Judge Davenport ousted: Middle-aged white woman with blonde bobbed hair wearing white blouse with black judges' robe sits at podium with microphone in front of dark wood bookcases

New bill seeks to remove Tennessee judge who illegally jailed children

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Since 2000, Judge Donna Scott Davenport has overseen the juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, where the county jailed kids in 48% of the cases referred to juvenile court — compared with the statewide average of 5%. Now, state Sen. Heidi Campbell and state Rep. Gloria Johnson have said they are proposing legislation that could result in Davenport’s ouster. A bill starting the process was filed in the state Senate Friday.

Black juvenile detention Tennessee: Black and white illustration of 3 young children holding hands walking surrounded by text quotes form story and geometric forms

Black children were jailed for a crime that doesn’t exist. Almost nothing happened to the adults in charge.

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Among cases referred to juvenile court, the statewide average in Tennessee for how often children were locked up was 5%. In Rutherford County, it was 48%. Judge Donna Scott Davenport says children need consequences. “Being detained in our facility is not a picnic at all,” she says on the radio. “It’s not supposed to be. It’s a consequence for an action.”