Directions: a publication of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Vol. 15, no. 1 (Winter/Spring 2009)

Directions

D A publication
of the Georgia

epartment of Juvenile Justice

Volume XV, Issue No. 1 Winter/Spring 2009

COMMISSIONER'S CORNER

"YOUTH SERVICES IS MY PASSION"

From time to time, I am asked why I do what I do, or why I love the job that I have. Recently, I was asked that question again. To me, it is an easy question to answer.
Youth services is my passion, and I don't believe there is another job in state government that can afford me the opportunity to redirect troubled youth, improve public safety, and improve the quality of life for Georgia citizens. It is important to me that I make an impact each day in helping the youth of Georgia learn from bad choices and transition into adulthood with an even chance of becoming a contributor to their community. Affecting positive change and strengthening communities have been the primary motivators for me throughout my career, and this should be extremely valuable to all of us in whatever role we serve.
All of us have had successes and setbacks. The thing that keeps driving me is the desire to serve and make a difference. This year, 2009, marks my fifth year as commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, thelongest tenure of any DJJ commissioner. Yes, I am proud of this, but I am
Commissioner Albert Murray will receive the American Correctional Association's highest
honor- see page 12

also proud because the agency's staff is the major contributor to my longevity. Being the leader of a correctional system is difficult and one needs support to be able to continue and be successful. DJJ is fortunate to have talented and skilled people to fill necessary roles and advance through promotion. I have been extremely fortunate to have excellent managers, have some retire and then have qualified individuals step forward. These managers are supported by future leaders; DJJ's strong workforce.
A while back I said something that may have gone unnoticed. In a group of staff during a meeting, I stated that there are other qualified people able to lead our department. This is true and worth saying again. DJJ is fortunate to have some very qualified, experienced leaders that have helped lead this agency into 2009, staff who have been supportive of me, allowing me and the agency to be successful in working toward common goals of improving public safety, improving the life of all Georgians and working with our youth and affecting positive change within many of them.
Affecting positive change is always necessary. I have had the opportunity to speak to youth assemblies where change was the theme; trying to instill in our youth the desire to seek positive change, alter negative attitudes, and of course in our facilities and with the youth we serve daily, we all do our best to get them to change directions.

The new

year has

already

brought

change to

our lives

and our

a g e n c y.

We are

dealing

with try-

ing economic

Albert Murray

times that make change unavoidable

and necessary. Despite this, we must

make the right changes, the positive

changes, and I believe that we are mak-

ing these changes, and we will continue

to do so. I believe that because I am

inspired by the very people that help

lead DJJ.

If we work hard and confront the challenges before us, we can continue to contribute to the success of DJJ youths. When a youth graduates from our school system, the success does not end with that youth. His or her success will inspire others to follow.

In closing, I ask for your continued support. Not just of me, but for your fellow DJJ employees, for the youth we serve, and also continued support for our customers. This is part of the continued positive change I see within DJJ. Improving DJJ customer service has resulted in improved services and a better managed and working agency. Let's push forward in 2009 with that success.

-Commissioner Albert Murray

BOARD NOTES

GOVERNOR REAPPOINTS BOARD CHAIR
J. Daniel Shuman of Tattnall County has been reappointed to the Board of Juvenile Justice by Governor Sonny Perdue. Shuman's term runs through July 6, 2013. He was first appointed to the Board in 2003. He represents the 12th Congressional District. Shuman serves as chairman of the Board of Juvenile Justice. He was elected acting chairman in 2004 and elected to a full term in 2005. He was reelected chairman in 2007. Shuman is also the vice-chair of the Tattnall County Commission.

J. Daniel Shuman

Shuman retired from the Department of Juvenile Justice after 34 years of service. Prior to his retirement, Shuman served as district director for Community Programs. He holds an undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University and a M. Ed. from the University of Georgia. He is married to Eva Lou and has two children, Jim, who lives in Glennville, and Danette, who lives in Reidsville.

STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

TAYLOR BIDS FAREWELL TO AGENCY HE HELPED ESTABLISH
Jimmy Taylor, assistant deputy commissioner of the Division of Administrative Services, retired Dec. 31, 2008 with 34 years of service to the state of Georgia.

Taylor, a Navy veteran and member of the State Bar of Georgia, was instrumental in getting the Department of Juvenile Justice off the ground when it was launched in 1992. Taylor began his career with the state in 1980 at the Department of Human Resources, where he first served as a personnel analyst and later as an administrative hearing officer. As an administrative hearing officer, he worked as parliamentarian to the DHR board. In 1992, when the Governor and Legislature made the decision to create a new department to oversee juvenile justice, he took the lead in creating the bylaws for the new Board of the Department of Children and Youth Services and its attendant Board of Education.

