Impact Forum 2025

About The Gwinnett County Solicitor General:
Lisamarie N. Bristol

  • Moxie Influence Award: 2023
  • The Family ICON Award: 2025

  • Glance Gwinnett: November 2019

  • Black History Month Spotlight: Faculty and Alumni of Georgia State University

  • Women’s History Month: First woman of African-Caribbean and Canadian descent to serve as Gwinnett County Solicitor General

  • House Resolution 316: February 23, 2023

  • House Resolution 362: March 1, 2023

  • Georgia Caribbean American Heritage Day at the Georgia State Capitol: June 6, 2025

  • Gwinnett 101 Citizens Academy: October 27, 2025

  • Town Hall meeting with Representative Gabe Okoye: October 9, 2025

  • Solicitor General Lisamarie N. Bristol was invited to speak at the Norcross Professional Development Committee (PDC) meeting at 45 South Café in historic downtown Norcross. Solicitor Bristol shared information about the work of the Solicitor General’s Office, our role in the community, and how we partner with others to keep Gwinnett safe, informed, and connected through community partnerships and victim advocacy: August 12, 2025

  • Rotary Club of Gwinnett guest speaker: July 8, 2025,

  • 120th class of Georgia State Troopers: October 24, 2025

  • Informed, and connected through community partnerships and victim advocacy: August 12, 2025

  • PAC Summer Conference 2025: about Cross Examination in the DUI case for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety track: July 15, 2025

  • National Institute on the Prosecution of Elder Abuse (NIPEA): June 25, 2025

  • PAC Stop to State Court

  • Trooper School: Criminal procedure lectures April 24, 2025

Advocating for the Law at the Georgia State Capitol:

March 19, 2025: Spoke to House and Senate members at the Capitol on behalf of a bill that will ease the flow of mental health cases and allow for a more efficient process for defendants charged with nonviolent misdemeanor crimes, all across the state.

Conversations with Ku: August 15, 2024

Peachtree Corners Life with Rico Figliolini: April 2, 2025

Shewmaker & Lewis: December

2025 Community Outreach Events

Check out what we’ve been up to this past year!

January 17 – Sparkle Day in observance of Stalking Awareness Month

January 25 – PADV Gwinnett Residential Shelter Painting Project

February 8 – Teen Summit

February 13 – Teen Dating Violence Informational Event

Schools attended:

  • February 18 – Central Gwinnett High School
  • February 19 – Shiloh High School
  • February 20 – Brookwood High School
  • February 25 – Berkmar High School
  • February 26 – Grayson High School

March 14 – PADV Women In Action Annual Breakfast

March 24 – Lawrenceville CPA Alumni

April 9 – Roundtable Discussion Panel

April 19 through 25 – National Crime Victim’s Rights Week

April 26 – Gwinnett Employee and Family 5K

April 30 – Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Denim Day

May 1 – Law Day: Framed CVBOR for each office

May 8 – Peachtree Enrichment Program’s Community Career Fair

May 9 – Richards Middle School Career Day

May 10 – Gwinnett Community Health Fair

May 17 – Gwinnett County Multicultural Festival

May 18 – Mental Health Resource Fair at New Mercies

June 5 – Women Veterans’ Luncheon

une 6 – Caribbean Heritage Day

June 10 – Mosaic Georgia Open House and Ribbon Cutting

June 10 – Gwinnett Youth Commission Networking Lunch

June 14 – Gwinnett County Employee Fun Day

June 15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 21 – PADV Mural Painting

June 23 – Lawrenceville Senior Center visit to talk about Elder Abuse Awareness and voiding victimization

