In 2020, former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper appointed Kerwin Pittman, a former member of the Bloods gang, to a criminal justice reform task force. This appointment was brought to light in a recent report by The Washington Free Beacon.
The 2020 executive order following George Floyd's death
The criminal justice reform task force was established by Roy Cooper via an executive order in the wake of the George Floyd protests. The panel was designed to bring together a diverse group of state officials and community activists to address systemic issues within the legal system.. According to the report, the task force was led by current North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, who served as the attorney general at the time of its creation.
The initiative aimed to reshape how North Carolina approaches law enforcement and judicial reform. By including community voices, the administration sought to create a platform for dialogue between the state's leadership and those directly impacted by the justice system. However, the inclusion of certain individuals has since become a focal point for political scrutiny.
A 14-year sentence for a 2006 drive-by shooting
The controversy surrounding the task force centers on the criminal history of Kerwin Pittman. The Washington Free Beacon reported that Pittman was convicted in 2007 of conspiracy to commit muredr. This conviction was linked to a 2006 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Jamel Amiens Jeffreys.
At the time of the crime, Pittman was a member of the Bloods gang. Following his conviction, he served 14 years in prison. While the task force was intended to promote reform, the presence of a convicted gang member on a high-level avdisory panel has raised questions about the criteria used for selection.
Pittman's 'lived experience' defense at age 39
Kerwin Pittman has defended his role on the task force by emphasizing the value of his personal history. Now 39 years old, Pittman argued that his past mistakes should not disqualify him from contributing to reform discussions. He told The Washington Free Beacon that his involvement was requested because of his "lived experience" and his active work within local communities.
Pittman noted that his criminal conduct occurred when he was a teenager or a young man, specifically at or before the age of 19. He has not hidden his history of gang involvement or his decade-long incarceration. At the time the task force was formed, Pittman was working for Emancipate NC, an organization that advocates for criminal justice changes.
Who vetted the members of the 2020 task force?
The revelation of Pittman's appointment leaves several critical questions regarding the vetting process used by the Cooper administration. It remains unclear how much background research was conducted on the criminal records of the task force's community activists before they were officially appointed. The report does not specify if the administration was aware of the specific details of the 2006 shooting at the time of the appointment.
Furthermore, it is unknown whether other members of the panel held similar criminal backgrounds or if the selection process was intentionally designed to prioritize individuals with non-traditional legal histories. As political figures continue to debate the merits of restorative justice, the transparency of these administrative appointments remains a point of contention.
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