ATLANTA RESOURCE GUIDE
LEGAL RESOURCES
How to handle a police stop in GEORGIA A large part of a police officer’s job is to develop evidence that will lead to a conviction. At every stage of your encounter with the officer, you must assume that they are seeking evidence from you or your surroundings that could land you in jail.
WHILE YOU’RE WALKING
If a police officer approaches you while you’re walking in Georgia, do you have to let them search you? No. But the police can pat down your clothes, your purse or your backpack if they suspect a weapon. You don’t have to empty out your pockets or your purse if the police ask you! If they discover what feels like a weapon, then they can legally search you. Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968), U. S. Const. art. IV
WHILE YOU’RE IN YOUR CAR
If a police officer approaches you while in your car in Georgia, do you have to let them search your car or occupants of your car? No. You do not have to consent to a search of yourself, your car, or any of the passengers in the vehicle with you. What if a police officer claims that you are driving drunk or intoxicated? In Georgia, if you refuse a breath, blood, or urine test, your license can be suspended. You should contact a lawyer immediately right there while you’re on the scene and refuse to answer any questions. Do you have to take a field sobriety test? No, but again there may be consequences. They are not required by Georgia law and you should generally refuse to participate in any of them. Remember, in Georgia, if you refuse a breath, blood, or urine test, your license can be suspended. Also, a refusal does not prevent the police officer from arresting you, but it will limit the evidence and basis that they will have to use against to substantiate the charge. U. S. Const. art. IV, Ga. Code 40-6-391
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WHILE YOU’RE IN YOUR HOME
If the police approach you while in your home, can they search your home? No. U. S. Const. art. IV Must you open the door for ICE agents? No, you do not have to open your door. If you wish to assert your rights, you should keep your door closed and speak to agents through the door. U. S. Const. art. IV Do ICE agents need a warrant to enter your home? If the agents want to enter, ask them if they have a warrant signed by a judge (see it through the window or peep hole of the door). An administrative warrant of removal from immigration authorities is not enough. If they say they have a warrant, ask them to slip the warrant under the door. Look at the top and at the signature line to see if it was issued by a court and signed by a judge or issued by DHS or ICE and signed by a DHS or ICE employee. Only a court/ judge warrant is enough for entry into your premises. Do not open your door unless ICE shows you a judicial search or arrest warrant naming a person in your residence and/or areas to be searched at your address. U. S. Const. art. IV, MD Crim Pro Code § 2-103 What should you do if ICE agents force their way into your home? If agents attempt to force their way in, do not attempt to resist. If you wish to exercise your rights, state: “I do not consent to your entry or to your search of these premises. I am exercising my right to remain silent. I wish to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.” Everyone in the residence may also exercise the right to remain silent. U. S. Const. art. IV, MD Crim Pro Code § 2-103
In Georgia, you can be legally arrested for refusing to identity yourself to a police officer in certain circumstances (if you are driving – then you must produce your driver’s license – or if you are being charged specifically with loitering or prowling) as Georgia is a “stop and identify” state. “Stop and identify” laws that require people to identify themselves when police have reasonable suspicion that they are engaged or about to engage in criminal activity. Under these laws, people who refuse to show identification under these circumstances can be arrested. Failure to identify oneself is one factor to be considered in a decision to arrest in Georgia.
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ADDITIONAL LEGAL TIPS You can and should ask the police officer, “Am I free to leave?” If the police states that you’re under arrest, you have a right to know why. There is no law in Georgia that requires you to carry an I.D. with you, or show it to a police officer on demand with 2 exceptions: if you are driving an automobile or flying as a passenger on a commercial airline, you are required to carry an I.D. with you.
