Community Service
Judge Deborah Thomas commitment to community affairs is unmatched among her peers.
Thomas created the "Change Detroit For Good" program along with the Motown Alumni Association to assist all children in sharing their views on how to improving their community by presenting their talents to the world, by performing in front of former Motown artist, dignitaries, and entertainment personalities. With over 5,360 likes on her Change Detroit For Good Facebook site Thomas is very instrumental in the development of today's children and adults. She is a hands on justice official, and cares about the welfare of all of Michigan's communities.
JUDGE SENTENCE DEFENDANTS TO GET THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED
Detroit — When Wayne County Circuit Judge Deborah Thomas doles out her punishment to criminal offenders, part of her sentencing plan is ordering those who have not completed high school to do so.
Detroit News - And about two years ago, Thomas went a step further. She began displaying the high school diplomas and GED certificates of ex-offenders on a wall of her courtroom in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice.
“It motivates them,” said Thomas about the people who come back months later after accomplishing the court-ordered task. “It shows a sense of pride. I have others who come into the courtroom and they say ‘I want mine up there, judge’ or ‘judge, you don’t have to worry, I’m going to get mine up there.’ ”
Thomas, a former Detroit school teacher, has gathered about 40 diplomas for her wall.
One is from DeQuane Curry, 19, of Detroit, who needed to complete a semester before getting his diploma from Covenant High School Academy. He brought in his diploma Dec. 22 for the judge after she asked him to complete it in March.
“I remember Judge Thomas saying without my education there is no path you can go down,” said Curry, who says he will begin college in January to study toward becoming a registered nurse. “It woke me up and made me realize my diploma is the best thing I’ve got going. It feels good.”
Curry, who went before Thomas for a misdemeanor probation violation, said his high school diploma is “something I always wanted to get.”
Thomas thinks there could be more diplomas to come. Because of the $125 fee to take a General Educational Development exam, some ex-offenders don’t have the prized document yet.
Thomas said since a lack of education is part of the problem that led some of the ex-offenders into trouble, she stresses to them the importance of completing their schooling.
“Their job prospects are more limited, they have lower self-esteem. But when they have (the diploma) they have success, they realize ‘I can succeed at other things,’ ” Thomas said. “I have two individuals who have promised me bachelor’s degrees.”
Thomas refers those who can’t read to a local literacy program.
For many, it is the first time they have been recognized for their accomplishments.
“No one ever encouraged them or put anything of theirs on the refrigerator,” said Thomas, who has been on the court’s bench for 20 years. “(The diploma wall) is a lesson that you can achieve. You have to work at it and in the long run it pays off. ’’
Most of the people who come before Thomas are involved in crimes such as auto theft, domestic violence and substance abuse. The average age of the offender is between 19 and 22.
Thomas, who also runs the Veterans Court program, said she gets letters from ex-offenders thanking her for pushing them to finish their education.
“I tell them just because you came through here doesn’t mean this has to be your permanent route (in life),” Thomas said. “We punish negative behavior. We should reward positive behavior.”
EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS: JUDGE THOMAS TALKS TO MSNBC ABOUT SENTENCING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PROGRAM
JUDGE TO STUDENTS: AVOID POLICE CONTACT
How to address the police: (video) Part 1
You are in the courthouse now: (video) Part 2
JUDGE THOMAS SUPPORTING VETERANS
Third judicial circuit court implements vetreans treatment court
SECOND CHANCES
Rebuilding Families and Communities
Detroit Free Press - Job seekers with criminal records can attend a free event Saturday in downtown Detroit featuring legal experts offering expungement advice and companies open to hiring those with convictions.
The event, open to the public, is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the AFSCME Council 25's Detroit office, 600 W. Lafayette Blvd.
"Many Detroiters want to clean up their lives and get on the right track," City Council President Brenda Jones said in a statement. "This event will give them a fresh start toward getting into the job market."
City leaders have stressed the importance of helping ex-offenders find work after serving their time. Detroit won a $5-million grant last summer from the U.S. Department of Labor aimed at getting returning residents into the workforce. The program's goal is to get 1,500 Detroiters trained and placed in to full-time jobs.
Jones and Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Deborah A. Thomas are sponsoring the event, which includes a handful of seminars for ex-offenders.
From 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, companies and other job vendors, such as Reclaim Detroit, will offer career advice and training.
From 2 to 4 p.m., attorneys will talk about how to expunge criminal records and secure a federal conviction pardon.
"When people are given a sentence and they serve it, they should be given an opportunity to have a second chance," Judge Thomas said in a statement. "We try to give them that chance."
For more information, contact Jones' office at 313-224-1245.
Contact Joe Guillen: 313-222-6678 or jguillen@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @joeguillen.
Video footage in Grand Rapids, Michigan
DETROIT (WWJ) – A tense police situation that began Thursday night on Detroit’s westside near Joy and Linwood ended just before 6 am Friday.
The stand-off lasted almost 12 hours.
Authorities said a mother barricaded herself and her 13-year-old daughter in a home after firing a shot at a Child Protective Services worker and a police escort. Reportedly, CPS were at the home to take the daughter because the mother has refused to give the girl needed medication.
Neighbors Patrisha Navarro and Shantique Johnson said police and CPS workers showed up at the woman’s house, and she “freaked out” and fired at police.
The woman, who is now under arrest, was upset that her daughter might be put on different medications and different methods for treating an undisclosed ailment. Wayne County Circuit Judge Deborah Thomas said the daughter was a member of the disabilities community.
Thomas was there along with local community activist, Minister Malik Shabazz and Ron Scott of the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, at the request of the mother who asked that someone come and help negotiate the end of the situation.
“I let her know that there’s helicopters, armored cars, SWAT teams and all kinds of police, and you don’t want this to turn out bad. You’re doing all of this to protect your child,” Shabazz said.
The woman told Shabazz the medication prescribed for her child was making her even more sick, so instead she was trying some herbal, more holistic remedies.
Thomas said the woman was very concerned about her child.
“There were times when you could tell that she [the child] was distressed, but whenever you heard that the mother would say ‘I will get back to you, I’m going to attend to my daughter.’ She made very careful considerations in terms of her daughter was properly dressed for the weather, that she was neat in her appearance, and that when she was brought out, it was in a safe environment.”
“Her mother wants her to have a bright future and I hope in addition to all else I was able to show her that, being a member of the disabilities community, you can still have a bright future,” Thomas said.
The woman lives on Blaine St. near Linwood and Joy. Police had Linwood blocked from Blaine to Gladstone for the entire duration of the stand-off.
No injuries were reported.
“I just want to say that it was a good day for Detroit,” said Ron Scott, with the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality. “In spite of all of the negatives, this was a positive,” he said.
“A positive because community and police are working together to change Detroit for good,” Judge Thomas said.
Police officials were not available for comment.
Community Safety
