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Boulder County D.A. Continues Commitment To Address Racial Inequities

Boulder County's District Attorney, Michael Dougherty, traveled to Montgomery, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia to engage in a series of events involving civil rights and racial injustice.
Mike Dougherty
Michael Dougherty, Boulder County District Attorney (Source: Boulder County)

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Boulder County's District Attorney, Michael Dougherty, traveled to Montgomery, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia to engage in a series of events involving civil rights and racial injustice.

While in Alabama, Mr. Dougherty toured the Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy Museum and other historical sites in Montgomery. He also took part in a discussion entitled "Our Nation's History of Racial Injustice - Connecting the Dots to Mass Incarceration and the Role of the Elected Prosecutors in Addressing Racial Inequities."

After the visit to Alabama, Mr. Dougherty joined other participants on a bus bound for Atlanta, Georgia for a meeting entitled, "In the Interest of Justice: Forging Alliances between Reform-Minded Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Leaders." Elected prosecutors and enforcement leaders from across the nation gathered to discuss the role of race in the criminal justice system. Included in the discussions were topics involving structural racism, the driving factors of racial disparities, and joint strategies to address the issues. Fair and Just Prosecution sponsored both the Alabama and Georgia events.

District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated, “It has been an incredibly moving, powerful, and informative trip. I am honored to have been invited. Law enforcement and prosecutors have a shared responsibility to reduce racial disparities and other systemic injustices. We must face this country’s history head on. For as long as racial inequality exists in our country, the criminal justice system will continue to struggle with racial inequities. In speaking with attendees from around the country, I am reminded of the good work that has been done in Boulder County. At the same time, our community is not immune from these challenges; there is more work to be done.”

Prior to the trip, the District Attorney’s Office posted “Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity” on the office website. It is an overview of the office’s continuing efforts to promote diversity and equity within the office and the criminal justice system. It can be found here.