lyceum Series: Urban Bush Women at the Maxwell Theatre, Summerville Campus

TUESDAY, FEB. 25 @ 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20 @ 2:30 p.m.

“The Mis-Education of Greek Life: Why We Step” will be Author Milton Washington will speak about his memoir “Slickyboy: The Black Dust of South Korea” held at the JSAC Ballroom from 6-7 p.m. in the JSAC Ballroom, starting at 2:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 27 @ 2:30 p.m.

GRU Reese Library will present a Black History Month SATURDAY, FEB. 22 @ 11 a.m.

The library will feature a Black History Month program program featuring Lucy Craft Laney. Speaker will be Dr. on Lucy Laney. Speaker Dr. Kent Anderson Leslie will Kent Anderson Leslie. Rm. UH157 room University Hall. talk about her almost completed biography on Miss Laney and will note “little known facts about Miss Laney’s life and legacy.” Downtown public library at 823 Telfair St., room B, 1st floor.

MONDAY, FEB. 24 from 4-5 p.m.

The GRU Department of English and Foreign Languages and FLAIR will host a panel titled “Images and Memories of Africa” at GRU Summerville campus in Allgood Hall, room E-251. It will be presented in English by Dr. Liana Babayan, GRU Assistant Professor of French, and Dr. Eronini Egbujor, Paine College Associate Professor of French/GRU Adjunct Instructor Trowell Builders & Associates of French. For more information, contact Jana Sandarg at jsandarg@gru.edu.

SATURDAY, FEB.16 from 3 - 6 p.m.

The GRU Black Student Union Gospel Extravaganza, Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Buffalo Soldiers Day at Summerville campus. See and hear re-enactors and find out information on those brave historic soldiers. More details TBA.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 19 @ 5 p.m.

Laney Museum Historian Awards Program, 5 p.m., at the museum at 1116 Phillips St.

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Documentary focuses on civil rights struggle Date: February 20, 2014 Time: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

From May until November in 1961, 400 plus black and white Americans risked their lives and withstood beatings riding interstate transportation together through the Deep South. This was their non-violent activism for desegregation.

Why they inspired so much hope and fear. What happened to them?

Location: Georgia Regents University, Summerville Campus, University Hall; Facilitator: Clint Bryant, Athletic Director, Georgia Regents University; Humanities Scholar: Dr. Lee Ann Caldwell, Georgia Regents University

Historian and Director of the Center for Georgia Studies This is the first of four documentaries with riveting new footage illustrating the history of civil rights in America hosted by the Augusta Museum of History.

The screenings are free and will be accompanied by discussion forums.

Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities that uses the power of documentary films to encourage community discussion of America’s civil rights history. The Augusta Museum of History is one of 473 institutions across the country awarded a set of four films chronicling the history of the civil rights movement.

Activist authors featured at forum to discuss history black liberation movement AUGUSTA On Wednesday, February 19 at 7 p.m., authors Lenni Brenner and Mathew Quest will be featured at a public discussion examing racism, capitalism, imperialism and state power. This public discussion with authors Brenner and Quest will seek to clarify one of the most controversial legacies of the Black Power movement. The event is sponsored by the CSR A Peace Alliance and will be held at the Augusta Richmond County Headquarters Library at 823 Telfair St., Augusta, Ga. 30901 Room B 1st Floor. Admission is Free.

Among other histories and controversies, Brenner and Quest will discuss Stokely Carmichael, James Forman, the Black Panther Party, Malcolm X, Harold Cruse, the Nation of Islam, Israel’s relationship to Apartheid South Africa, and the recent conflict between Alice Walker and the Anti-Defamation League.

This event will also coincide with the highly-anticipated re-release of Lenni Brenner’s Zionism In The Age Of The Dictators, the famous and controversial book that documents Zionist collusion with Fascism and Nazism in World War II-era Europe. Both Black Liberation And Palestine Solidarity and Zionism In The Age Of The Dictators will be available for purchase at the event. A book signing will follow.

Lenni Brenner has been an antiwar and anti-racist activist since the 1950s. As a journalist and historian, he is the author of over one-hundred articles for many publications, including New York’s Amsterdam News, the Anderson Valley Advertiser, The Atlanta Constitution, CounterPunch, The Jewish Guardian, The Nation, and The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.

