Henry District Attorney Darius Pattillo was awarded the justice award from the county’s branch of the NAACP.

Pattillo was recognized for the county's pre-trial diversion program and other crime prevention initiatives.

"I believe in a balanced approach," Pattillo told the group during the ceremony at Shiloh Baptist Church in McDonough. "I believe in the DA's office we should have every tool in the tool box. We have tactics and mechanisms to keep dangerous people out of our streets, but we also should try to prevent crime when we can."

Pattillo launched the pre-trial diversion program, which is designed to help rehabilitate non-violent, first-time offenders, shortly after taking office in 2017. The program is an alternative to traditional prosecution and allows defendants to have their charges dismissed by completing a series of corrective programs, the D.A.’s office said.

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8/26/17 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia leaders, including Gov. Nathan Deal, Sandra Deal, members of the King family, and Rep. Calvin Smyre,  were on hand for unveiling of the first statue of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the statehouse grounds, more than three years after Gov. Nathan Deal first announced the project.  During the hour-long ceremony leading to the unveiling of the statue of Martin Luther King Jr. at the state Capitol on Monday, many speakers, including Gov. Nathan Deal, spoke of King's biography. The statue was unveiled on the anniversary of King's famed "I Have Dream" speech. BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres