FISCAL YEAR 2023 HENRY COUNTY SENTENCE ENFORCEMENT ANNUAL REPORT
2 Table of Contents Mission and Vision……………………………….3 Message from the Director……………………… 4 Meet the Management Team…………………..5 Meet the Staff…..………………………………….6-7 By The Numbers………. …………………………… 8 Fiscal Year Accomplishments ………………….. 9 Tracking the Trends…………………………………..10 Strategic Updates and Goals ……………..……… 11-13 Strategic Updates ……………………………….. 14-17 Probation Oversight …………………………….. 18
3 MISSION STATEMENT To serve the citizens and courts of Henry County by holding offenders accountable through the enforcement of orders of the court, while providing opportunities for successful outcomes for all offenders. VISION To become the state leader for innovative and progressive supervision by: Treating people with dignity and respect, Building partnerships within the community; and Utilizing an integrated approach to improve offender behavior.
4 LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR As Henry County continues to trend as one of the fastest growing counties in the Metro Atlanta area, there becomes a need for the department to examine how to adjust to the growth of the county and the offense trends that are demonstrating that the population in which we serve is growing a bit more challenging. The department has seen an increased partnership with local and surrounding law enforcement jurisdictions, and on a few occasions, partnered at the federal level to ensure the public safety of our community. Additionally, we are seeing an increased trend of DUI cases and Family Violence cases. For these reasons, the department felt a heightened need to examine the way we do business, and as a result, have begun the process of transitioning to a sworn law enforcement agency. The need for the department to expand its reach beyond the office and into the field has been fueled by our need to hold this evolving population of defendants more accountable through a higher level of supervision. As you review this Annual Report, you will see that the department has worked diligently to meet this expanded mission through the incorporation of the Henry County Government Pillars in that it is our belief that we can be mission driven and valued centered in our efforts. Henry County Sentence Enforcement strives to be a trendsetter for others to model. Our efforts and accomplishments are rooted in the support that the department receives from so many. We continue to be deeply appreciative for the support we receive from the County Manager, County Chair, Board of Commissioners, Court Administrator, and the Judges in the respective courts that we represent. Without the support of these individuals, we would not be able to successfully carry out the business of the courts for the citizens of Henry County. While our work continues and our goals remain lofty, we are committed to continuing to transition as a department to meet the needs of our community, the courts, and the population in which we serve. Our ongoing efforts as a department can best be summarized by the quote, “Action is the key to transition.” ATGW. We will not rest on where we are but remain active on where we intend to go. We owe this to ourselves and those in which we serve. V. Carl Brown, Director Henry County Sentence Enforcement
5 MEET THE MANAGEMENT TEAM Carl Brown, Director Has served as the Director of Sentence Enforcement since the Department’s inception in 2016. Prior to his work with Sentence Enforcement he served as Deputy Commissioner with the Department of Juvenile Justice where he oversaw Statewide Field Operations for Probation Staff and retired as Special Assistant to the Commissioner. Kamia Glasco, Assistant Director Has served as the Assistant Director of Sentence Enforcement since August 2021. Prior to this appointment, she served as a Probation Officer II and Probation Officer I with Sentence Enforcement where she began in 2018. Ms. Glasco has over 13 Years of experience in the field of probation having worked In Private Probation and Felony Probation prior to joining Sentence Enforcement. Jacqueline Coral, Probation Officer II Has served as a Probation Officer II since June 2021. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing court operations. Prior to this appointment, Officer Coral served as a Probation Officer having been one of the original officers that began with the department in 2016. Tracey Mitchell, Accountant I Ms. Mitchell has served as the Accountant for Sentence Enforcement since the department began operations in July 2016. In this role, she oversees all payment processing and financial reports for the department. Prior to her tenure with Sentence Enforcement, she served as an Accounting Clerk in Private Probation.
