Jacquelyn Barrett facts for kids

Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett (born November 4, 1950) made history as the first African-American woman to become a sheriff in the United States. She served three terms as the sheriff of Fulton County, Georgia. In 2004, she was suspended from her role by Governor Sonny Perdue due to a legal issue involving some of her deputies. After this, she decided not to run for a fourth term.

Early Life and Education

Jacquelyn Harrison was born on November 4, 1950, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her parents were Cornelius and Ocie Harrison. She loved learning and went to college.

College Studies

In 1972, Jacquelyn graduated from Beaver College, which is now called Arcadia University. She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology, focusing on how societies work and how crime happens. The next year, in 1973, she received her master's degree in Criminology from Atlanta University. This degree helped her understand more about crime and justice.

Starting Her Career

Before becoming sheriff, Jacquelyn Barrett worked in different important roles. She spent ten years as a specialist for the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

Training Police Officers

Jacquelyn helped create training programs for police officers. These programs taught officers how to do their jobs well. She was later promoted to design these programs for top police leaders, like the Chief of Police and sheriff.

Leading the Sheriff's Office

After that, she worked for two years as the main administrative officer for the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. In 1987, she became the director of the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center. This center was important for training new officers.

Becoming Sheriff

In 1992, Jacquelyn Barrett ran for sheriff of Fulton County. She won against Robert McMichaels in the Democratic Primary and Morris Chappell in the General Election.

Sheriff's Achievements

As sheriff, Barrett was in charge of the largest sheriff's department in Georgia. She opened a new police station called the South Fulton Precinct. She also encouraged seventy-five volunteers to help different charities. Plus, she taught safety tips to senior citizens. During the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Sheriff Barrett and her team provided important police support to keep everyone safe.

Later Years as Sheriff

In 2000, Sheriff Barrett went to the Democratic National Convention. She was even interviewed by Lou Waters for CNN. She also supported Al Gore as part of the Georgia Congressional Delegation. She finished her second term and was working on her third when she was suspended in August 2004. Her time as Fulton County's Sheriff ended on December 31, 2004.

A sign posted for the 1995 Fulton County Courthouse Renovation during Barrett's time as sheriff. Her name is on the sign.

Life After Law Enforcement

After her time as sheriff, Jacquelyn Barrett continued to share her knowledge.

Teaching and Awards

In 2008, she started teaching criminology as a professor at the University of West Georgia and Spelman College. Criminology is the study of crime and criminal behavior. In 2012, she also taught at the Fulton Leadership Academy. There, she focused on STEM programs for young boys. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. In March 2021, she received a special Legacy Award from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. This award honored her many contributions over her lifetime.

Personal Life

Jacquelyn H. Barrett married Gene Washington and became Jackie Barrett-Washington. She has two children, Kimberly and Alan, and five grandchildren. Jacquelyn Barrett is a Christian and attends Cascade United Methodist Church.