About

Hello, I'm Charles Scriven

HUSBAND, FATHER, MINISTER,
AND AUTHOR

Charles Scriven - Justice in the Jim Crow South by Charles Scriven

Charles J. Scriven was born in 1932 and struggled against racial oppression and injustice to become a police officer in a province dominated almost entirely by white policemen.

He has dedicated 48 years of his life to service in law enforcement as a policeman, as the first Black appointed chief of the Jacksonville Police Department, the first Black to be appointed to the Florida Parole and Probation Commission, and ultimately retired as a Major from the Department of Business Regulation in the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.

Why I wrote

JUSTICE IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH

In telling my story, I bear witness to history; I complete the historical record; I pay tribute to the hundreds of other Black men and women, especially in the South, who wore the uniform proudly, who swore to protect and serve and did so honorably, even though they did so with one arm hand-cuffed, in hand-me-down uniforms and using second-hand equipment.

Mine was an improbable journey from a wood house on a dirt road
the top echelons of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office and beyond. I did
rise through the ranks, and like so many others, did not compromise my honor. The fact that I am here to tell this story is a measure of our success, but we accomplished should be regarded as progress rather than victory.

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A Natural Leader

Throughout his long and successful career in law enforcement, Mr. Scriven also became a minister of Christ, choosing to carry not only his baton and his pistol, but a Bible as well. He has served as a Christian pastor to churches in Georgia and Florida, and attended numerous religious seminars to become well versed in what God called him to do – guiding and feeding His flocks.

A Lifelong Learner

Mr. Scriven graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from Edward Waters College, a Masters Degree from Stetson University, and completed the academic requirements for a Ph.D. at Florida State University. He taught Criminology at Florida A&M University.

Husband, Father, Friend

Charles & Jeannetta Scriven

Mr. Scriven is a devoted and loving husband to Jeannetta, his wife of 68 years, and the proud father of four children: Rosemary (deceased), Lansing, Leonard and Renée, and (to date) the grandfather to twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Charles and Jeannetta Scriven - Justice in the Jim Crow South by Charles Scriven

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