According to a report from WPLN and Propublica, Judge Donna Scott Davenport instituted a policy that all children charged with crimes be processed at the detention center. In 2016, 11 Black elementary school children were detained and or locked up after allegedly witnessing a fight between 5 and 6-year-old.
Davenport, the sole Rutherford County Juvenile judge, is facing renewed scrutiny over a “filter system” which allowed jail staff to determine when a child is released.
“There has to be something done to everyone who was involved in this,” said Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville). “It’s my understanding that they created a law that wasn’t even on the books in order to make that happen.”
The alleged crime was “criminal responsibility for conduct of another” — a fake law.
“That is horrible abuse of power,” Johnson said. “We have the Administrative Office of the Courts, I believe they should take action and investigate.”
“You can’t make up the law,” said James McCarroll Jr., Senior Pastor of First Baptist Murfreesboro.
In 2014, 48% of children were jailed under Judge Davenport’s watch, the statewide average at the time was 5%.
In a settled lawsuit in 2017, Rutherford County agreed to pay out $397,500 to the 11 children. The officer who signed off on the charges was suspended for just three days.