I F A PO LIC E O F F IC E R APPR OAC H E S YOU
1. Stay calm 2. Don’t run 3. Don’t argue, resist, or obstruct the police 4. Keep your hands where the police can see
At one point, Georgia had one of the toughest immigration laws in the nation. One controversial aspect of Georgia’s immigration law attempt was a requirement that law enforcement officers check the immigration status of suspects who cannot provide identification upon request. The law applied to individuals subject to a traffic stop, but made exceptions for victims of crime and even witnesses. Even though immigration and enforcement are typically matters dealt with by federal immigration authorities, an increasing number of local and county law enforcement officials, such as those in Georgia, are starting to assist with, investigate, or pursue suspected immigration-related offenses. Even now, the federal immigration enforcement program known as 287(g) is a program which allows participating local law enforcement agencies — such as the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and five others in Georgia — to check the immigration status of detainees and hold them for federal authorities when appropriate.
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C F LUX S I N G
HEALTH RESOURCES
COMMUNITY HEALTH www.ofsaltandsoil.org Follow @Of_Salt_and_Soil on Instagram and SaltandSoil on YouTube and Twitter for mental health and nutrition tips, videos, events, and more.
www.sevananda.coop Natural health food store.
www.TrulyLivingWell.com Horticulture therapy, classes, agricultural sciences, and a fresh foods food Justice market (3 different prices levels).
www.places.singleplatform.com/viva-lavegan/menu Plant-based restaurant.
www.nami.org A resource website for individuals, family members, and support groups for all ages. www.joshua-generation.net Mental health and wellness counseling with a focus on people of color. www.cbww.org Provides services for both male and female, health screenings, testing, counseling, support groups, and nutrition classes.
www.habeshainc.org Organic, natural urban farm.
www.ygmovement.org Youth empowerment, programs, urban gardening, social etiquette. www.blackfoodjustice.org National Black Food & Justice Alliance NBFJA is a coalition of Black-led organizations working towards cultivating and advancing Black leadership, building Black selfdetermination, Black institution building and organizing for food sovereignty, land and justice.
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C F LUX S I N G
TECH RESOURCES
Websites www.unlock.academy Online Gaming & Coding Courses for youth of all ages. 14-year-old coding guru, Jay, teaches kids how to learn to code through gaming, and how to build modern mobilefriendly apps and websites. Instagram: @unlock.academy www.melanin.tech Melanin (dot) Tech is a networking and community building platform meant to inspire and encourage techies of color in every aspect of life. Instagram: @melanintech
www.kids4coding.com/georgia Tech Programs for kids and teens, ages 7-16. Game Development, robotics, AI, AR, drones, mobile and web apps, circuitry, and more. www.code.org Free online coding courses, resources, and challenges. Very kid-friendly and fun.
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FINANCIAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES Operation HOPE (BB&T Bank) Operation HOPE offers one-on-one counseling, helping individuals create a spending plan, pay off debt and more. Operation HOPE is a for-purpose organization working to disrupt poverty and empower inclusion for low and moderateincome youth and adults. 2434 Gresham Road SE, Suite B Atlanta, GA 30316
Credit Union of Atlanta Online resource that provides practical information to help you learn about money. www.cuatlanta.org/financial-resources Lights, Camera, Budget An online game to help young people learn, study and review financial literacy topics. www.gpb.org/education/lights-camerabudget
The Urban League of Greater Atlanta Offers monthly workshops to help youth and adults learn about household budgeting, banking services, the importance of credit score, savings and debt reduction. Rashid Brown rbrown@atlul.org (404) 659-1150
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GOLDI
GOL DI
EDUCATION RESOURCES
