Macon-Bibb DA Working Diligently to Provide All Citizens Equitable Justice
by Clarence Thomas, Jr. (thomasjr63@gmail.com), MGI Contributor
“This job is so important,” said Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney Anita R. Howard alluding to her professional role, during a discussion with the Middle Georgia Informer last month. “If you really want to be a change agent you can most effectively accomplish that as a prosecutor.”
Following the voters of Bibb, Peach, and Crawford Counties giving her the green light in 2020 to serve as the three jurisdictions’ first female and first Black DA, Howard began putting plans of action in place to ensure public safety, accountability, transparency, and equality for people on both sides of the law.
After nearly three years on the job, Howard says she’s pleased with the progress that’s been made on her watch. She’s been very intentional in being accessible since she’s not a behind the desk person says the Houston County native. “This is my community. I’m actually out in it sharing their trauma so I can better understand how to address the people’s needs,” added the eighteen-year veteran prosecutor.
Howard has various initiatives designed to proactively deal with what’s at the heart of challenges facing Macon. As of February 2023, forty-seven percent of the assistant district attorneys in her office are Black, better reflecting the makeup of Macon-Bibb. Stopping the accidental smothering of infants by well-meaning parents is also getting attention. Through her Anti-Co-Sleeping Initiative Howard is educating parents and guardians about the dangers of co-sleeping with their babies.
A Fast Track Panel she created is a collaborative comprised of Bibb County School District, Bibb County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Family and Children Services, the Juvenile Justice Department, and others. It oversees $4,000 worth of services per child for youth and family improvement by way of her R.I.S.E. (Restoring Inspiration by Success in Education) Safety Net Initiative — an ambitious means of reversing local violence through the disruption of negative paths youth up to age 17 may be on or about to take.
R.I.S.E. is driven by grant money and works additionally to build self esteem and teach life skills. “We’re focused on reaching the younger generation to stop them from ever picking up a gun to commit a violent act,” she said. Stopping the cycle of violence is the goal, says Howard. Taking a proactive, preventive approach is necessary to balance the equation, she said. “You can’t prosecute yourself into a safe community. If you don’t focus on finding ways of identifying the problem, you can’t mitigate it,” Howard stated.
Despite much success, Howard acknowledges that her tenure has had challenges as well. Some include getting Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab evidence analysis back in a timely manner. Getting GBI witnesses scheduled to testify is another. In addition, finding enough jurors capable of seeing trials through to completion is sometimes another challenge. And continuing to find ways to ensure that the rights of both the victim and the accused are protected remains something to overcome.
Howard also notes that while great strides have been made, justice still isn’t always meted out fairly and squarely for Black and Brown communities. She is undaunted by the challenges and committed to doing her part as the DA to ensure the legal landscape of her counties are providing all citizens equitable justice. “I fell in love with the hope that was offered while serving as a young prosecutor in training that included fairness and justice for all,” shared Howard.
As she continues seeing through current initiatives Howard is looking ahead to Changing the Face of Justice Day on June 9. Her office is looking forward to participating and continuing to advocate for public involvement in the early-summer effort to balance the scales on behalf of those underserved by the criminal justice system.
Howard kicked off her re-election campaign on March 5. She’s excited about running and asks for the continued support of those in her corner and others she’s convinced that she deserves a chance to finish what she’s started. Still hearing people in passing saying that they voted for her remains thrilling for Howard and fuels her effort to win again. “I look forward to an additional four years to continue improving this community.”
