D.A. Candidate Amber Brantley shares her platform for the Augusta Judicial Circuit race
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Georgia’s Statewide General Primary is next week. One of the big local races we’re following is for District Attorney of the Augusta Judicial Circuit.
Incumbent Jared Williams is facing a challenge from Columbia Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Amber Brantley.
“We can’t just believe that sending people to prison, locking them up, throwing away the key is the answer. But we also have to offer those second chances,” Augusta Judicial Circuit D.A. Candidate Amber Brantley said.
Amber Brantley is no newbie to the judicial system. She currently serves as the Senior Assistant District Attorney for Columbia County.
“This year will be eight years I’ve only been a prosecutor, but being a prosecutor, it helps us to focus on all aspects,” Brantley stated.
But as a Richmond County resident, she says that she’s confident in the goals she has in mind if she were to be elected for the Augusta Judicial Circuit.
“I believe there has to be a balance between compassion and conviction,” Brantley said. “We have to focus on the prevention aspect, as well as the punishment aspect. So, with crime going up, we do have to take crime seriously, we do have to hold serious violent offenders accountable for their actions, but we also have to offer second chances. People do make mistakes, and so we do have to have those first-time programs, pre-trial interventions, accountability court.”
Brantley breaks down how she would like to serve those in the community.
“Bringing CAVE and the gang task force back to help protect our communities, help protect our elderly, those types of things. Creating an education board where we’re able to go out in the community and educate the parents, the students, on what we’re seeing, the crimes that we’re seeing.”
Brantley says she has some ideas about how to tackle crime in Richmond and Burke Counties
“How we can go ahead and treat before a juvenile or defendant makes a split decision that will cost them the rest of their lives because we’re seeing a lot of murders and 13-year-olds and 14-year-olds losing their lives and pulling triggers. So, we got to prevent, we have to reach them by creating these wrap around programs.”
The last day for Early voting will be Friday, May 17th, and the election is next Tuesday, May 21st.
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