MASTERING THE ACT AND SAT: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR SUCCESS 1. DO keep calm and carry on. On test day, relaxation is key. Take it easy and give yourself plenty of time to wake up, get ready, and get to the test center. Breathe. 2. DON’T be a zombie. Have a protein-rich breakfast before you leave. Get good sleep starting three nights before the test. You will need 6-8 hours of sleep to function throughout the exam. 3. DO stay positive. Pump yourself up with a pep talk. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you’re going to do well. Know that the four hours of the exam equals the next four years of your life. Give it your all. Have a few laughs with your friends. Smile, it works. 4. Practice, practice, practice. It takes 21 days of practice to form a habit. Create a study schedule one month ahead of the test, and study at least 2 hours each day. If you want to be good at something, practice! Complete the online practice tests and keep improving. 5. What to Bring? Bring your admission ticket, a photo ID — preferably a driver’s license or student ID, three sharpened No. 2 pencils (NOT mechanical), a calculator — make sure your model is allowed. Wear a watch to track the time or locate the clock in the room. 6. What not to Bring? Cell phones are NOT allowed. Snacks and/or drinks to eat/drink outside the test room during the break. Listerine breath strips — to help keep you alert. 7. DO guess intelligently and with purpose. You’re not penalized for guessing, but try to narrow down the possibilities. There are usually at least one or two answers that are definitely wrong. If you can get rid of those choices, you’ll have a much better chance of guessing correctly. 8. DO mark up the test booklet. Take notes, write little hints to yourself, identify words you don’t understand – this will help later on. Be an active reader as a means of staying focused. 9. DON’T be a statue. You’re limited to the one square foot that your test chair encompasses, so you won’t be able to have a dance party or anything, but stretch as much as you can to keep your blood flowing. 10. Additional ACT and SAT Resources. ACT: https://www.4tests.com/act SAT: https://www.4tests.com/sat#StartExam
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Is College for Me? 3 Pros and 3 Cons PRO #1: There are Many Financial and Career Benefits In 2015, college graduates with a bachelor’s degree earned 56% more per year than those with a high school diploma or its equivalent. In addition, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median weekly earnings in 2017 for those with a bachelor’s degree was $1,173, compared with $836 for those with an associate degree and $712 for those with only a high school diploma. PRO #2: You Get to Explore Your Interests College opens up a whole new world to you academically. In high school, you generally only have a choice of a handful of elective classes, but in college you can literally choose from among hundreds of classes and majors. While there are core requirements at most colleges, for the most part you can decide what you want to study and take classes in subjects you want to learn more about. PRO #3: It Gives You Space for Self-Improvement For many students, college is the first time in their lives they’re not living at home. During college, they learn to be self-sufficient. They learn domestic skills and budgeting — even how to motivate themselves without parental encouragement. At the same time, most college students can still go home or call home if they’re in need of some money or advice. CON #1: There’s the Risk of High Costs and Potential Debt College is really expensive, with costs continuing to rise, and many college graduates are burdened with astronomical student loan debt. Unfortunately, many students don’t receive the aid they need to fully cover the costs. As a result, they take on unsubsidized student loans to finance their college education – bad idea! Student loan debt can dramatically impact your life after you graduate, including the jobs you take and your decision to buy a house or start a family. CON #2: The Financial Benefits of College Might Be Overstated The claim that college graduates earn $1 million more in their lifetimes might actually be skewed by graduates from top universities. A 2018 study by PayScale.com found that there are only five schools (out of 1,878 four-year schools) at which earning a college degree can get you a $1 million return on investment. Basically, the reported number that college graduates make $1 million more over the course of their professional lives is not that accurate. CON #3: College Might Not Actually Make You Smarter The last con of attending college is that going to one might not actually increase your intelligence. A 2011 study found that 45% of 2,322 traditional-aged college students studied from 2005 to 2009 made no significant improvement in their critical thinking, reasoning, or writing skills during the first two years of college. After four years, 36% showed no significant gains. Given the cost of attending college, you’d hope that higher education would have a dramatically positive effect on these skills for all students — this might not be the case. K NOW YOUR RIGH TS CAMP ATL AN TA: Resou rce Gu i de 15
SPECIAL THANKS
Know Your Rights Camp Atlanta, 2019 www.knowyourrightscamp.com
Ben Crump Jasmine Simone Antoine Patton Natasha Abellard Anthony Copeman Tina & Trina Fletcher Krystina Ticehurst Ameer Hasan Loggins Chris Petrella Ray Wong
ARTWORK
Yuzly (cover, @yuzlymathurin) Yungai (@artofyungai) C Flux Sing (@CFluxSing) Goldi (@Goldigold45) JR Outlaw (back, @janssenrobinson)
DESIGN
Ryan Flores (@ryfl)