« Poll: Solid Majority Now Supports Congressional Troop Deadline
Gonzales Aide Will Refuse To Testify On Prosecutor Firings »
The Shaquanda Cotton Case
Southwest Bureau Chief for the Chicago Tribune, Howard Witt, just contacted me with an important update about the remarkably unjust, race-motivated sentencing of Shaquanda Cotton in Paris, TX.
Just in case you haven’t heard the backstory, I’ll let Shaquanda tell you herself from the “About Me” section on her blog Free Shaquanda Cotton:
I am a 14-year-old black freshman who shoved a hall monitor at Paris High School in a dispute over entering the building before the school day had officially begun and was sentenced to 7 years in prison. I have no prior arrest record, and the hall monitor–a 58-year-old teacher’s aide–was not seriously injured. I was tried in March 2006 in the town’s juvenile court, convicted of “assault on a public servant” and sentenced by Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to prison for up to 7 years, until I turn 21. Just three months earlier, Superville sentenced a 14-year-old white girl, convicted of arson for burning down her family’s house, to probation.
Now onto the update from the Chicago Tribune:
HOUSTON — The sentences of many of the 4,700 delinquent youths now being held in Texas’ juvenile prisons might have been arbitrarily and unfairly extended by prison authorities and thousands could be freed in a matter of weeks as part of a sweeping overhaul of the scandal-plagued juvenile system, state officials say.Jay Kimbrough, a special master appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry to investigate the system after allegations surfaced that some prison officials were coercing imprisoned youths for sex, said he would assemble a committee to review the sentence of every youth in the system.
And about Shaquanda specifically…
Among the leading candidates for early release is Shaquanda Cotton, a 14-year-old black girl from the small east Texas town of Paris, who was sent to prison for up to 7 years for shoving a hall monitor at her high school while other young white offenders convicted of more serious crimes received probation in the town’s courts.Shaquanda’s story was the subject of a March 12 Tribune article that triggered hundreds of Internet blog articles and thousands of message board postings and led to a nationwide letter-writing campaign to the Texas governor decrying perceived racial discrimination in her case.
Cotton, now 15, has been incarcerated at a youth prison in Brownwood, Texas, for the last year on a sentence that could run until her 21st birthday. But like many of the other youths in the system, she is eligible to earn earlier release if she achieves certain social, behavioral and educational milestones while in prison.
But officials at the Ron Jackson Correctional Complex have repeatedly extended Shaquanda’s sentence because she refuses to admit her guilt and because she was found with contraband in her cell–an extra pair of socks.
Socks? I guess Texas is like a whole other country.
This is good news people. Very good news. And I hope we’ll all continue to blog about this story so the momentum against these racist incarcerations will build and get them reversed quickly.
And apparently, we’ve already had an impact…
If you had Googled the black girl’s name, Shaquanda Cotton, the day before the story was published on the front page of the March 12 edition of the Tribune, you would have gotten zero results. On Monday afternoon, there were more than 35,000 hits.The story has been picked up on more than 300 blogs around the country, many of them concerned with African-American affairs. It has generated thousands of postings to Internet message boards.
It was the top story on digg.com, a site that ranks Internet pages by user popularity and recommendations. It became the most-viewed and most-e-mailed story on chicagotribune.com more than a week after it was originally published, which is particularly remarkable because most news stories on the site automatically expire after just a few days.
And now the story has jumped across the ethernet into the physical world: Dozens of talk-radio stations across the nation were buzzing about Shaquanda last week, protests on her behalf were held in Paris, a petition- and letter-drive aimed at Texas Gov. Rick Perry and the judge in the case, Chuck Superville, is under way, and civil rights leaders from the NAACP and the ACLU to the Rev. Al Sharpton are weighing whether to get involved.
I leave you with three words: Free Shaquanda Cotton.
138 Responses to “The Shaquanda Cotton Case”
I have posted at least 10 b blogs on Shaquanda’s site. Not one of them have been posted. “Why? Only ones in support of her show up.
Why want her mother sign a waiver for PISD to realease all and I mean all records of this girl. PISD does not prosecute. I sub some in the PISD and I would have filed charges myself if anyone black or white did to me what this young lady did.
I hear the name calling from Shaquanda’s side. From the people who come here to protest. Is is vulgar and uncalled for. Let’s see has PISD or Judge Superville come out and said something vulgar about the mother. I can say I personally don’t know Ms. Cherry, but she is quick to call out others who are not saying anything bad about her.
Sign the release Ms. Cotton. You singed a release for this media coverage. You’ve helped bring in outsiders to stir up trouble. You have scared our children in school. You have disrupted our homes, our lives and now these very people call for a boycott of our stores. How much more do you want to hurt this community to get your way?
Personally I have a son in school and I pray that I have taught him to respect people in charge. I can say that if my son did what your daughter did he would be down at the same place. I wouldn’t be demanding his release. I would hope he would learn a valuable lesson.
One thing that confusses me is Shaquanda has already said that she did shove the lady. I support her decision to file charges. What I don’t understand now is why your daughter want do the same thing with the TYC who is working with her. Does she believe she didn’t do anything wrong and that you will get her out and then she can do as she pleases.
Paris has always been a wonderful place to live. And I have lived in Atlanta and other places. I chose to come badk to Paris where I was raised. If this is such a bad place, why are you still here. If it doesn’t stand for what you believe why are you here?
LAST SIGN THE RELEASE GET EVERYTHING IN THE OPEN. GOD ALREADY KNOWS THE TRUTH.
The Paris Independent School District has been under investigation by U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights since 2003 over the issue of racial disparity in punishment. Among the dozen complaints was the case of Creola Cotton, mother of a student (Shaquanda), who complained about excessively disciplinary action taken against her child and racism inside her school. The young lady had been cited for “wearing a skirt that was an inch too short, pouring too much paint into a cup during an art class and defacing a desk that school officials later conceded bore no signs of damage.�
The mother chose the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights Division to air her grievance [OCR Docket No. 06061065, filed Nov. 28, 2005]. The investigation focused on noncompliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. And so, the case of Creola and Shaquanda Cotton’s will still under investigation when the alleged shoving incident took place. The mother also led a protest against the school system and aided other black parents to file discrimination complaints.
The authorities say the mother and the daughter would not “cooperate�. But the terms of cooperation includes an admission of guilt on the part of Shaquanda to the crime of delinquency. They call this coercive technique “accepting responsibility for her criminal behavior�. Without this confession, authority cannot help or treat the child’s anger management issues. But Shaquanda will not confess- at least, not while her appeal is pending. A confession would undermine her right to an innocence defense.
When cooperation with the authorities means giving a confession or accepting guilt before exhausting due process of administrative review, school authorities and the criminal justice system are exercising unconstitutional coercion in threatening the separation of mother and daughter.
As a result of the Education Department’s civil rights investigation of possible violations against Shaquanda by the Paris School system, the compliance review concluded:
“Information obtained regarding the removal of the complainant’s daughter by the state to a juvenile detention facility, OCR complaint No. 06061065, will be closed as of the date of this letter and the issues and concerns raised regarding discrimination on the basis of race regarding discipline will be reviewed as a part of the Title VI compliance review.�
They disposed of the case because the child was sent to a juvenile detention facility by the State. She was now in state’s hands and the state’s responsibility, having taken away the rights of the mother. Although it may appear the mother failed this child, it is evident that she cared enough to file a complaint against the school system with federal civil rights attorneys. Some would think this is a classic case of a mother defending a child with attitude issues and behavioral problems. In the public’s mind, the mother is the stereotype and scapegoat for the public schools’ failures. Apologists have come forth to defend the Paris Independent School District. But what they fail to see is how some black children’s attitude got bent out of shape to begin with.
One of the civil rights complaints against the school district, filed June 24, 2004, “told OCR staff on Sept. 9, 2004, that a teacher witness at Travis had informed her that another teacher told a racially offensive joke, specifically “How are blacks like ‘apples’? According to the complainant, the alleged harasser responded by stating that, ‘They both look good hanging from a tree.’� The teacher was reprimanded and later resigned.
This was not the only such case. There were other reported incidents of a similar nature, many without “sufficient evidence�, along with a pattern of harsher punishment handed out to black students for disciplinary infractions. Long before Shaquanda Cotton entered her freshman year, there was an atmosphere of racism inside Paris school system that warranted the initial attention of the OCR. And, it became evident from the records that this child Shaquanda had issues that led to an excessive number of incident reports. The assault charge was waiting to happen, almost as if a wishful end to the civil rights investigation.
People,
If you seriously believe that this poor girl was not railroaded by these racist motor scooters, I have only two words for you: Tulia, Texas.
What part of racist motor scooters do you not understand.
Great CO cite a case with no real connection but the supposed racism to prove that there was racism that allows you to connect the two as racism that proves that everything has racism………….whatever
i am very disturbed by some of the postings by sd. i understand kind of where michaelf is coming from in regards to Shaquanda Cotton knowing better than to try and enter a school w/o permission b/c if she didnt try to do that, then there may not have been a reason for anything to be said to her which got this thing started. But i still dont agree with the sentencing. Whether she gets out early or not. It doesnt take that long for someone to get back on the right track after a shoving match. A good ass whooping from someone would have done it. A lot of the posting have had some very strong points, but the only one that i dont see with a point is superdestroyer. I honestly think from your postings that you make yourself out to be a racist and it is hard for someone to understand your point of view when you are googling how many students in specific regions are pre-dominantly white so you can make a point about the safety of other students b/c of a black one. I wouldnt know to go on the internet to see how many black, whites, or hispanics are in a certain school district. You must have it on your favorites list, just in case.
SHOVING = PRISON. You have got to be kidding me. It doesn’t take a genius to realize what is going on in Paris, TX. The judge should be the one in trial/prison for misuse of his power. I can’t help but feel great saddness for Shaquanda Cotton who was convicted for NOTHING. Blackness shouldn’t be a crime!
[...] source [...]
I MUST SAY THERE IS NO POINT IN TRYING TO GET YOUR POINT ACROSS TO PEOPLE LIKE SD. A RACIST WILL NOT JUST CHANGE THEIR MIND BECAUSE OF ANYTHING POSTED HERE. SOMEONE SAID IF IT WAS A BLACK TEACHER SHOVED WE WOULD BE UP IN ARMS (NOT AN EXACT QUOTE), NOT TRUE, BLACK TEACHERS ARE ASSAULTED (ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTH) BY WHITE STUDENTS AND, I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT DRAW MEDIA ATTENTION. FOR SOME REASON EVERY ONE SEEMS TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT THE WHITE 14 YR OLD ARSONIST WAS ALL READY ON PROBATION WHEN SHE BURNED DOWN HER FAMILY’S HOUSE WHICH IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF HER PROBATION. OBVIOUSLY SHE IS A REPEAT OFFENDER IF SHE WAS ALL READY ON PROBATION. I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT WANT MY CHILDREN IN SCHOOL WITH HER. AND ALSO SHAQUANDA HAD MORE SEVERE INJURIES THAN THAT OF THE HALL MONITOR. I DON’T THINK IT’S RELEVANT THAT A JURY CONVICTED HER AS OPPOSED TO A JUDGE. OBVIOUSLY THE MAJORITY OF THE TOWN’S WHITE POPULATION FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE. HAVING LIVED IN THE SOUTH I KNOW THE EXTENTS THEY WILL GO TO TO RUIN A YOUNG BLACK LIFE, LIE, STEAL AND, KILL IF NECESSARY. THEY SAID THE MOTHER IS THE REASON SHE HAD TO BE LOCKED UP YET, THEY DID NOT SAY THAT THE MOTHER SPECIFICALLY SAID “I WILL NOT COOPERATE IN ANY WAY IF MY DAUGHTER IS ON HOUSE ARREST, PROBATION ETC…) SO HOW DID THEY COME TO THAT CONCLUSION ONE HAS TO WONDER. I AM SURE IT’S BASED ON HER PRIOR COMPLAINTS OF PREJUDICE AND SUCH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SHE DIDN’T KNOW “HER PLACE” LIKE A GOOD NEGRO IS SUPPOSED TO. THIS CASE SHOULD HAVE NEVER MADE IT TO A JURY, THE JUDGE SHOULD HAVE THROWN THIS OUT. I DONT BELIEVE SHE HIT THIS WOMAN FIRST BUT, JUST SAY SHE DID, WELL LET HER MOTHER WHIP HER AND SUSPEND HER FOR THREE DAYS. NO THEY CAN’T DO THAT BECAUSE HER MOTHER IS A TROUBLE STARTER BUT, THEY CAN’T SAY HOW. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE FOR TEXAS, REMEMBER THE CASE WITH OFFICER COLEMAN, THE UNDER COVER NARCOTICS OFFICER IN TULIA TEXAS THAT BUSTED 46 PEOPLE I THINK 38 WERE BLACK AND THEY WERE OF COURSE FOUND GUILTY BY “A JURY OF THEIR PEERS” AND WERE GIVEN ABSURD SENTENCES FOR LITTLE AMOUNTS OF DRUGS. WELL ONE OF THE WOMEN HE GOT A WARRANT FOR GUESS WHAT, SHE WAS IN CALI AT THE TIME HE SAID SHE SOLD HIM CRACK AND SHE HAD BANK STATEMENTS AS EVIDENCE AND EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY, THANK GOD. SO THEY WERE FORCED TO TAKE A MORE THOROUGH LOOK AT THE OTHER CASES AND GUESS WHAT, ALL BUT TWO WERE ACTUALLY INNOCENT. DONT TAKE MY WORD, GO TO CRIMELIBRARY.COM AND TYPE IN TOM COLEMAN READ FOR YOURSELF. AND BEFORE I GO I HAVE TO SAY I AM NOT SHOCKED (IF IT IS TRUE) THAT BLACK TEACHERS TESTIFIED AGAINST HER. WHILE I LIVED IN THE SOUTH (MARION VA TO BE EXACT) A LOT OF THE BLACK PEOPLE FROM TOWN WENT ALONG WITH ANYTHING THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS SAID. THEY ARE FEARFUL OF WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT DOING SO WILL BE. THE NEWSPAPERS WONT BE INTERESTED IN THEIR TOWN FOREVER AND THEY KNOW FULL WELL THEY WILL BE FIRED FOR SOME MINOR OR, EVEN IMAGINED INFRACTION. SO THEY GO ALONG TO GET ALONG
Well, I have to say that reading these comments has been interesting.
Just to clear something up…the “public servant” that was allegedly assaulted by Shaquanda was a SUBSITUTE TEACHER’S AIDE. Secondly, that 58 year old sub teachers aide said that they did not suffer any bodily harm or injry. HOWEVER Shaquanda did substain an injury. A large knot on the front of her head that had to be checked out after the incident occured. Hmmm…. how do you get a large knot on your head if YOU shove someone else? I have no idea. The reason Shaquanda is in jail is because she won’t apologize and admit to something she says she didn’t do. So for the lady from Paris or PISD…keep that lie to yourself. I have communicated with Shaquanda through letters and she has written to me that she didn’t do it. The Paris DA also said that one of the issues was that she would not admit to her “wrong doing”. People are trying to talk badly about her mother because she is standing behind her daughter in her maintaining her innocence. But what parent wouldn’t? What parent is going to throw their child to the wolves?! If my daughter said to me “Mama I didn’t do it.” Then I’m gonna stand behind my baby. And a bunch of he said she said is not going to make me doubt my child. I love the constant question of would you want your child in a class room with some one who assaulted a 58 year old. It kinda makes me laugh because it’s like everyone is trying to make this girl out to be a cold hearted person who ATTACKED this sub teacher’s aide with malice. But that’ not the case.
Paris is a racist little town here in Texas. Their fair grounds use to be the stage for lynching and burning and torturing people of color. Which might I add did not stop until the late 1950s. There has always been issues with race in that town. You tell me how a 19 year old white man can run over a black woman and her 3 year old grandson with his truck and only get 5 YEARS OF PROBATION but a 14 year old black girl gets accused of shoving a hall monitor (basically) and she gets a damn indeterminate sentence of up to 7 years? And you really want to say this is not racially motivated??? In any way??? Please people let’s not be so ignorant. We all know racism is alive and well. And it’s definitely THRIVING down here in the great state of Texas. You can try to cover your eyes and ears to it all you want.But it’s real. But hey…it’s easy to turn the other cheek when you aren’t the one being slapped. When you have the safety and security of your white skin that lets you know that “Hey I’m gonna burn down my family’s house. and it will be ok because I’m white so all I’ll get is probation! COOL!” (yes this did happen in Paris with the same judge sentencing the 14 year old white girl who did it to probation) Equal rights my hind end. As long as people continue to turn a blind eye because it doesn’t concern them, then I will never have children. I fear for my nieces and nephews futures because they are black children and I know the pains they will suffer in the hate filled unjust society we live in.
I happened upon this site through another site and I must say that I am utterly disgusted, but not the least bit surprised. The bottom line is that the sentence did not fit the crime. There were several steps that could have been taken prior to incarceration. If she were such a “violent offender” she would have assaulted the woman by striking her, possibly repeatedly, not shoving past her. If she were so violent there would be a lengthy history detailing several violent acts. If she were so violent, why was a psych eval never ordered? Was she in special education courses (which would indicate some form of mental or behavioral disorder)? This is a child, imperfect though she may be. I would have no problem with her attending school with my children. And yes, this is a racial issue. It is a cultural issue. It is a societal issue. It is a testament to the dysfunctional state of the legal system. And just for the sake of balance, DEADLY SCHOOL VIOLENCE, KILLING SPREES, TEACHER STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS, AND OTHER HEINOUS HARMFUL OCCURENCES HAPPEN IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE, OFTEN SUBURBAN, “GOOD” SCHOOL DISTRICTS. So, while we seek out the “good” schools and neighborhoods, let us not forget that CRIME KNOWS NO SOCIAL, RACIAL, OR ECONOMIC BOUNDARIES.
I would consider myself a disciplinarian. I completely agree that schools are out of control and children get too much consideration. Teachers no longer get the respect, or courtesy, that they derserve.
But I’ve been raised Black in this country and I’ve experienced racism and discrimination personally. If you aren’t Black, you can’t relate…you just can’t understand. We have always had to endure more scrutiny. Our wrongs are always more wrong than “their” wrong.
