Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The rich diversity of Mecklenburg County helps make this area a strong and vibrant place to live, work and raise a family. Seeking justice with integrity demands we continuously strive to build a workforce reflective of this diversity.
We are committed to emphasizing inclusion and equity in the recruitment, hiring and development of staff, as well as in our service to the public as ministers of justice. We believe the pursuit of these values is central to maintaining the trust of the community and to ensuring every person in our County can live in peace.
The District Attorney’s Office is an institution of public servants sworn to seek justice, but the pursuit of justice does not stop at the courtroom door. We also have a responsibility to seek social justice and equity. Under District Attorney Spencer Merriweather’s leadership, the District Attorney’s Office is committed to building a workplace that not only reflects our community but also actively engages in the work of diversity and inclusion across our communities.
"No matter who they are or where they come from, every victim, every survivor, every family member and every concerned citizen has a right to expect that the people of this office will, through our work, demonstrate a whole appreciation for the full measure of each person’s humanity," says DA Merriweather.
In 2018, DA Merriweather established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team within his office to promote values essential to the office’s vision of seeking justice through integrity so that all people can place their trust in the office’s work.
The team is made up of more than 20 Assistant District Attorneys and legal assistants who work together to develop internal and external strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. The team has sought out educational opportunities, including an officewide implicit bias training with national experts and a bus tour hosted by the Community Building Initiative to help employees learn more about the local, evolving history of people and their neighborhoods. The team also explores ways to expand the office’s outreach to underrepresented communities. Within the office, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team creates spaces in which employees can share personal experiences, reflect on current events, and learn from one another.