Matthew Quest was co-editor of the Palestine Solidarity Review from 2002 to 2005 and has taught American History, World History, Caribbean History and Africana Studies most recently at Georgia State University.

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UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

FILM: FREEDOM RIDERS

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UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

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U W rban Pro

eekly

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FORUM

BY KRISTIE ROBIN JOHNSON

The Black Love myth L ove is indeed in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches.

Some people love it — anticipating flowers, cards, candy and other material symbols of affection from their significant others.

Some people loathe February 14th with a passion — being reminded of their singleness and the supposed loneliness that goes along with it.

Amongst that group of single individuals will be a large number of black females.

According to studies, AfricanAmerican women make up the largest group of unmarried Americans in the United States. In recent years, the exact cause for this phenomenon has been debated to no end. It seems that everyone has been to blame for this trend — white women, homosexual men on the “down low”, the criminal justice system, and the list goes on.

The fact is that, like any demographic trend, the true cause is multifaceted and complicated.

The rhetoric surrounding the state of black male/female relationships is,

in my opinion, stale, outdated, misrepresented, and in desperate need of revamping and revisiting. So let’s start here.

First, we must dispel the notion that “love”, with all of its grand subjectivity and mystery, can be boxed in by the constructs of race and gender. Whenever we collectively engage in conversations about love, marriage, and relationships in the black community, there is an overlying assumption that black women and black men should always end up together. When this does not happen, we often wrongfully assume that something must have gone wrong, rather than accept the fact that love is emotional, beautiful, fluid, and flexible.

Love doesn’t know color, culture, gender, religion, or any other artificial boundary created by societies.

When we limit our acceptable love interests so severely, we diminish our mathematical odds of finding a mate and in some cases, we espouse the bigoted belief system that once

First, we must dispel the notion that “love”, with all of its grand subjectivity and mystery, can be boxed in by the constructs of race and gender.

bound us to the status of secondclass citizens. When we can effectively change the conversation from “why aren’t black men and women marrying more often?” to “why aren’t black singles finding lasting and loving relationships at the same rate of their counterparts of other races?”, we open the door to a deeper, more meaningful dialogue.

As an African-American woman, I clearly have a stake in the discussion surrounding the single black women in America. Statistics do not lie. We don’t get married at the same rate as our white cohorts. As we search for an explanation of why this statistic exists, we should immediately take race out of the picture and examine our background.

As a generation, race excluded, women between the ages of 25 and 40 are more likely than any other previous generation to have been raised in a single-mother household. Immediately we’re exposed to independent women and the purpose of marriage differs greatly

from women who came of age in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Furthermore, our mothers are often products of the feminist movement. They burned their bras and shattered glass ceilings. Our mothers instilled in us the values of education, achievement, and independence. As a result, breaking barriers is a habit for our generation and we are proud of it.

We have nothing to be ashamed of.

But, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge how this trend has changed the shape and nature of modern relationships.

The purpose here is not to solve all single African-American’s issues. In fact, I don’t necessarily believe that being black and single is an issue. The purpose here is to quiet the racially charged rhetoric and move the conversation into another realm — a realm that rises above the color line, considers sexual preference, and realizes the changing role of all women.

Whether you’re married, single, dating, or somewhere in between, we’ll all be the better for it.

Bill to expand powers of outsourced probation firms delayed in Atlanta

By Rhonda Cook and Aaron Gould Sheinin The Atlanta Journal Constitution ATLANTA A bill meant to shore up the private probation industry in Georgia hit a wall in the Legislature when proposed changes added protections for misdemeanor probationers.

House Bill 837 — with its four amendments — was “tabled” Monday, a vote that in effect puts legislation to the side until backers can shore up support that they want.

On one side of the debate is the contention that the bill was needed to ensure low-level, nonviolent probationers are supervised as well as to ensure the survival of the private probation industry. That industry sprang up to relieve the state of the responsibility of supervising offenders found guilty of misdemeanors, traffic offenses or local ordinances.

The push for HB 837 was spurred by a court ruling last September that said a judge couldn’t stop the clock on a sentence if a private probationer had reportedly stopped checking in and paying fees. The ruling, which is under appeal, also said it was unconstitutional for private probation companies to use electronic monitoring.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last month that people were being arrested and taken to jail because they owed supervision fees that accumulated even after they had paid all their court fines and restitution. Some were jailed until they paid their debts to the companies at a cost of $50 a day to local taxpayers.