Based on the post by Eddie Griffin, things have become crystal clear in my mind. As far as the “Paris powers that be”, Mother Cotton was a trouble-maker. What’s the best way to handle a trouble-maker? Harrassment. And since they couldn’t make things difficult for the mother, Shaquanda had to suffer the consequences. Now, I can’t justfy what Shaquanda did; she was wrong. But the punishment does not fit the crime.
Some of these responses are deeply disturbing, and even further disturbing is the ‘justification’ that some of you are giving for those very responses. I believe that this child should have been punished in some manner and been forced to apologize to the woman that she knocked over/ shoved/pushed down. There was clear disprespect shown to an adult. Some of you are claiming that 7 YEARS is justifiable. People who are charged with DUI’s/ Assault & Battery/ etc., are sentenced to less, if any time at all. That is sick and twisted in and of itself and reeks of the “black rage” stereotype. Plain and simple, the child was wrong. She was sentenced inappropriately and its evident that bias, in whatever form, was present. I had no idea that Texas was this bad, and from some of the comments posted earlier that appear to be Texans themselves- I am glad I live on the opposite coast.
I am saddened and disheartened by many of the comments I have read here. Obviously, not much has changed in this country in the past several decades. Our attitudes remain closed minded and bigoted, especially here in Texas where I have chosen to make my home. It is a sad commentary on the state of affairs in this country we all love and hold up as a shining example to the rest of the world. How can we have the audacity to go overseas and try to uphold democracy and fairness and justice in other countries when we can’t even live up to those lofty ideals here at home? I have tried to teach my daughter that we live in a time and place where all things are possible for anyone who desires them and works to achieve their goals but oviously I was wrong. America is not color-blind. Hopefully, I will live to see the time when that statement will be true.
I can’t understand how a can anybody say that Al Sharpton does what he does for people just for PUB. That’s insane!! This country has major race related problems and for some one like Al Sharpton to bring these things to light is a good thing. The media isn’t breaking there necks to bring these story out. So someone has to, I praise Brother AL! Free Ms. Cotton and put Perry in jail along with the rest of his Klan in Government!!!
Superdestroyer, you’re the only person here who knows what he/she’s talking about. A lot of people these days think they have a good picture of whats going on when they’re only being fed bull by organizations with ulterior motives.
kudos to you.
What i love and generally shows the hatered in most whites is the fact that they tend to use “Extreme” terminology when desrcibing black people, and find some of the nicest words in “websters” when desribing whites! Strange enough i noticed somebody referring to the DUKE case, being black i never once bought the story(of the rape anyway, never can be sure which whites are racist, they tend to be chamillion like on certain subjects) But i cant ever remember a news story in which the victim was so “villified” and maybe she deserved it??? And now we have GROWN MEN AND WOMEN calling a 14yr old a “violent criminal” for allegedly shoving a 58yr old women in school, while a 14yr old white girl who burned down the home of her parents as “A trobled teen” We need to be very careful of our langauge, people may actually mistake us for RACIST!!!
I honestly have no idea why some people are justifying the sentencing. tennille, you are right on the money when you stated that if she was a violent offender and really trying to attack the lady, it would have been repeatedly. Most violent attackers dont attack once, especially if they are trying to hurt the individual. If an 8 y/o with an attitude shoved a teacher, would it have the same outcome? I honestly dont think so. I also think that those persons that are defending the courts wouldnt have the same thoughts if it were there child that was on trial. I would back my child up 100% if they told me that they didnt do it.
To SD,
It does not surprise me that you make these comments and have taken your current stance on the matter. I hope that we can enter into a more elaborate dialog on this subject. But in the interim, I want to answer the direct question that you posed. If my children were in school with a “troubled child” (it remains to be seen if Ms. Cotton was indeed “troubled”) there are processes and procedures that have been established by the TX State school systems. If Ms. Cotton was truely a “troubled” child, she could have easily been suspended or expelled from her school – negating your agreement that a 7yr jail sentence is a justification to “clean-up” our schools. Regardless of what prior disciplinary actions Ms. Cotton my have been involved with, rational thinking and true application of the law should have delivered a more adequate punishment. I am sure if we were to check the priviledged lives of the Judge’s and Prosecutor’s children, we will find some childhood mistake that they made that has been EXSPONGED. Point blank and period, the USDOJ (U.S. Dept. of Justice) needs to investigate the Judge and DA assigned to this case to see how and why a sentence this heavy was applied to this girl. This case screams has strong hints of Marcus Dixon injustice – convicted of statatory rape for having consensual sex with a 15yr old schoolmate when he was 18.
Here is another example for you….How is it that a person convicted of DUI and vehicular homicide (for killing 3 people in the accident) be sentenced to 1yr in prison (of which they gave her time served, which equalled 3 months and 2yrs probation) when Ms. Cotton was sentenced to 7 for a shove? Oh, thats right, it is because in the case I am referring to, the CRIMINAL was a young, fairly attractive white teenage girl. The scales of Justice have been unbalanced since the inception of this country, and the application of the law in this case substantiates this comment. SD, I too live in Austin – TX and my children WILL be going to Regan.
Superdestroyer, would you want your child in the classroom with a child that happens to be white and burned down her families home and received probation? 19-year-old white man, convicted last july of criminally negligent homicide for killing a 54-year-old black woman and her 3-year-old grandson with his truck, was sentenced in Paris to probation. I guess that you would prefer your children be in the company of these 2 individuals.
Free Shaquanda Cotton!!!!!
I have teenage daughters and there was 2 choices HER MOM was offered to take her home with probation BUT HER MOM REFUSED that is why she is where she is. the court tried to JUST GIVE HER PROBATION BUT NO HER MOM REFUSED IT IS NOT ANYBODIES FAULT BUT HER MOMS . As a mom i think we need to march in her moms yard and yell what moms are suppose to do for their children not pick to send her to prison where she is out of her way
FACT: This juvenile girl assaulted a teacher, who by Texas law is a public servant, in September 2005. It was witnessed first-hand by two other teachers who testified.
FACT: Before trial, the Lamar County and District Attorney’s Office (prosecutors) offered a plea bargain reduction from felony to misdemeanor assault and 2 years juvenile probation, which the mother and defense attorney turned down.