6 Court Clerks Laura Banks, Joshua Scott, Briana Rivera, Fatima Gaston, Edwin Maldonado and Jessica Castro Administrative Staff Self Scott – Drug screen Tech., Thomas Holloway – Accounting Tech., Tracey Mitchell – Accountant, Shayna Hood – Administrative Coordinator, Jessica Nay – Accounting Tech. (Not Pictured). KD Broughton – Drug screen Tech. (Not pictured) MEET THE TEAM
7 Probation Officers Mrs. Glasco – Assistant Director, Otis Stanton – PO II, Jourdan Carter – PO I, Jessica Bradley – PO I, Shanice Webster – PO I, Nayre Colombo – PO I, Brandon Howard – PO I, Mr. Brown – Director, Maya Moore – PO I, Jasmine Spears – PO I, Alexis Watts – PO I, Jacqueline Coral – PO II, Isabel Lazenby – PO I, and Crystal Wardrip – PO I (Not Pictured)
8 BY THE NUMBERS The department has begun to see a resurgence in revenue as the department and courts are rebounding from the pandemic. The numbers display the second strongest financial collections year since the department began operations in 2016. Fines $1,824,800.93 GCVEF $143,474.25 Prob - OP $1,763.54 Rest. $40,965.64 Screens $49,754.20 Sup. Fees $625,886.84 EM $8,385.00 Fiscal Year 2022 Revenue Summary Total: $2,840,236.54 Fines Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund Probation - Over Payment Restitution Drug Screens Supervision Fee Electronic Monitoring
9 0 500000 1000000 1500000 2000000 2500000 3000000 Magistrate State Superior 898 2,731,101.59 108,236.95 Revenue Collections by Courts 2,623,336.86 2,795,321.69 3,101,332.17 2,747,223.36 2,188,396.11 2,585,720.32 2,840,236.54 200,000.00 700,000.00 1,200,000.00 1,700,000.00 2,200,000.00 2,700,000.00 3,200,000.00 3,700,000.00 FY17 FY 18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21 FY 22 FY 23 Fiscal Year Overall Revenue Comparisons (USD)
10 TRACKING THE TRENDS Some of the highest liability and public safety risk cases managed by Sentence Enforcement are Driving Under the Influence (DUI) cases and Simple Battery-Family Violence cases. The need for Henry County Sentence Enforcement to make the transition in how we oversee these cases is the driving force behind the departments need to take a more comprehensive supervision approach which includes office and field-based supervision. The data below demonstrates the growing trends in each of these offense categories. While there are other cases just as challenging from a supervision standpoint, these are the most prevalent seen by the department. The numbers with Family Violence cases remained steady during the pandemic. This can be associated with the stressors seen by families having to remain home more during the peak of the pandemic. Although, families are no longer having to remain in their homes, the numbers still continue to rise in Henry County. The DUI Cases have exceeded pre-pandemic numbers and have reached an all-time high since the department began tracking these cases back in 2018. 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 STATE - DUI STATE - BATTERY SUPERIOR- DUI SUPERIOR BATTERY
11 FISCAL YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” ― Anatole France, Works of Anatole France The County Manager approves Henry County Police Department to provide office security to Henry County Sentence Enforcement. Henry County Sentence Enforcement receives an annual audit exception from the Department of Community Supervision (DCS) due to strong audit findings during the previous fiscal year. Henry County Sentence Enforcement provides technical support to Spalding County State Court as they transitioned from private probation to establish as a county entity as Spalding County Sentence Enforcement. The department adds an additional Probation Officer to Superior Court to meet the growing needs in this court.
12 Sentence Enforcement makes available to defendants a QR Code in which to make financial payments. Isabel Lazenby named Employee of the Year: Sentence Enforcement participates by contributing to the Henry County Police Departments Ralph Easterwood Wings for Warrior benefit ride.
13 Sentence Enforcement has an Appreciation Week for the Henry County Officers to show our thanks and appreciate for the security that they provide to the department and their overall service to the community. The department partners with IT to develop a draft Automated Sentence Sheet Henry County Sentence Enforcement begins securing training equipment to begin participating in the Basic Community Supervision Officer Training program to prepare staff to go through their training academy to garner POST certification.
