Patsy attended law school at Emory University. She has been a resident of Gwinnett County for 25 years and grew up in the projects of New York. She is married to Travis, and together they have three children and four grandchildren.

Patsy has previously worked as an attorney in private and public practice. She also owned a gourmet popcorn shop.

Patsy Austin-Gatson is currently the district attorney in Gwinnett Judicial. Patsy elected Gwinnett County District Attorney in 2020 and has been in office for one term. 

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "- Changed the culture of the Office of District Attorney by hiring over 70% of the office staff - some of the most talented and diverse assistant district attorneys, victim witness advocates,"

Said, "I was blessed to have my first job out of Law school working for then Attorney General Michael Bowers. During my time there, I prosecuted some of the toughest cases and provided justice to many people across the state."

Worked alongside Attorney General Michael Bowers. The Attorney General represents and advises the governor and all state agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as the State of Georgia in all civil cases. 

Believes extensive legal experience, from representing Georgia's Criminal Justice Agencies to running a solo practice and prosecuting misdemeanors, qualifies them as the ideal District Attorney for Gwinnett County.

In private practice, she previously worked on criminal and civil cases.

Believes in enhancing Gwinnett County's legal team, having recruited over 70% of a diverse, skilled staff, including assistant DAs and legal assistants, to serve the community effectively.

Has hired over 70% of Gwinnett County's Office of District Attorney (DA) staff, including assistant DAs and legal assistants.

Started the Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED) program to reduce the rate of recidivism for 17- to 28-year-olds. This program has been successful with 3 graduates.

Served as a supervising attorney with the Solicitor General’s office of Gwinnett County, which handles misdemeanor crimes.

- Worked alongside Attorney General Michael Bowers. The Attorney General represents and advises the governor and all state agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as the State of Georgia in all civil cases. 
- In private practice, she previously worked on criminal and civil cases.
- Has hired over 70% of Gwinnett County's Office of District Attorney (DA) staff, including assistant DAs and legal assistants.
- Started the Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED) program to reduce the rate of recidivism for 17- to 28-year-olds. This program has been successful with 3 graduates.
- Served as a supervising attorney with the Solicitor General’s office of Gwinnett County, which handles misdemeanor crimes.

Legal Experience

Said, "I have transformed the culture of the DA's office to be more effective... I have continued to bring justice to families while providing opportunities to educate our youth not incarcerate."

Plans to hold criminals accountable, work diligently for justice in Gwinnett, prioritize youth education, and ensure a safe community, reflecting a commitment to public safety, including effective policing and criminal justice.

Said, "drug problem especially within our youth in the form of vaping and illegal substances and our community is suffering. I am committed to protecting our youth against drugs in our schools and community."

Plans to combat drug and gun-related youth fatalities by targeting dealers, offering educational programs, and fostering leadership to enhance public safety.

Said, "- Remain vigilant in protecting our young people from drugs and going down the wrong path. I was the first office in the State of Georgia to begin charging drug dealers with murder who sell drugs laced with fentanyl."

Said, "- Established a cold case unit, a conviction integrity unit, an expansion of the Special Victims and Gang Task Force Unit. Along with these expansions, I added additional investigators and victim witness advocates."

Said, "In my tenure, I have been working hard for the citizens of Gwinnett County... We have established programs not previously in the office like a conviction integrity unit and second chance programs for youth in Juvenile and Superior Courts to keep our youth from going deeper into the criminal system... My office was the first office in Georgia to prosecute Fentanyl overdose deaths against drug dealers."

Said, "The Rehabilitation Enables Dreams program (RED) is an initiative that reduces the rate of recidivism for our 17-to 28-year-olds... The RIZER program which is a similar initiative that provides a second chance for our juveniles."

Believes in safeguarding youth from drugs, supports prosecuting dealers for murder in fentanyl-related deaths, citing over 74 drug fatalities in Gwinnett County this year; pioneered this legal approach in Georgia.

Supports prosecuting dealers for murder in fentanyl-related deaths.