FACT: The juvenile had a trial and was found adjudicated delinquent by a jury (we don’t refer to juveniles as “guilty” or “not guilty” in Texas – it’s “adjudicated” or “not adjudicated”) in March of 2006.
FACT: After the jury adjudicated the juvenile as delinquent, the defense asked Lamar County Judge Chuck Superville to set punishment. The defense could have had a jury set punishment, but asked for the judge to decide.
FACT: This juvenile did NOT receive 7 years in prison. She was given an indeterminate sentence to the Texas Youth Commission, which means her conduct and cooperation with their behavior rehabilitation programs determines when she gets out. Minimum time to complete those programs is 9 months. She entered TYC in March 2006 and could have been out in December 2006 if she was being cooperative. But note that she never had to go to TYC in the first place: she could have gotten probation.
FACT: Texas statute under the Family Code (governing juveniles) left 2 options for the judge: 1) release the juvenile on probation back to a family member who verbally assures the judge that cooperative efforts to meet probation conditions will be met, and 2) sentence to the Texas Youth Commission. Often, parents are part of the problem and other family members step forward to offer to take the juvenile in their care and see to it probation conditions are met. NO other family members came forward and this juvenile’s mother (Creola Cotton) told the judge she would not comply with conditions of probation. The judge’s hands were tied by the law and he had no other choice but TYC.
FACT: School officials testified during the punishment phase that this juvenile had been a continuous discipline problem and that her mother continually defended her actions, telling her she did nothing wrong, and fought against disciplinary actions against her daughter for legitimate infractions.
FACT: The defense filed an appeal, fired the defense attorney trial attorney they hired (Wesley Newell of Dallas) and alleged ineffective assistance of counsel (saying the defense attorney didn’t do his job well enough). The Court of Appeals in Texarkana ruled that the juvenile would not be released on bond pending their final appeal decision. That decision has not yet been handed down.
FACT: This juvenile would not be in TYC if her mother had agreed to cooperate with conditions of probation after the jury found her essentially guilty.
You will find these facts with additional comments at http://www.lamarcountyattorney.com/cotton.html
ok i have read everyones comments and i only have a few things to sayso i hope you can hear me!!! one i grew up in richmond california in the san francisco bay area and yes i seen students push teachers in the hall ways as the go and they get expulled and sent to continuation school for troubled youth not jail ive seen youths out here shoot people and they get sent to youth authority until they are 21 now whats the difference people violence right!!!!!first shes 14 she couldnt of hurt a 58 yearold is she did it was probaly the 58 year olds pride that was hurt and that is why the police were called she wanted to break the girl down til she couldnt break no more. there is no way this young lady should of been sentenced to prison because her mom refused probation if that was the case they should of let her do probation in a foster home since they wanted her to have probation in the first case i am a mother of 5 children and i wouldnt stand for this in no way prison just institutionalizes people to where when they do get out they want to go back cause they dont know the outside world i know this for a fact its happened to my father so i say this in conclusion to s.d how could you even think that this punishment was suitible for a 14 yearold no matter what her race????even with her being unruly as are most kids her age
I, like Ms. Malika have also read everyone’s post and I find SD thoughts disturbing. I can’t believe people in this day and age still hold racist viewpoints. SD has already labeled the young lady a felon; a violent felon and by labeling the young lady SD tries to place fear into the hearts of parents and teachers. Why is she a violent felon, because she was convicted of shoving a teacher’s aide while trying to get into the school? When I think of a violent felon, I think of an armed robber, a rapist, a murder, or a kidnapper but not a school kid shoving someone. Again by labeling the young lady SD is simply trying to invoke fear and anguish towards her. SD then goes on to pose the question of: Would you want your kids in the same classroom as her? Notice, the young lady’s charge was trying to enter the building before school started; which means she was at school, not skipping school getting into something mischievous. Not only was she at school, but she was there before school started. So that means that she’s not a tardy student running in after the bell sounds interrupting other students. We have all been school kids before and we have all had that one annoying mean teacher, not suggesting this of the teacher’s aide but we all know that adults as well as children can be spiteful and malice and just maybe the teacher’s aide was. I am guilty of deliberately disobeying an order given by my grade school teacher. I sure we have all been told we can’t go to the bathroom while in class and we get up and go anyway. Luckily the teacher never stood in my way or I probably would have after trying to explain the need, shoved her aside as well. Either way, this is a shoving incident. The aide was not battered or beaten she was pushed out of the way. The judge is total out of line and should be held accountable for allowing such a sentence. The problem is that no one votes to replace those judges in small towns. Judges are elected, if you are in a small town and you don’t agree with the court systems of the town, get out to vote and change the direction. What happens is that no one votes or only a few voters turn out and these officials become complacent and believe they own the justice system. No one complains, writes, or challenges and they go about their merry ruling the city. If you don’t like it take steps to change it.
