Durham DA Deberry Profiled in New Book on Prosecutors Transforming Justice
DURHAM, NC — Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry is one of 13 national leaders in prosecutorial reform profiled in a new book out this month.
Nearly one in five people nationwide are represented by a district attorney who champions meaningful justice system reform. Change from Within: Reimagining the 21st-Century Prosecutor (The New Press) shares the stories of some of these reform-minded prosecutors – including DA Deberry.
“Our country is just beginning a journey toward justice and healing – and transforming prosecution is one component of what it will take to get there,” writes author Miriam Krinsky, a former federal prosecutor and the executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution.
Based on interviews conducted by Krinsky, Change from Within tells the compelling, first-person stories of 13 bold and unique elected prosecutors who are using the immense power of their offices to chart a path toward a smaller and more rehabilitative criminal legal system. They come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, cross party lines and represent both urban and rural jurisdictions – from California to Texas to Massachusetts. The book’s intimate profiles share candid accounts of how these leaders came to this work and the steps they are taking to reform the criminal legal system in ways that promote justice, equity, accountability, and public safety. Among the varied areas where they are at the forefront of innovation are restorative justice, police accountability, diversion and deflection from the legal system, post-conviction justice, juvenile justice reform, and harm reduction, among many others.
Deberry’s chapter covers her journey to the district attorney’s office, and how it informs her views on justice and priorities as a district attorney.
“I’m excited to share my story alongside these leaders at the forefront of a more fair, equitable, and effective criminal legal system,” Deberry said. “As district attorney, my top priority is the safety and well-being of our community. That’s why I’ve focused my office’s resources on holding people accountable for violent offenses, implemented new victim services, and expanded opportunities for second chances. Criminal legal reform is not at odds with public safety, instead, it’s critical to ensuring safety and justice for all.”
DA Deberry has served as the elected district attorney for Durham since January 1, 2019. Prior to serving as district attorney, DA Deberry served as a criminal defense attorney in her hometown of Hamlet, North Carolina, as General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and as executive director of the nonprofit North Carolina Housing Coalition. She is a recipient of the North Carolina Justice Center’s 2020 Defender of Justice Award for Litigation, the Duke Law Alumni Association’s 2020 Charles S. Murphy Award for Civic Service, and Attorney General Josh Stein’s Dogwood Award.
Thanks to a partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia, each profile in Change from Within also features an original work of art created by a previously incarcerated artist that represents the prosecutor’s vision of justice. This unique endeavor was supported by the Art for Justice Fund, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
About the Author
Miriam Krinsky is a former prosecutor and the executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, a network of elected local prosecutors committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility. She lives in Los Angeles, Calif.
Change from Within: Reimagining the 21st-Century Prosecutor | Hardcover | 978-1-62097-736-1 | $27.99 | On Sale Now