Education: 

​It has been proven that adequate and supportive education is a springboard to a successful future. There are many extenuating circumstances as to why a truancy can occur and this should be addressed on a case by case basis, always following the law but leading with compassion and a willingness to offer solutions versus punishment. Community partnerships as well as communication/collaboration with the school administrations can go a long way toward less truancy as well as better grades/higher self-esteem. This could be a model for higher graduation statistics and more enrollers into college and/or trade schools as well as the military. I have firsthand knowledge of what the possibilities can/could be with effective communication and collaboration. with working together to help the student be there best selves, while also offering assistance to the family as the truancy might be because of the challenges the family might be facing. 

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Community Collaboration: 

Once a student becomes truant, the proverbial “pipeline to the prison” has the possibility of being real and this should be avoided if at all possible. This is where the court can partner with the community, i.e. local non-profits, small businesses, and schools to help the student get back on track. This could be a win/win for everyone as this will help the student keep his/her record clean while encouraging them to pursue higher education if that is their desire. Darsell currently partners with several non-profits and community partners and strongly believes that because of this connection, it could be a positive segue into a better outcome. This will also help reduce the drain on the court’s finances. 

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Zoom Court: 

Utilizing Zoom for meetings, especially during the COVID pandemic, was vital in insuring that the work of the courts and businesses remained effective. This along with instituting once or twice per month weekend court could reduce the backlog and allow working people to attend meetings without being subjected to penalties for their inabilities to attend court during the week. Darsell is in favor of making this a reality if elected as this would not only make the court run more efficiently while being a good steward of the court’s resources.  

 

Tenant and Property Management Disputes: 

It's critical that the Justice of the Peace understands the issues between tenants' and property managers' as well as from their perspectives. This will allow court to stop baseless evictions from corrupt property managers. At the same time understanding these issues allows a Justice to work with property managers to ensure accountability for tenant responsibilities. This level of fairness and accountability from both parties will create a great working partnership that the Justice can mediate between tenants and property managers.  

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Small claims disputes: 

Justice of the peace is one of the few courtrooms where parties often represent themselves. This means no lawyers, and no fancy legal expert to explain all the legal jargon. As a result, it should be the Justice of the Peace's job to educate, encourage, and help every resident who wants to participate in their local judicial system. This means treating everyone with respect in the courtroom, ensuring people are heard, and educating people on how to file their claims.