Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Hines
Hi Debbie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Looking back on my early childhood days, it probably comes as no surprise to my family that I became a trial lawyer, Baltimore city prosecutor, Maryland assistant attorney general and an author on criminal justice reform.
From an early age, I loved to talk way too much at school and home. The word “why” became my most used word as a child, according to my mother. I questioned why things were the way they were. My mother never believed in the adage that children should be seen and not heard. And so, she allowed me to freely express myself.
I still use the word “why” but now I answer many of the questions that other people ask about the criminal justice system. Through my work as an author and speaker, I provide practical solutions on how to reform a broken justice system that disproportionately targets Black children, teens and young adults.
My debut book Get Off My Neck: Black Lives, White Justice and a Former Prosecutor’s Quest for Reform (MIT, 3/2024) brought me on my recent career journey of book talks, speeches, sermons and media appearances in my fight for criminal justice reforms.
Going back to my days as a child growing up in Baltimore’s Park Heights neighborhood, I saw and heard from neighbors and family members about injustices in the criminal system. Later, as a prosecutor, I thought that my lived experiences would help me to help victims of crime and those charged with crime in a compassionate but fair manner. I grew up with the teachings of my mother that “there but the grace of God go I.” As I arrived at the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s office, I learned that convictions rather than compassion and fairness were the goals—even if it was questionable about a person’s guilt. I questioned to myself why the office operated in that manner.
When I opened my law firm and represented clients, I found the same prosecutorial injustices in the criminal justice system in counties across Maryland and in Washington, DC. My clients, mostly young Black people were treated like pawns in the system with little regard for justice and fairness.
For many years, I wanted to write a book and speak out against what I saw as a failure of the US justice system and to advocate for reforms. However, my law practice left little time in my opinion to write a book.
In 2020 the pandemic caused the closing of courts and a disruption to my law practice and life as we all knew it. My question about how I would have time to write a book was answered. While I didn’t start to write in 2020, I birthed the idea of Get Off My Neck. Writing and research would follow.
Get Off My Neck was published in March, 2024. I give book talks across the country, speeches, sermons, make media appearances and advocate ferociously for criminal justice reforms to end the racial disparities that mostly affect Black children and teens before they can drive.
It has been a long journey from an inquisitive child to now. I think my 5-year-old self would be proud of all the questions asked on my journey. And I’m proud to speak out on how to reform a broken criminal justice system.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s a saying that your beginning does not need to determine your ending. I had no lawyers, writers or speakers in my family. My brother and I were the first ones to attend and graduate from college. My parents both completed only the ninth grade. The lack of mentors became an issue. Only less than 3 percent of all US lawyers are Black women. Early in my legal career, I joined the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys of Maryland started in Baltimore. The organization’s purpose was to create a network to enhance the professional development of Black women attorneys. I also used mentors such as the late Congressman Elijah Cummings who helped and supported me and many other African American lawyers. Now my mentors include editors and people in the publishing industry. Mentors are necessary to help overcome challenges in any profession.
One’s own resilience also helps to overcome obstacles in the way of success. In seeking a publisher for Get Off My Neck, I was turned down multiple times. I only needed one publisher. My resilience helped to counter the disappointment until MIT offered to publish Get Off My Neck.
I also listen to audio and read books from motivational speakers. Motivational speaker Les Brown once said that one’s motivation must be compelling to overcome obstacles as they arise.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I consider myself an advocate for criminal justice reform. My many hats as a trial lawyer, former prosecutor and Maryland assistant attorney general led me to my current work of author and keynote speaker. My mother always said the “knowledge is key.” I became an author and speaker as I believe that knowledge about our justice system is key to reforming it.
There is no one thing that I am most proud of. All of my career positions led me to today.
What may set me apart from others is my passion for justice and my resilience.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t like to use the word luck in life or business. Luck without preparation is futile. A much often used quote says: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” A person must be prepared to seize unexpected opportunities as they arise. The role of manifesting one’s dreams and goals also plays a part. I mentally saw myself as a successful author and speaker before I wrote the first words of my book. The same was true for when I passed the Maryland bar exam. I visualized passing the bar before it happened. I seize on unexpected opportunities when I see them by being prepared for the next step.
Pricing:
- My fees for speeches vary. I’ve prepared a form on my website ,iamdebbiehines.com for those interested for me to provide a quote.
- My book, Get Off My Neck, is available in hard cover, audio and e-book. Hard cover sells for $27.95 and is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, many independent bookstores including all Busboys and Poets.
Contact Info:
- Website: iamdebbiehines.com
- Instagram: @iamdebbiehines
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deborah.hines.507
- Twitter: @iamdebbiehines
Image Credits
Thomas O’Connor, photographer
