Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren, who is up for reelection in November, announced a series of “Action Steps” aimed at improving racial justice Thursday morning.
“We’ve been listening to the voices in our community calling out for change, and we’ve been meeting with people from every part of Hillsborough County to shape our next steps,” said Warren in a statement. “We’re taking action on several of these ideas, and there will be more to come in the future.”
The steps include creating a “Racial Justice Work Group” aimed at identifying community issues and developing consistent responses. The group will consist of representatives from the community and the State Attorney’s Office.
Warren also said his office will be more transparent with cases involving deadly force, pledging quarterly meetings with the public and to address questions about officer-involved shooting cases, and to release detailed reports with video, documents and photos once these cases have concluded.
In his announcement, Warren also says he will consider community involvement in staff evaluations and promotions for prosecutors, increase offices focus on recruiting minority prosecutors, and will invest in tools and research to evaluate sentences and plea arrangements.
“I remain committed to shaping a 21st Century prosecutor’s office—one that tackles racial disparities, engages with the community, and builds trust through transparency,” said Warren. “We’ve done a lot in the past three-and-a-half years to move in the right direction, with smart reforms that make our community more safe and our justice system more fair, but we know we have more to accomplish.”
Members of the public are encouraged to suggest topics for Warren’s “Racial Justice Work Group” at the Hillsborough State Attorney website.
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