Forward Justice supports the extraordinary efforts taken by Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her courage to take emergency action when other officials have not is an example of an elected official using their power in a manner that aligns with the values of the community, including values of human dignity, public health, and racial equity.
DA Deberry’s decision to protect the most vulnerable in the criminal legal system, during this time of unprecedented crisis, demonstrates her commitment to affirming the human dignity of all people, grounding decisions in science rather than fear, and confronting the racial inequities in the criminal legal system. The humanity and compassion of her leadership should serve as an example to other District Attorneys across North Carolina. We fully support and stand behind her continued review of cases that are appropriate for immediate release amid this COVID-19 pandemic.