Supports enhancing public safety by creating specialized units for cold cases and integrity, expanding victim and gang task forces, hiring local investigators, advocating for victims, and prioritizing community training in gun safety and sexual crime awareness.

Supports improving public safety by creating specialized units for cold cases and integrity, expanding victim and gang task forces, hiring local investigators, advocating for victims, and prioritizing community training in gun safety and sexual crime awareness.

Supports innovative programs to reduce recidivism, providing rehabilitation and education for young offenders, evidenced by successful initiatives like the RED and RIZER programs, with a commitment to expanding such opportunities within the District Attorney's Office.

Supports programs to reduce recidivism and provide rehabilitation and education for young offenders.

- Supports prosecuting dealers for murder in fentanyl-related deaths.
- Supports improving public safety by creating specialized units for cold cases and integrity, expanding victim and gang task forces, hiring local investigators, advocating for victims, and prioritizing community training in gun safety and sexual crime awareness.
- Supports programs to reduce recidivism and provide rehabilitation and education for young offenders.

Public Safety

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As of March 19, 2024, Patsy Austin-Gatson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Patsy Austin-Gatson

Patsy Austin-Gatson attended law school at Emory University. She has been a resident of Gwinnett County for 25 years and grew up in the projects of New York. She is married to Travis, and together they have three children and four grandchildren.

Patsy Austin-Gatson has previously worked as an attorney in private and public practice. She also owned a gourmet popcorn shop.

Patsy Austin-Gatson was elected Gwinnett County District Attorney in 2020. 

Patsy Austin-Gatson previously worked in private practice and held a supervising attorney position with the Solicitor General’s office of Gwinnett County. Patsy has worked for Attorney General Michael Bowers. She also owned a gourmet popcorn shop.

Patsy Austin-Gatson was elected Gwinnett County District Attorney in 2020. She previously worked in the Solicitor General’s office of Gwinnett County in a supervisory attorney position. 

In private practice, she previously worked on criminal and civil cases. Also has experience prosecuting misdemeanors. 

Started the Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED) program to reduce the rate of recidivism for 17-to 28-year-olds. This program has been successful with 3 graduates.

- In private practice, she previously worked on criminal and civil cases. Also has experience prosecuting misdemeanors. 
- Has hired over 70% of Gwinnett County's Office of District Attorney (DA) staff, including assistant DAs and legal assistants.
- Started the Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED) program to reduce the rate of recidivism for 17-to 28-year-olds. This program has been successful with 3 graduates.

Patsy Austin-Gatson is a mother, wife, and grandmother who has been a resident of Gwinnett County for 25 years. She grew up in the projects of New York, raised by her mother alongside her siblings. Patsy attended law school at Emory University in Georgia. She is married to Travis, and together they have three children and four grandchildren.

Patsy Austin-Gatson is the District Attorney for Gwinnett County. She has previously worked in private practice and held a supervising attorney position with the Solicitor General’s office of Gwinnett County. Additionally, she has experience as a small business owner, having owned a gourmet popcorn shop.

Patsy Austin-Gatson has been serving as the Gwinnett County District Attorney since her election in 2020. Prior to her current role, she worked in the Solicitor General’s office of Gwinnett County in a supervisory attorney position. Specific details on appointments, committees, or past political runs, other than her successful campaign for District Attorney, are not provided in the background information.

- A District Attorney is the person who represents the government in the prosecution of all felony criminal cases and the misdemeanors connected to felonies. 
- They review police arrest reports, build cases against arrested individuals, and ultimately are responsible for prosecuting and making the case against these individuals. 
- They also have the discretion of whether or not to bring charges against arrested people, whether or not to seek jail time, or whether or not to send individuals to pre-trial diversion programs. District Attorneys handle the most critical cases in their district, including internal investigations of law enforcement officers.
- District Attorneys do not work alone. They also supervise other attorneys, called Deputy District Attorneys or Assistant District Attorneys.
- There are 49 District Attorneys In Georgia, each representing the judicial circuit in which they get elected. Since 1968, the office has been a full-time elected position whose incumbent could not engage in the private practice of law. District Attorneys are part of the judicial branch of the Georgia state government.