RICHMOND, Va. — In the latest episode of “Untold – A WTVR Podcast,” host Catie Beck sits down with Colette McEachin, the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney who is now running for reelection.
In 2019, McEachin became the city’s first female top prosecutor. Six years later, she says there is still work to be done, particularly when it comes to restorative justice, which McEachin says has been one of her main focuses.
“At this point it’s really publicity and community buy-in,” McEachin said. “And I think it’s like anything else, when seat belts were first imposed, right, and put in cars, most people were, I’m not going to wear a seat belt. I’ve been fine not wearing a seat belt. And now kids know, people know you put a seatbelt on when you get in the car. I remember the days when drinking and driving weren’t as frowned upon as they are now. And then Mothers Against Drunk Driving came into being, and they really educated the public about the effects of drunk driving. And so now everyone knows, whether they do it or not, everyone knows you’re not supposed to drink and drive. So now that my office has created this Richmond Restorative Justice group, and restorative policies are known in the court, known by the attorneys, we just need more people to become aware and so we’re now at the publicity phase of that campaign.”…