Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett was elected as Sheriff In 1992, by Fulton County, GA, making her the first African-American woman to ever receive the title in the United States. Barrett served three terms from 1992 to 2004. During her career in law enforcement, Barrett developed several training programs and as Sheriff, she served during the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta and attended the 2000 Democratic National Convention. After a controversy regarding the spending of public monies, Barrett was suspended from office by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2004. She did not run for a fourth term.
Former Sheriff Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jacquelyn Barrett |
| Other names | Jacquelyn Washington-Barrett, Jackie Barrett |
| Education | Atlanta University |
| Known for | First African American female elected to be Sheriff in the United States |
| Spouse | Gene Washington |
| Police career | |
| Department | Fulton County Sheriff’s Department |
| Service years | 1992-2004 |
| Status | Retired |
| Awards | Legacy Award from Fulton County Sheriff’s Office |
Education
In 1972, Barrett graduated college with a bachelor's degree in sociology, with a concentration in criminology. In 1973, Barrett received her master's degree in Criminology from Atlanta University.[1]
Early Career
Before being elected Sheriff of Fulton County, Barrett served a 10-year tenure[2] as a curriculum specialist for the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. She helped to develop programs that would be used to train police officers, and was eventually promoted to create these programs for the Chief of Police and Sheriff.[3] She then served two years as chief administrative officer for the Fulton County sheriff’s department, and became the director of the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center in 1987.[2]
Career as Sheriff
In 1992, Barrett defeated both her Democratic Primary Election opponent Robert McMichaels, and her General Election opponent Morris Chappell (republican).[4]
During the Summer Olympics in Atlanta Barrett served as Sheriff and provided police support for the games.[4]
In 2000, Jacquelyn attended the Democratic National Convention, where she was interviewed by Lou Waters for CNN. She served on the Georgia Congressional Delegation and voiced her support for Al Gore.[5]
Barrett completed a second term as Sheriff, and continued to to work through a third until she was suspended from office by Governor Sonny Perdue in August of 2004.[6] Barrett's final term as Fulton County's Sheriff ended on December 31, 2004.[4]
Controversy
In 2000, Barrett was called to court for several claims of racial discrimination brought forward by eighteen Fulton County Sheriff's Department employees.[7] Of those eighteen claims, fourteen were found legitimate. Several of these officers were provided compensation for damages to their careers, and some were provided with forced promotions. The remaining four were not found to be discriminated against.[7]
In 2006, a civil action suit was filed by an inmate alleging insufficient living conditions within the Fulton County Jail against Barrett and Fulton County. [8] The Plaintiff stated to the court that he was not provided a properly ventilated cell, and that the food provided did not align with his prescribed diet. The court denied Barrett's request for summary judgement. Additionally, the Plaintiff's claim for prospective relief, and the Plaintiff's punitive-damages claims against Fulton County, and the Plaintiff's official-capacity claims against all former, current, or future sheriff of Fulton County were all denied. Template:Sfn=McGee v. Barrett
In March of 2004, Rapper T.I. produced a music video inside of the Fulton County Jail while serving time. The music video was unauthorized by Sheriff Barrett, and the employees who allegedly allowed a small camera crew inside of the jail were terminated.[9]
Life after Law Enforcement
In 2008, Jackie Barrett began teaching criminology as an adjunct professor at the University of West Georgia and Spelman College in Atlanta.[3] In 2012, it was reported that she also taught at the Fulton Leadership Academy, and focused on STEM programs for young boys.[10] In March of 2021, she received a Legacy Award from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for her lifetime of contributions.[11]
Personal Life
Jacquelyn H. Barrett was born November 4th, 1950 in Charlotte, North Carolina [3] to parents Cornelius Harrison and Ocie Perry Harrison.[4]
Jacquelyn H. Barrett became Jackie Barrett-Washington when she married Gene Washington. She has two children, Kimberly and Alan[12], and five grandchildren[10]. Barrett has always been involved in the Christian faith, and has worked for and attended Cascade United Methodist Church.[3]
Citations
- ^ Hornsby-Gutting 2007.
- ^ a b "Atlanta Area Expected To Elect Black Woman Sheriff | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
- ^ a b c d Jacquelyn H. Barrett. "Jacquelyn H. Barrett Papers". University Libraries. University of Georgia. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
:3was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "CNN Transcript - CNN Today: Democratic National Convention: Sheriff Jackie Barrett Discusses Shattering Stereotypes - August 14, 2000". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ Hart, Ariel (2004-07-24). "County Sheriff Is Suspended in Georgia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ a b "FindLaw's United States Eleventh Circuit case and opinions". Findlaw. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- ^ McGee v. Barrett 2006.
- ^ Patel 2004.
- ^ a b "6 Feb 2012, B2 - The Atlanta Constitution at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
- ^ Women’s History Month Celebration, retrieved 2021-04-07
- ^ "The nation's first black woman sheriff: Jackie Barrett. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
Works Cited
- "Atlanta Area Expected to Elect Black Woman Sheriff". The Seattle Times. 30 August 1992. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Charles Alexander v. Fulton County Georgia, U.S. No. 97-8189. (11th cir. 30 March 2000).
- Cook, Rhonda (6 February 2012). "'Semi-Retired', she now teaches". The Atlanta Constitution. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- "Democratic National Convention: Sheriff Jackie Barrett Discusses Shattering Stereotypes". CNN. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (28 March 2021). "Women's History Month Celebration". Facebook. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- Hart, Ariel (24 July 2004). "County Sheriff Is Suspended in Georgia". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- Hornsby-Gutting, Angela (17 September 2007). "Jaqueline Harrison Barrett (1940-)". BlackPast.org. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- "Jacquelyn H. Barrett Papers". University Libraries. University of Georgia. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- McGee v. Barrett, U.S. CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:04-CV-2303-TCB, PRISONER CIVIL RIGHTS 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (31 August 2006).
- Patel, Joseph (9 July 2004). "T.I. Video Fallout Continues as Control of Jail is Wrestled from Sheriff". MTV. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
- Whetstone, Muriel L. (1 August 1995). "The nation's first black woman sheriff: Jackie Barrett". Ebony. Retrieved 7 April 2021.