I MUST SAY THAT ANONYMOUS’ REPLY FOR ME IS IRRELEVANT. AS MOST BLACK PEOPLE KNOW, FACTS ARE NOT FACTS JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE WHITE SAYS IT’S SO. OF COURSE OTHER WHITES (NOT ALL THOUGH) BELIEVE IT, THEY LOOK AT ALL OF US WITH DARKER SKIN AS POSSIBLE CRIMINALS. LETS LOOK AT RONALD COTTON FROM NORTH CAROLINA. HE WAS ACCUSED OF RAPE EVEN THOUGH HE HAD A CREDIBLE ALIBI. ONE VICTIM POINTED HIM OUT AND A SECOND VICTIM SAID IT WASN’T HIM. HE WAS CONVICTED AND IMPRISONED. HE GETS A SECOND TRIAL AND NOW THAT SECOND VICTIM NOW KNOWS IT WAS DEFINITELY HIM. OF COURSE THE PROSECUTION TOLD LIES MIXED WITH TRUTH AS WELL AS THE INVESTIGATORS DID AND HE WAS FOUND GUILTY AGAIN AND REMAINED IN PRISON FOR SEVERAL YEARS. AND HERE COMES DNA YEARS LATER AND GUESS WHAT? RONALD COTTON IS INNOCENT AFTER ALL. BUT IT WAS THE “FACTS” PRESENTED DURING THE TRIAL AND, AS ONE OF THE JURORS SAID LATER, “HIS ATTITUDE LIKE HE DIDNT CARE MADE HIM SEEM GUILTY”. OF COURSE HE “SEEMED” GUILTY, HE WAS BLACK. I JUST HAVE TO SAY ONCE AGAIN, FACTS ARE NOT FACTS JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE WHITE OR, WITH SOME TYPE OF AUTHORITY SAYS SO. I KNOW THAT SHAQUANDA’S MOTHER DID NOT REFUSE PROBATION. THAT IS NOT EVEN RELEVANT, THE FACT IS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO CRIMINAL COURT, PERIOD. AND ALSO ONCE AGAIN, EYE WITNESS TESTIMONY MEANS NOTHING TO ME. AS I HAVE STATED EARLIER, IF THEY ARE WHITE, THEY ARE LIKELY THRILLED TO GO ALONG WITH THE LIE. IF THEY ARE BLACK, AS I SAID BEFORE, THEY HAVE TO GO ALONG TO GET ALONG. WERE NOT THE VICTIMS OF THE AFORE MENTIONED RAPE NOT EYE WITNESS’ TO THE CRIME AND POINTED AT INNOCENT RONALD COTTON AND SAID WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT, HE IS THE ONE THAT DID THIS HORRIBLE THING. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT AS BLACK PEOPLE WE WASTE TIME TRYING TO MAKE SOME WHITE’S (NOT ALL, JUST THE RACIST ONES) UNDERSTAND OUR PLIGHT. IT IS REDUNDANT TO DO SO. THEY DON’T CARE EVEN THOUGH THEY SEE AN INJUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE. ANOTHER DARKY BEHIND BARS, GREAT DAY. THEY WILL FIND WAYS TO TRY TO CONVINCE US IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, THOUGH THEY THEMSELVES KNOW IT’S WRONG. BUT DOESN’T IT SUIT THEM MUCH BETTER WHEN THEY CAN CONVINCE ONE OF US AND ADD TO THEIR ARGUMENT, I HAVE A BLACK “FRIEND” THAT FEELS THE SAME WAY AS I DO.
AND DEIDRA, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU, THOSE ARE PEOPLE I WOULD CLASSIFY AS “DANGEROUS FELONS” AND MAY I ADD TO YOUR LIST OF ARMED ROBBER, MURDERER, KIDNAPPER AND RAPIST, THAT AN ARSONIST THAT COMMITS ARSON WHILE ON PROBATION ALSO RINGS OF FELON TO ME.
FREE SHAQUANDA COTTON!
[...] There are is more at The Moderate Voice, Capitol Annex, and at Professor Kim’s News Notes. [...]
Although I feel this punishment was very harsh, this was the topic on the local radio station here in Houston, and a Paris, Tx woman(yes she was black) called to give the low down on the case, she even gave her name. She stated that the whole story is not being told, she stated, ” this young lady was always in trouble and this was not her first offense of assault, she stated even now in the juvenile detention she remains in trouble. She states the young lady mother never cared until now that the child was in trouble since elementary school.”
O.K., ONCE AGAIN, I THINK PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE OVER ALL PICTURE (CJB). SHAQUANDA PERHAPS COULD HAVE BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE, LET’S ASSUME AND SAY SEVERAL TIMES. WELL THE PROBLEM IS SHE WAS NEVER IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW. FIRST TIME OFFENSE WITH A CRIMINAL CHARGE. SEVERAL CHILDREN MISBEHAVE, NOT EXCUSING IT, IT’S JUST TRUE HOWEVER, ONCE AGAIN THE SAME JUDGE SENTENCED A WHITE FEMALE WITH PRIOR CRIMINAL CHARGES TO PROBATION FOR BURNING DOWN HER FAMILY’S HOUSE, WHILE ON PROBATION. ONE MISBEHAVED IN SCHOOL, THE OTHER WAS A REPEAT OFFENDER, TAKING PART IN CRIMINAL ACTS. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME SHE STOOD BEFORE A JUDGE. AND ONCE AGAIN, BURNING DOWN HER HOUSE WAS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF HER PROBATION.
I am very upset about this whole situation, very upset. It is very unfortunate baby Cotton is a victim of this fucked up society, but let her know that there are many that are feeling her pain, and I am young, and in school but i want to do as much as I can to get through to her. I attend Ferris State University, and I am trying to get my N.A.A.C.P chapter to write letters to the Government to let her go. I am very upset about the national chapter of N.A.A.C.P. There is no reason why N.A.A.C.P should be debating if they are going to get involved. They should have been out supporting and helping the family get on the case as soon as they heard it. This type of behavior is not going to help our people but hurt. I understand why the president resigned, because they are not responded and are not focused on they duties which is simply Fighting for African American Rights!!! I want Baby Cotton to know that we love her, and I shead tears everytime I think of her but I will smile for her as well. I hope she see the sun soon. and keep the hope alive baby cotton. we are continuing to fight and pray for you and we won’t stop!!!!!!!!
Micatt, I agree. I am a Clinical Therapist. I work in a residential facility for juvenile offenders with dual mental health/substance abuse diagnoses. Trust you me, THIS CHILD IS NOT A CRIMINAL COMPARED TO MANY! The fact remains that the punishment was far more extensive than suitable for the offense. She had no prior record. If her mother denied caring for her the child should have been adjudicated dependent and placed in foster care not a prison. That’s the course of action when there is no parent or relative to care for the child, not prison. It was racially biased. PLEASE STOP DENYING IT AND CALL A SPADE A SPADE. DAMN!
I am a senior judge and following comments here I realsied many commentators based their opinions on Racial discrimination which should not be considered as a prime factor determining sentences of individuals.I have been working closely with all races of judeges and lawyers and cases are all treated thesame.Juvenile deliquency is considered and also mentally deranged law breakers are also taken into consideration.But law remains and every criminal is sentenced according to the circumstances that he or she faces.In this present situation there is not injustice no matter whether she has not been a criminal before there is no pardon for an offense that needs criminal prosecution.
