Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
The Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon on March 18 at the Catfish House in Millbrook, sponsored by Day Structures. C.J. Robinson, district attorney (DA) for the 19th Judicial Circuit, served as the guest speaker, addressing public safety concerns.
The luncheon allowed local business leaders to hear directly from Robinson about the challenges facing the 19th Judicial Circuit and the initiatives his office is taking to improve public safety.
Jeremy Day of Day Structures delivered the invocation and briefly spoke about Robinson. “I think his resume speaks for itself. I had to condense his bio down quite a bit, so I would leave him a little time to talk,” Day said.
Robinson told attendees he was honored to speak at the luncheon and aimed to share insight into his office by focusing on the public safety aspect. He highlighted a key challenge facing the circuit, noting that roughly 3.4% of cases consume a disproportionate amount of time, calling it the biggest problem at the front end.
He pointed to case delays as a broader issue, explaining that while his circuit can resolve a burglary case in about three years from the time of the incident, the fastest in Alabama, some circuits take as long as 11 years to bring similar cases to court.
“I truly think we have grown up in a generation that lost the concept of punishment. I am not saying everybody needs to go to prison forever, but there needs to be some acknowledgement that if I do not do right, there’s got to be an answer for what has to happen. If we can help you at the DA’s office, please come see us. I love being your DA,” Robinson said.
Events like these provide a valuable opportunity for networking while fostering an open dialogue between local leaders and law enforcement. Attendees left with a better understanding of the 19th Judicial Circuit’s priorities and the steps being taken to address case backlogs, enhance accountability, and strengthen community safety.