14 Goal 1: Foster and maintain fiscal stewardship in the management of departmental operations Linkages to Strategic Plan: We will act in a way that protects Henry County assets and tax revenues and invests them for the future wisely. Metrics: Identify costs associated with Basic Probation Officer mandate training and equipment that can be managed within the existing budget. Requests for additional financial support will be done so at a minimal level that are data driven when appropriate. Planned Outcomes: Core costs of Basic Probation Officer mandate will be managed within the assigned budget to avoid additional budgetary costs to the county. The department will only request additional financial resources when necessary to meet operational needs. Time Period: Within a three-year inaugural training period projected to train current eligible staff and to secure resources needed to support the department’s mission. (UPDATE: The department has been able to secure equipment necessary for staff to attend Basic Probation Officer mandate training through the existing budget. As the department continues in this effort, additional budgetary dollars will be needed but start-up equipment has been secured with no additional monies being requested). Sentence Enforcement Henry County Government Fiscal Stewardship Integrity Service Accountability Accountability Collaboration 2023-2025 GOALS
15 Goal 2: Promote and maintain integrity in the performance of daily operations to maximize public trust Linkages to Strategic Plan: We will be honest, fair and include others in our collaboration. Metrics: Provide defendants with Basic Rights information which institutes a local and state oversight grievance process. POST Certified staff will be sworn in by the Court and expected to uphold their Oath of Office. Partner with Henry County Police Department for any internal investigations that may be necessary to ensure departmental integrity. Planned Outcomes: Operate within a level that allows those in which the department serves a voice should they feel the need based on the handling of their case Oath of Office will establish both integrity and accountability in the discharge of the Officer’s duties. Departmental operations will be conducted with transparency, integrity, and accountability. Time Period – Ongoing (UPDATE: The department has instituted in partnership with the Department of Community Supervision a grievance process to ensure defendants have a method to address their issues and/or concerns. Each defendant is provided with a Understanding Your Basic Rights document outlining what they should expect on probation, their rights during their time on probation and the process they should employ should they feel a need to file a grievance). Goal 3: Provide a level of service to the courts and the public that promotes public safety. Linkages to Strategic Plan: We will serve and care for others’ needs before our own; the citizens and team are first. Metrics: Evaluate and ensure that caseloads are at a level that allows for equitable and quality case management services.
16 Properly allocate and advocate resource needs to impact services. Revise hiring minimum qualifications for Probation Officer job class to emphasize POST certification or eligibility for POST certification Planned Outcomes: Equitable caseloads afford more focused and quality case management services. Hiring standard revision will enable the department to transition with more deliberate speed into a Sworn Public Safety entity Time Period: Desired outcomes to be achieved within a three-year period. (UPDATE: The department has assigned an additional Officer to Superior Court to ensure adequate supervision as the numbers in Superior Court continue to rise. The department has seen a rise in cases that parallels with pre-pandemic case numbers that will require the department to determine what additional support may be needed to provide the level of services to the court and defendants. Goal 4: To hold ourselves and the offenders we serve to a level of accountability that promotes trust and confidence in service delivery. Linkages to Strategic Plan: We will serve and care for others’ needs before our own; the citizens and team are first. Metrics: Broaden offender accountability by expanding public safety mission to incorporate field visits. To engage county leadership in budget and resource discussions to ensure that staff have the necessary resources to carry out the mission of the department. Consistently meet with staff to provide performance feedback as well as to solicit from staff areas for managerial growth Planned Outcomes: Produce a higher level of accountability for high-risk offenders. Create a level of understanding and county leadership support to provide level of resource support consistent with the county’s other aligned departments within public safety. Ensure accountability at all levels by providing and encouraging feedback for individual and departmental/managerial growth. Time Period: Desired outcomes to be achieved within a three-year period.
17 (UPDATE: The department has returned to seeing many defendants in person as the pandemic has eased to ensure their understanding of court requirements. The department has maintained a standard and belief that staff should be held to the same level of accountability in which the defendants we serve are held). Goal 5: Broaden collaboration with other entities to enhance support and services. Linkages to Strategic Plan: We will be open-minded and work together to make things better and learn each day Metrics: Partner with the Department of Community Supervision (DCS-Felony Probation) in securing POST certification for staff through Basic Probation Mandate training through their academy. Collaborate with Henry County Police Department for in-service training opportunities, policy sharing, etc. to promote alignment and consistency when applicable. Educate other public safety entities within the county of department operations to ensure field support. Planned Outcomes: Ensure training and certification for all eligible officers. Policy alignment will enable consistency in practices and county leadership confidence in departmental practices. Broaden field support by gaining their understanding of the departments mission. Time Period – Ongoing (UPDATE: The department has been partnering with local law enforcement agencies as well as neighboring counties as the process of transitioning the department has begun. As the department begins to align more like fellow law enforcement entities, the department believes that the level of understanding, and support will also align with the department’s needs)
18 LOCAL OVERSIGHT Local oversight to the Henry County Sentence Enforcement Department is provided by the Henry County State Court: Vincent A. “Vinny” Lotti, Chief Judge Chaundra D. Lewis, Judge Ralph Bailey Jr., Judge Stephen N. Knights Jr., Judge Dr. William Simmons, Court Administrator Henry County Sentence Enforcement 530 Hampton Street McDonough, GA 30248 (770)288-6590 / (770)288-6599