FRITZANE KIKI, I AGREE. IT SHOULDN’T BE BASED ON RACIAL DISRIMINATION. THE PROBLEM IS NOT OUR COMMENTS BASED ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION BUT, THE SENTENCE THAT WAS BASED ON RACIAL DISCRIMINATION. YOU KNOW, I HAVE FORGOTTEN TO FOLLOW MY OWN ADVISE I POSTED EARLIER TO NOT WASTE TIME TRYING TO CHANGE THE LITTLE MINDS OF RACIST PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON’T THINK THEY ARE RACIST. ANY ONE WITH COMMON SENSE THAT IS NOT PREJUDICE WOULD NOT DISPUTE THIS IS AN INJUSTICE. ESPECIALLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT LEAN SENTENCES HANDED DOWN BY THIS JUDGE TO MORE SERIOUS AND REPEAT OFFENDERS. YOU TO AN EXTENT JUDGE EACH CASE INDIVIDUALLY HOWEVER, THERE ARE GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW SUCH AS REPEAT OFFENDERS VIOLATING PROBATION DO NOT CONTINUE TO GET PROBATION. GUESS IT’S JUDGES LIKE YOU WE CAN THANK FOR CHILDREN LIKE BARRIOS GETTING KILLED. SO THANK YOU JUDGE!! HAS ANY ONE WROTE TO SHAQUANDA? I ASSUME EVERYONE HAS THE ADDRESS BUT IF NOT GO TO
FREESHAQUANDACOTTON.BLOGSPOT.COM/
AND ALL THE RACISTS I HOPE WILL REFRAIN FROM WRITING THEIR HATE MAIL TO THIS CHILD. I HOPE EVERY ONE IS ADDING HER TO THEIR PRAYERS AND, PRAYER LISTS AT CHURCH. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW SUPPORT HOWEVER WE CAN. GOD KNOWS IT COULD EASILY BE ONE OF US SITTING IN THE STEW POT.
Forgetting the race issue, forgetting a maybe less then wise mother, forgetting a ‘troubled’ past for the 15 year old…. um.. why do rapist and drunk drivers and child abusers walk away with less time then this child may possible serve? It is about the punishment fitting the crime. Thats all.
She does not deserve even the possibility of being in jail until she is 21.
Don’t get me wrong. She does need to be delt with for her actions, but what kind of example are we setting? Our kids are not dumb, neither are they the scared and timid youths that alot of us were when we were their age.
We like to say that we had more respect for adults but what we really had was a healthy dose of fear. Keep in mind that the only reason that worked was because in the back of our minds we knew that they had our best interest at heart.
That is not the case any more. Kids rebel many times because they believe that the only person they can trust is themselves. Someone please tell me how this type of injustice works to change that attitude?
This child will never believe in the justice system again.
I learned two things in this discussion. Number one is that the conditions set by Cotton’s mother by initiating the ‘federal case’ around the claim of racist punishments by the school district may justify her insistence on maintaining the innocence of Shaquanda. This makes sense to me. There is ample precedent for federal nullification of local jurisdictions. If I were Cotton’s ‘federal case’ counsel it wouldn’t take much for me to paint the entire region of Texas as a racist backwater arrayed against a poor little innocent black girl. Obviously lots of people here have swallowed that bait. Substitute ‘prison’ for ‘juvey’ and that’s all it takes.
The second thing I learned is that far too many American citizens are just completely ignorant of the law. The very idea of comparing an arson case with an assault case based upon the race of the defendant is a line of logic that is shamefully retarded. All of you should be ashamed.
We should all keep in mind that the reporting on this story has been crazy, and Cotton’s mother and the state of Texas both have an interest in keeping Shaquanda’s school record sealed. Therefore the facts in question will always be in question. All that remains are some results of ‘federal case’ investigations, and the appeal of Cotton’s actual trial.
Oh yea one more thing I learned was that the appellate board did not grant her freedom when they might have. There hasn’t been any news or detail on that matter either.
WELL EVIL DID NOT PREVAIL IN THIS CASE, SHE IS FREE THANK GOD!!
AND TO COBB, THE SHAME IS THAT YOU USE RETARDED WHICH IS VERY INNAPROPRIATE AND OFFENSIVE SO FREELY. NOTHING YOU SAY MATTERS. ONE DOWN AND SEVERAL MORE TO GO!!!
This is so sad, a former Juvenile Probation Office in the State of Texas for 5 years, this is a sad outcome that the Juvenile System would sentence a child for this office, just like many other writers, why wasn’t this child situation handled by the school official, after school, detention, ISP (In-school suspension) or just being suspended. I am mostly surprised that the Juvenile Probation Department even took this case to court. This would have never made it to our court system. I am outraged that a white child with more serious crime got a slap on the hand. I agree with other writers that Affirmative Action should be continue because of stupidity and irrogance like this. That judge should be removed from the bench and all his cases should be reviewed for other racial discriminative sentences.
I cannot believe what is being wrote on his blog in regards to support of the child who committed the crimes. Superdestroyer, for most part is correct about all the facts that is being presented about the child. I do know some counselors and teachers that have dealt with her – it has nothing to do with race. She just did not respect authority, black or white. She spoke back to African American teachers. The only reason why the person got probation when she burned down the house, was because she accepted the conditions of probation. Guess what? She’s now in JAIL!!!! She violated the conditions.
Looks like Superville did the right thing. Nobody got out of anything, and nobody was neglected. She did the crime. She has to accept responsibility – her mother wouldn’t let her. Obviously, she is unfit mother to have this daughter around if she is not going to learn to accept responsibility for shoving a teacher who is trying to do her job.
Leave race out of this, and you shall see this is just a case of a mother and child just REFUSING to accept responsibility and is abusing NAACP’s power to get her out of jail. Period.
Most white people will always judge black people unfairly. Black people have to try to stay out of the hands of the law, since justice is obviously not on their side. Let us all wait and see what the outcome of the case will be before we put our two cents in. In the interim, Praise be to Allah for the child being released!
Oh and SD, how ya like them apples, LOL!
THAT GOES TO SHOW THAT RACISM IS STILL ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALSO GOES TO SHOW THAT RACISM WILL FOREVER BE HERE. BUT, THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A BETTER COUNTRY TO LIVE IN? AS THE DAYS GO ON WE ARE SLOWLY BECOMING A COMMUNIST SOCIETY.
I am from Paris. I have a friend who served on her jury. She did not “push” the 57 yr old VOLUNTEER, she hit her repeatedly. I also have many friends in Paris who are black. One of my best friends, tells me that his children say Ms. Cotton is a big time bully, and trouble maker. She has an extensive record at PHS to prove it.
1st-she wasnt sentenced to 7 yrs, so stop saying that! She was sentenced to the facility (for a time to be determined by the facility administrators, who recommended she stay until her 21st birthday-wonder why?)
2nd-They offered her probation, her mother requested a trial by jury.
3rd-They jury found her guilty of assault (with intent!) for attacking a 57 yr old volunteer.
4th-My info tells me (reputable source) that her mother was furious, when she found out her welfare check would be for less, while the girl was detained.
5th-The girl was late for school-You have to get a pass to enter class-Same rules for everybody! You dont attack an old lady unless you are mentally unstable!
Trust me – this girl is trouble with a T! I wonder how much press we will get when she does it again or WORSE? Probably none-but I will blog my butt off!
Well, Jeff, I think that if your friend really served on the jury, that they might have committed an offense by telling you any specifics of the case that were not released into the press. But that just may be a law here in kentucky. Your “fact#5″ is kind of conflicting with everyone else who agrees with you b/c you say that she was late for school and everyone else said that she was trying to get into class early. For you to be on the same side as some of the people on here, your facts need to be the same as theirs. yeah, she may have been in lots of fights in school and cussing and yelling, but why didnt the school officials just kick her out if she was so terrible with a T! How dare you imply that her mother only cares about how much her welfare check is. Her mother probably requested a trial by jury b/c she would think that there would be some people on there with common sense. People that could see that this was a ridiculous way to get a situation like this resolved. Yes, she was sentenced 7 yrs!!!! But like everyone else, she gets eligible for probation, but she will still have the remaining amount of the sentence over her head if she does anything wrong. i wonder how long she will be out before someone provokes something to happen or lies about something happening. I know teachers lie for one another. I dont care what anybody else says, they do lie. I am getting my opinion from the facts on other peoples comments. Those that oppose the sentencing and those that agree with the sentencing b/c you will be able to find some part of the truth in between.
bold tag fix! yay
umnow is it good?
Hi Everyone,
I have no comment for some of the obvious same racist people who support the judge in the case giving their racist opinions on this site.
The bottom line is: We live in a racist country and Texas being the top.
The people on this site are trying to defend the judge’s decision and label this girl as “bad” because deep down one of their ancestors, if not them are just as racist as this judge.
I thank GOD everyday I don’t have that much hate or disdain for people because of color or feel I am better.
Some of you people need Jesus and if you don’t believe in GOD then I understand why you feel they way you do, and GOD BLESS YOU, just the same.
Racist breed hate and that is a miserable life and eternity in hell.
You wake up and look at yourself in the mirror and think you’re better.
I am African American and I don’t hate Racism, I pity them.
Ok Vedat, Im not sure what to say to you. She wasnt sentenced to 7 yrs. Do some research, if you REALLY care. Man,… lets get that straight. “Yeah she may have been in lots of fights at school”? The girl is 14 for goodness sakes. How many 14 yr. old girls get in lots of fights in school? How dare I reference the check? I think its relevant. As far you implying that a 12 person jury is without common sense is shaky ground at best. And yes, I am sure, someone will provoke her again, and again, and again, just like they do all of us everyday. The difference is that most of us dont resort to violence when provoked. It helps us stay out of jail that way. Oh yea, and Vedat it is not against any laws for a juror to discuss a trial after the case, only during. Unfortunetely, a lack of education, travel, and being exposed to different cultures and views, can contribute to ignorance (racism).
And to Steve, “THAT MUCH hate or disdain for people because of color or race”? Thank goodness for that. Your right Steve our world does have racism in it. I have seen it alot, and I am really tired of it. As far as you saying your African American…when did you relocate here? What part of Africa did you come from? Cant you just be an American now? And if you didnt personally come here from Africa ( MAYBE your ancestors did), then stop saying that your African American. I think Tiger Woods said it best when he said ” I am not an African American, or Asain American, I am just an American, (I like that guy). America loves you Steve…love her back…she needs you right now, and she deserves it. Listen, racism is why I would NEVER join a white group, EVER! But why do most black people think that the New Black Panter Party is ok, or do they? Im not 100% about saying “most”, but it sure seems like it. As a white guy in todays world, it seems like alot of people are racist towards us. I remember staying at one of my friends house overnight as a kid, and his grandfather didnt want me to be there because I was a whitey”. His grandfather turned out to be a good guy, and we were friends, but it took a while. Im sure he was a victim of racism like I could never imagine. But…not from me.. and we shouldnt let it effect the way we treat new people. I did like the way you blessed everyone though regardless…now we need more of that. Steve, my 5 yr old said it best “Daddy im not really white and the black kids arent really black, Im more brown than white (as he held up a piece of notebook paper), and they are more brown than black”.
P.S. its up to God who goes to hell, and lets hope for your sake,he doesnt do it for racist comments, Im pretty sure he doesnt…so relax.
Hi, Jeff,
Jeff you make very good points, however my wanting to use African American is my choice; i.e. Polish American, Mexican American and so forth it all follows American.
GOD does decide to who goes to hell but Hate does not exist in hell, it is of the devil, who resides in hell.
Racism and prejudice are two different things. Lack of exposure to a culture or group of people does produce prejudice. Racism is a personal option, it is hatred.
Being African American I have had prejudice views in the past because of
things that have happened to me personally as a child.
You may have been called ‘w—-y’ by your friend’s grandfather because o all the names he was called growing up. My mother and granny have awful stories of how they were treated. He was not being racist towards you-he didn’t hate you he- prejudged you. Prejudice-different.
You are right I do need to relax, we all need to relax but it is hard when it is in your face everyday.
PS: Most African Americans do not agree with the ‘New Black Panther, (as you say) or any organization, who are ambulance chasers or media seekers.
One other thing for Jeff, I really appreciate your comments. I meant to say evil doesn’t exist in Heaven.