The sponsor of the bill was trying to rectify both concerns.

“The inability to stop that clock means, in theory, all 320,000 of these people today could hide from their probation officer and we have no ability to stop their probation sentence,” said bill sponsor Rep. Mark Hamilton, R-Cumming.

For the most part, probation is ordered — for 12 months or less — because the offenders are poor and must pay their fines over time.

But critics say supervision involves probationers or one of their friends or relatives coming to the company’s office simply to pay a monthly supervision fee. The companies ensure profits by threatening jail if the debts are not paid, opponents say.

“It’s about money, folks,” said Rep. Chuck Sims, R-Ambrose. “It’s about

M-O-N-E-Y. Dollar sign. Dollar sign.”

Sims complained that private probation companies first apply funds the probationers pay to supervision fees and then to court fines and restitution. “It’s indentured servitude,” Sims said.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last month that people were being arrested and taken to jail because they owed supervision fees that accumulated even after they had paid all their court fines and restitution. Some were jailed until they paid their debts to the companies at a cost of $50 a day to local taxpayers.

Last week, Human Rights Watch reported that Georgia led the nation in private probation.

Pointing to the original version of HB 837, Rep. Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, the House minority lead-

er, said, “This bill is bad.”

She successfully proposed changes to the bill that led to it being tabled as many Republicans crossed the aisle to support Abrams’ moves in the GOP-dominated House.

The House voted to amend the bill so that judges could stop the clock on sentences of absconded probationers but they did not have to do it.

The House also agreed that private companies could not charge more for supervision than state probationers charge felons; private companies charge $35 to $45 a month while the state charge is $32.

One other change was a private probation officer had to tell a judge what specific steps were taken to locate a probationer. For now, most companies simply collect fees from probationers who report to their offices and do not try to locate those who stop coming. The final amendment said a probationer had the right to come to court and explain why they had stopped reporting rather than judges issuing arrest warrants simply based on the word of the probation officer.

“In the event there is a more complicated story, this gives the probationer the right to explain,” Abrams said.

DEANS BRIDGE HEAD START

Center Director Supervision and coordination of the Center operations.

Reports to the Operations Manager. Serves as a resource person for the staff and prepares monthly reports for the Supervisor and other appropriate Administrative Staff.

Supervises the Center Staff. Ensures that the physical environment is safe and clean. Conducts center meetings at least monthly and prepare bus monitor schedule. Keeps adequate records and insures their confidentiality. Desire College study with course work in Early Childhood Education. AA degree in Management or related field is required. Three years experience working in a preschool setting. A minimum of two years supervisory experience.

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QUALIFIED persons interested in applying for these positions must send a written notice to the Personnel Office no later than February 27, 2014. Please include an outline of your qualifications for this position, which meet the requirements above. Detailed job descriptions are available in the Personnel Office, 1261 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901. Fax 706 722-8565 “AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”

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COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, for the following:

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Athletic Field Turf Grass Management RFP #14-657 Pumping and Cleaning of Grease Traps RFP #14-654 Kitchen Exhaust Hood System Cleaning RFP #14-655 Towing Service RFQ #14-656 Fire Sprinkler Inspections RFQ #14-654 Uniforms for School Safety and Security Bid #342

Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Amy Bauman in the Business Office at 706-826-1298, on our web site at www. rcboe.org, or at the Richmond County School System, Central Office, 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Frank G. Roberson, Secretary

13 UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

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UrbanProWeekly • FEBRUARY 13 - 19, 2014

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Rev. Clarence Moore, Pastor 1714 Olive Road / P. O. Box 141 (mailing address) Augusta, GA 30903 706/733-0341- Telephone/706/667-0205 – Fax E-mail address: admin@goodshepherdaugusta.org Web address: goodshepherdaugusta.org Rev. Clarence Moore Church Service: 7:45 & 11:00 a.m.

Church School: 9:45 a.m. / Prayer Service: 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday Bible Study: 9:00 a.m. - Saturday / 7:00 p.m. - Wednesday

2323 Barton Chapel Road • Augusta,GA 30906 706.790.8185 / 706.922.8186 (fax) Visit Us @ www.broadwaybaptistaug.org • Join us on facebook Dr. C. William Joyner, Jr. Senior Pastor

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