All Month – Dog Days of Summer Donation Drive

July 19 – Back to School Back Pack Giveaway

July 31 – Community Engagement Fair- Richards Middle School

August 1 – Back to School Safety Tips PSA

August 5 – National Night Out: Lilburn Park

August 12 – Norcross Professional Development Committee

August 14 – Legislative Lobbying Panel Luncheon

August 17 – Bluetopia

August 20 – Dog Days of Summer Donation Drive Presentation to Ahimsa

August 21 – Mosaic Masterpieces

August 21 – Gwinnett County Citizen’s Police Academy

September 8 – Gwinnett County Wellness Fair

September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day

September 11 – 9/11 Remembrance and Suicide Prevention Day

September 15 – National Hispanic Heritage Day

September 21 – PADV 50th Anniversary Celebration

September 24 – Public Safety Fall Festival at Cool Ray Field

All Month – Domestic Violence Awareness Month

October 4 – Domestic Violence Awareness 5K

October 8 – GSU Survivor’s Brunch

October 8 – PADV Candlelight Vigil

October 10 – National Hispanic Heritage Celebration at GJAC

October 11 – Gwinnett County Community Health Fair

October 22 – Domestic Violence Pledge Day

October 25 – Law Enforcement Appreciation Picnic

October 29 – Employee Chili Cook Off

October 16 – Richards Middle School Career Day

November 5 – Donuts with Do Gooders at Lawrenceville Senior Center

November 8 – John Marshall School of Law Career Fair

November 12 – Berkmar High School Career Expo

November 13 – Gwinnett County Domestic Violence Task Force Meet and Greet

November 17 – Gwinnett County Citizen’s Police Academy

November 18 – Native American Heritage Recognition Event

November 24 – Sheriff’s Thanksgiving Food Giveaway

December 4 – The Gwinnett Criminal Defense Bar and the Solicitor General Holiday Toy Raiser

December 9 – Solicitor Bristol Principal for the Day

December 11 – Employee Holiday Party and Employee of the month Celebration

December 12 – Defense Bar Lunch & Learn with Solicitor Bristol

December 17 – 5K Check Presentation to Mosaic, PADV, Ahimsa House

Diversion

The Pretrial Diversion Program is an alternative to traditional prosecution that gives certain first-time and low-level offenders a second chance while still holding them accountable. The program is available to individuals charged with non-violent, low-level offenses such as shoplifting or disorderly conduct and is limited to participants with little or no prior criminal history; DUI charges are not eligible. Participants must pay a program fee and successfully complete all program requirements. Upon successful completion, the charges are dismissed, and the case may be eligible for expungement from the participant’s record. Overall, Pretrial Diversion helps address the underlying causes of crime, reduces repeat offenses, and promotes a safer, healthier community for everyone.

Special Victims Unit

The Special Victims Unit (SVU) within the Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office is dedicated to supporting survivors and pursuing justice for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The unit focuses on cases involving domestic violence, stalking, animal cruelty and other serious misdemeanor offenses.

Under the leadership of Solicitor General Lisamarie Bristol, the SVU provides focused attention, specialized resources, and trauma-informed prosecution to ensure cases are handled with care, professionalism, and accountability. This work reflects the Office’s ongoing commitment to victims’ safety, offender accountability, and healing through justice.

Teen Dating Violence Awareness

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, reflect on healthy relationships, and work toward meaningful solutions.

In February 2025, several teams from the Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office visited six Gwinnett County high schools—Berkmar, Brookwood, Central Gwinnett, Grayson, Shiloh, and South Gwinnett—to host events focused on Teen Dating Violence Awareness. These events educated students on the importance of consent, establishing healthy relationship boundaries, and fostering trust, respect, and honesty in relationships.

The feedback from participating high schools was overwhelmingly positive, and as a result, our office has been invited to return this year to conduct additional Teen Dating Violence Awareness events.

Dash 4 Domestic Violence Awareness 5K

Our annual Dash 4 Domestic Violence Awareness 5K brings the community together to raise awareness and take a stand against domestic violence. Whether you choose to walk, jog, run, or participate as a sponsor, your involvement helps make a meaningful difference.

Funds raised through the Dash 4 Domestic Violence Awareness 5K directly support vital programs and services for Mosaic Georgia, Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV), and Ahimsa House—organizations dedicated to safety, healing, and hope for survivors and their families.

Sponsors

Join us in taking a step—literally—toward awareness, compassion, and change.

The 3rd annual Dash 4 Domestic Violence Awareness 5K brought together runners, volunteers, community partners and sponsors to raise awareness and funds for domestic violence prevention and survivor support. The event saw strong community participation, including:

  • 170 registered 5K runners
  • $12,080 raised in total (including $9,015 from sponsorships and donations and $3,065 from registered runners)
  • 65+ volunteers
  • 33 sponsors
  • 17 organizations tabling at the event
  • 44 total resource organizations and sponsors represented

Resource Organizations

Mosaic Georgia is a nonprofit organization providing free, confidential support and services to victims and survivors of rape, sexual assault, and child sexual abuse.

Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV) works to educate the community about the dynamics of domestic violence, promote healthy dating relationships among adolescents, teens, and young adults, and provide safety and shelter for abused adults and children.

Ahimsa House addresses the critical link between domestic violence and animal cruelty. It is the only organization dedicated to helping survivors of violence place their pets in safe, temporary care so no one has to choose between personal safety and the safety of a beloved animal.

Ahimsa House: Dog Days of Summer

Ahimsa House became Georgia’s first organization dedicated to helping both human and animal victims of domestic violence reach safety together. This mission took on new urgency with the passage of Georgia House Bill 177, which became law on May 22, 2025, expanding protections in family and dating violence cases to include household pets. By allowing courts to include pets in protective orders and safeguarding them from harm or harassment, the law removed a critical barrier that often prevents survivors from leaving abusive situations. In direct support of these expanded protections—and recognizing that survivors need tangible resources to exercise their new legal rights—the Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office organized a massive, courthouse-wide donation drive in July 2025, rallying the community to help survivors and their pets escape violence and begin rebuilding their lives.

Ahimsa House Gwinnett County Charitable Contribution Program:

We are pleased to inform you that Ahimsa House has been approved to participate in the Gwinnett County Charitable Contribution Program. Gwinnett County Human Resources will add Ahimsa House to the list of approved charities that county employees may support through direct payroll deductions.

PADV: Shelter Painting Initiative

Gwinnett Residential Shelter Project

The Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office proudly partnered with the Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV), Home Depot, and students from the National Art Honor Society at Central Gwinnett High School to support PADV’s Gwinnett Residential Shelter for survivors of domestic violence.

Home Depot generously contributed gift cards for paint and supplies, providing the resources needed to bring color, creativity, and renewed hope into the shelter. These contributions supported murals, painted canvases, and room renovations that transformed the space into a more welcoming and uplifting environment for residents.

Mural Project

The Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office, alongside National Art Honor Society students from Central Gwinnett High School, was honored to partner with PADV to paint a beautiful mural at one of its shelters. This powerful project was more than paint on a wall—it became a symbol of healing, hope, and resilience for survivors rebuilding their lives in safety. Staff members proudly rolled up their sleeves to help create meaningful artwork that reflects strength, courage, and renewal.

Canvas Artwork

Students from the National Art Honor Society also volunteered their time and talents to create inspiring artwork on canvas for the PADV Gwinnett residential shelter. This collaborative effort between the Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office, PADV, and Home Depot resulted in twenty-six beautifully painted canvases that significantly enhanced the shelter’s atmosphere. The students’ artistic contributions were deeply appreciated and essential to the success of this initiative.

Shelter Beautification

Members of the Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office partnered with PADV and dedicated Home Depot employees to paint six rooms within the shelter. Together, they helped beautify the temporary homes provided to women and children who are survivors of domestic violence, creating spaces that feel warmer, safer, and more supportive.

Community Impact

We are proud to stand beside PADV in its mission to support survivors in our community with compassion and action. This project was an incredible opportunity to collaborate with a community agency, a local business, and talented students for a truly meaningful cause. Together, we are making a difference.

Thank you to the students for your creativity, service, and willingness to uplift others.

Mosaic: Mosaic Masterpieces

The Gwinnett County Solicitor General’s Office was honored to participate in Mosaic Georgia’s signature fundraising event, Mosaic Masterpieces. This special event featured a collection of artwork—including original pieces created by Solicitor General Lisamarie N. Bristol and members of her staff—which were donated and auctioned to benefit Mosaic Georgia.

Proceeds from the event support Mosaic Georgia’s mission to provide critical services to women following sexual assault and to protect and advocate for victims of sexual assault and abuse in our community. The evening was both creative and impactful, and our office is proud to have contributed to such a meaningful cause.

Gwinnett Family Violence Task Force (GFVTF) &
Rose Bud Transitional Home

Gwinnett Family Violence Task Force (GFVTF), in partnership with the Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office, hosted a collection drive in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month to support Rose Bud Transitional Home.

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month comes to a close, we extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to this impactful initiative. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the collection drive was a tremendous success—providing essential items, comfort, and renewed hope to survivors and their families as they work toward rebuilding their lives.

Together, we remain committed to creating safer communities and taking meaningful steps toward a future free from violence.