Chatham County District Attorney pushes back against criticism of her office

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - On Wednesday, Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones pushed back against criticism of her office in the wake of two recent homicides that shook Savannah.

While some community members have questioned why accused offenders are often free on bond, Jones made it clear that prosecutors are not the ones making those decisions.

In her statement, Jones acknowledged the grief facing the community while clarifying the role of her office in bond decisions and emphasizing the need to look deeper at the root causes of crime.

See the full statement below:

“The deaths of two young men over the weekend is tragic and the current cycle of violence in Savannah is alarming, it is natural to look for someone to blame. As has been reported numerous times, many of the accused are “out on bond” for previous offenses. Legally, bond is always determined by a sitting Judge and every American citizen has the right to ask to be free according to the US Constitution. The hard working prosecutors at the Chatham County DAs office have a long track record of opposing bond for violent offenders. Placing a lack of accountability on the courthouse steps is the very definition of “the tail wagging the dog”. I am no better able to wrestle guns out of the hands of young people than any other elected official, public or private citizen. As a community, we should be asking ourselves, not why are we letting these people offend again, but rather, why are these young people ending up in a courtroom in the first place. The Chatham County DA’s office assures citizens, those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice. For now, we seek peace for the families who are grieving and pray for their strength moving forward in this most difficult of times. “

Shalena Cook Jones, Chatham County DA