Last week at a Principals 101 meeting, a fellow principal brought some copies of Ignorance is No Defense: A Teenager’s Guide to Georgia Law for us to take a look at. Based on the title, this book wouldn’t normally seem to fit in the category of leisurely reading. However, with it being Thanksgiving week, I had some time on my hands and decided to take a look. Without a doubt, this book is a must read for teenagers in the state of Georgia, especially those that are driving. The author addresses everything from driving, to loitering, to sharing prescription drugs, to tattoos and body piercing, sex crimes, vandalism, and everything in between. Do yourself a favor and go pick up this book for you and your teenager to read together to help them protect themselves. Remember…Ignorance is No Defense.
Here is some background info about the author from his website:
J.Tom Morgan is a nationally recognized expert on the prosecution of crimes against children and has appeared on CNN’s Talk Back Live, the Oprah Winfrey Show, Court TV, the Today Show, and 48 Hours. He served as the District Attorney ofDeKalb County, Georgia for twelve years and was the first prosecutor in Georgia to specialize in the prosecution of crimes against children. J.Tom is currently a trial lawyer in private practice in Decatur, GA specializing in criminal and civil litigation.
As District Attorney, J.Tom was the lead prosecutor in the case against former DeKalb County Sheriff Sidney Dorsey, who was convicted of corruption and murdering his opponent, Sheriff-elect Derwin Brown. Following this successful conviction, J.Tom was the first United States prosecutor to receive the Special Achievement Award from the International Association of Prosecutors.
J.Tom has dedicated his career to child advocacy and is committed to helping young people avoid being both victims and perpetrators of crimes. He served on the U.S Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect and chaired Georgia’s Child Abuse Prevention Panel. Recognizing the need to treat victims of child abuse, J.Tom was a founding member and is currently vice chair of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, Inc., which provides free counseling to children who are victims of child abuse.
J.Tom has spoken to tens of thousands of teenagers and parents regarding Georgia laws that impact young people and has listened to their stories. With an engaging presentation that generates open and frank discussion with his audience, J.Tom is in demand as a speaker at schools, colleges, churches, and other community groups. As part of his presentation, he responds to numerous thoughtful and sometimes surprising questions submitted anonymously by teenagers.
The insights J.Tom has gained from speaking with teenagers, as well as his experience as a prosecutor and private attorney, inspired J.Tom to write Ignorance is No Defense, A Teenager’s Guide to Georgia Law. As a prosecutor, J.Tom prosecuted teenagers who violated the law. He also helped young people who were victims of abuse and prosecuted the abusers. As a private attorney, he defends teenagers who are in trouble with the law. Realizing that many teenagers often do not fully understand the law and its consequences, J.Tom explains Georgia laws in a readable, informative way using real-life examples. Ignorance is No Defense aspires to help teenagers avoid situations in which they violate the law or are hurt by others who violate the law.