Taylor said the most difficult aspect of establishing the new

department was drawing up the bylaws for the Board of Education. Jimmy Taylor (left) shakes hands with Deputy

Commissioner Steve Herndon. Taylor singled out

"I don't think we understood what the legislation would do in this Herndon as "his hero" while giving his farewell

regard," he said.

speech.

Taylor served as the agency's legal services officer until 1999. He has also served as the director of the Office of Legal Services, the director of the Office of Administrative Hearings and Investigations and the director of the Office of Investigations and Apprehensions. Taylor was named to his most recent position in July.

Commissioner Albert Murray said the agency is losing an upstanding employee and an outstanding source of knowledge of the agency's history and policies.

"I would be hard pressed to name someone with such encyclopedic knowledge of the agency and passion for the work we do," Commissioner Murray said. "Jimmy Taylor was one of the people I depended on to help me when I first came to Georgia, and he has remained a trusted advisor."

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STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
Patrick Harman has been selected as director of the Sandra Cawthon has been appointed director of the Gwinnett RYDC. Harman has more than 20 years of experi- Blakely RYDC. Cawthon began her career in July 1984 as a ence working with youth in the state of Kansas, where he youth development worker (the current JCO I class) at the served as program director of the Beloit Juvenile Correctional Blakely RYDC. She has also served as a JCO II, lieutenant, Facility. Prior to becoming program director, Harman served and lead lieutenant, all at Blakely. She was named assistant as head of the Beloit College Psychology Department. He director in 2005 and served as acting director starting in has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree 2007. in counseling, both from Fort Hays State University.

Michael Benjamin has been selected as the juvenile program manager for the Rockdale Community Service and Intake Unit. He has previously served as a JPM and as a JPPS III and JPPS II. He is a graduate of Georgia Southern University and Interdenominational Theological Center. He has completed the Middle Management Program for Youth Service Organizations at Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

Jeffrey Coleman has been selected as legal services officer in the Office of Legal Services. Coleman comes to DJJ with eight years experience in private practice. He formerly worked for DJJ from 1996 to 2000 in the Transportation Unit as transportation coordinator. Coleman has a bachelor's degree in political science from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina and a juris doctorate from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta.

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INTAKE
FORD NAMED CASE MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Willie Ford, JPPS I, was honored as the Case Manager of the Year at the Ninth Annual Child Placement Conference in Augusta in November. The conference was sponsored by Catalyst for CARE.

Ford works at DJJ's Fulton Multi-Service Center (MSC). He said he was honored to win this award and said education is the key to getting youth offenders on the right track. "When I see a kid graduate from school with a GED, diploma or from college, that's what I enjoy," said Ford.

Ford said once a youth has an education, he or she is able to get an apartment, work and become a productive citizen. He said he has had several youth who were under his supervision come back and visit him.

Case Manager of the Year is one of six Child Placement

Conference Awards given annually to recognize hard

work and contributions to the foster care and juvenile

justice systems in Georgia and for demonstrating a

commitment to collaboration with other agencies and

programs to better serve children and families.

Willie Ford (right) with DJJ Judicial Advisory Council Member Judge Steven Teske

Ford began his DJJ career in 1994 as a detention super-

visor. He has worked in several positions including unit manager at the former Lorenzo Benn YDC. He started at the MSC

in 2006.

The Child Placement Conference is the largest multi-disciplinary gathering of child welfare professionals in Georgia. Sessions and workshops at the conference are designed to provide the latest information on trends, policies, and practices in child welfare in Georgia. DJJ Case Expeditor Lisa Casey presented on Georgia's juvenile court system and DJJ as well as alternatives to detention.
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COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INTAKE
STONE NAMED DJJ'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Lightning has struck twice at the Aaron Cohn Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Columbus. Betsy Stone, special education teacher at the facility, was named DJJ's 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year at the Department's annual education conference on October 28, 2008.
Stone is the second teacher in two years from the Aaron Cohn RYDC to win the honor. Janice Brown, a social studies teacher at the facility, was last year's Teacher of the Year.

Stone taught for 28 years with the Georgia Pyschoeducational Program, where she worked with children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. She has taught special education, mathematics and social science at Aaron Cohn for the past three years. The best part of her job, Stone said, is working every day with students and seeing them succeed.

"I love seeing a struggling student gain some new understanding of an academic task," Stone said. "I am excited to see some student who does not read well try to read small portions of text and answer questions out loud. It really thrills me when a child who has given up on trying to participate in school begins to show some interest in doing work."

"I was humbled by the honor of being selected as the Teacher of the Year for

DJJ. I fully realize that there are many other teachers who have taught

Commissioner Albert Murray with Betsy

with DJJ much longer than I. I salute them and their years of dedicated

Stone, DJJ Teacher of the Year

service," said Stone. "I know that all DJJ teachers are teaching in our

system because of their personal dedication to at-risk students."

Aaron Cohn RYDC Director Maurice Barron said all of the teachers at the facility are a real credit to the profession.

"I feel very blessed to have inherited two outstanding teachers and such a spirited group of teachers all together," Barron said. "I am extremely proud of our education department. They not only teach, they are also genuinely interested in helping our youth improve themselves academically and socially."

William Jarrett, lead teacher at Aaron Cohn, said he has known Stone for decades and that she has always embodied the qualities a teacher needs to have to reach children who are in difficult situations.

"Ms. Stone has always shown a passion for teaching and compassion for students who are in difficult circumstances," he said.

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Betsy Stone with Janice Brown, the 2008-2009 Teacher of the Year

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INTAKE

METRO RYDC STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN MOCK ELECTION
In the lead up to the presidential election, educators at the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Atlanta took the opportunity to educate youths about their civic duties by staging a mock election.

During October, students at the facility learned about the histo-

ries of presidential and vice-presidential candidates and stud-

ied the issues facing the nation. Teachers also walked the

youths through the process of registering to vote and

explained how the electoral college system works. Students

watched video of both Barack Obama and John McCain's

acceptance speeches before casting ballots. In order to cast

the ballots, the students had to first register and present mock

registration cards. Once they voted, the youths received an "I

voted" sticker. Fifty-three youths participated in the mock vote.

Obama won the election with 51 votes. McCain received two

votes.

Students at Metro RYDC cast their votes.

School Counselor Zane Shelfer said the idea was to mimic the actual election process as closely as possible so students would know what was involved when they are eligible to vote.

"By using examples of actual applications, voter registration cards and ballots, the students were able to understand the steps needed to become a voter once they become 18," Shelfer said.

STUDENTS SEND HOLIDAY WISHES TO SOLDIERS
To get in the holiday spirit, youths at the Judge Thomas Jefferson Loftiss II Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Thomasville sent Christmas Cards to injured soldiers.

Youths at the 30 bed facility near the Florida border wrote and sent 35 cards to soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. Ted Lynch, a case expeditor in the Grady County Court Services Office (CSO), suggested the idea to District 10 District Director Diane Douglas-Harris. Staff at the facility paid for the cards and the postage.

Douglas-Harris said she wanted the youth in the

RYDC over the holidays to have the opportunity to do

something for others, so they could get into the spirit of

the season. Sending cards to injured soldiers was a

good way to show gratitude to those who have served

their country and to show the youths that there is more

to the holiday season than receiving gifts.

Students at the Loftiss RYDC write Christmas cards to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

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PROGRAMS AND SECURE CAMPUSES
DJJ STUDENTS CONTINUE TO ACHIEVE

Augusta Youth Headed for Higher Ed

Two students at the Both Smith and Paige A u g u s t a Y o u t h spoke at the graduation.

Development Campus They challenged their

(YDC) have been accept- peers with the resounding

ed t o P a i n e C o l l e g e. call that they were not to

Marcus Smith and Darryl populate the halls of the

Paige are both eligible for Department of Corrections

grant-in-aid financial aid in but rather to make their

order to attend the histor- impact in colleges and in

ically black private liberal society.

arts college in Augusta,

Marcus Smith (left) and Darryl Paige (right) with Commissioner

Georgia.

D r. T h o m a s C o l e m a n , Albert Murray

the retired deputy com-

The two recipients received their high school diplomas on Friday, December 12, 2008. Eight other youths

missioner of Programs and Secure Campuses, was the commencement speaker. Coleman, who

Large Class Graduates at Eastman YDC

received their Graduate described himself as a

Equivalency Degrees "student and product" of (GEDs) at the same cere- education, exhorted the

Seven students at meant success on many the Eastman Youth levels. He said it meant

mony.

graduates to continue on

Development Campus success for the staff, the

to college and/or technical

(YDC) received their youths' families and, of

Smith had the highest high school as their next steps

high school diplomas course, for the gradu-

school grade-point-aver- in their paths to achieve-

and 17 received their ates.

age of all the graduates. ment.

graduate equivalency

degrees (GEDs) at a Commissioner Murray

graduation ceremony on said the high number of

Friday, December 19, graduates at Eastman is

2008.

significant. The facil-

ity primarily houses old-

Commissioner Albert er offenders, ages 17-

Murray was in atten- 20.

dance. Dr. Edwin Risler,

vice-chairman of the "Eastman is home to our

B o a r d o f J u v e n i l e most challenging popu-

Justice and a professor lation," Commissioner

at the University of Murray said. "To have so

Georgia School of many of them receive

Social Work, was the t h e i r d i p l o m a s a n d

commencement speak- GEDs is a testament to

er.

their hard work and to

Dr. Ed Risler addresses graduates at the Eastman YDC.

the dedication and carRisler told the graduates ing of the facility's edu-

that their achievement cation staff."

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PROGRAMS AND SECURE CAMPUSES
A STUDENT SPEAKS: MARCUS SMITH'S GRADUATION ADDRESS
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to come before you as a graduate of the class of 2008. We all have worked long and hard to reach this accomplishment and we would like share this moment of victory with you all. First and foremost, to the families that are here to support their graduate; we thank you. Your strength and support is the reason we are able to stand on this stage today.
Secondly, to our principal Dr. Armistad and all of our teachers, we extend warm thanks. I truly believe that the best educators in the world are right here on this campus. Your hard work and dedication has made the difference in so many lives. Being a student on this campus has not been easy. Also to my wonderful family who is here today; I thank you for all the love and support you give me each and every day. You all are the reason I was able to make it through these tough times. I've gone through so many tests and trials but I can honestly say that I have grown drastically in the two years I have been here. I realized that God allows us to go through things to make us stronger.
My first day on campus when I met Dr. Armistad she saw the potential I had inside of me even though I did not see it. She, along with my teachers Mrs. Wallace and Ms. Hughes, has pushed that potential and now I am standing before you today. I speak on behalf of the entire class of 2008 when I say we are complete with our high school journey, but we will not stop here. We will not populate the cellblocks of the Georgia Department of Corrections like the statistics say. Instead, we will populate the nation's colleges and universities, tech schools and trade schools. Starting now we will take our roles as leaders in our communities. We will create our own destinies. Some of you have stopped dreaming. You see your present situation and believe that this is what life will always be.
Some of you have even become complacent with mediocrity. My fellow students, on November 4, 2008 the world witnessed the election of the first African-American President of the United States of America. That is evidence that dreams do come true. So today I dare you all to dream again. Not small dreams, but dream big. There are people who will tell you that you won't make it. When you tell them your dreams they will even laugh at you. These very same people will more than often be the ones you love the most. However, you must first put faith in God and then put faith in yourself to make these dreams a reality. Never let anyone tell you what you cannot be because of your circumstances. In the end, the only person who will stop you from reaching the stars is you. I leave you all with a short poem by my favorite poet, Langston Hughes:
"Keep dreams alive, for when dreams die life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly. Keep dreams alive, for when they go, life is a barren field of frozen snow."
Once again on behalf of the class of 2008, we say thank you and God bless.
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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

LAST CLASS OF 2008 JCOS GRADUATES FROM TRAINING

Sixty-five new juvenile corrections officers graduated from "Each time I come to graduation, I am amazed at the talent

BJCOT training just in time to spend the holidays with their that's coming into DJJ," Murray said.

families.

Howell told the graduates

The new class of JCOs received

that they had a lot of hard

their diplomas on Dec. 23,

work ahead of them,

2008 at the Georgia Public

but they should not

Safety Training Center in

get discouraged

Forsyth. The graduating

because the kind-

class included 18 with mili-

ness and patience they

tary experience; 17 with

show to the children

college degrees; 18 currently

they work with will be

working on degrees; 21 mar-

remembered in the

ried; 45 with children; 47 with

years to come.

experience previously work-

ing with children and 30 with

Howell said that, as a

law enforcement experience.

youth, she was often

Commissioner Albert Murray

in trouble at school.

attended the ceremony and

She said that what

Amy Howell, deputy commis-

made a difference in

sioner of Administrative

her life were the adults

Services, w a s t h e k e y n o t e The honor graduates for BJCOT class 138 (left to right): Richard who took the time to

speaker.

Perry, Eastman YDC; Tishana Brown, Paulding RYDC; Terroll show concern.

Roberson, Martha K. Glaze RYDC, and Douglas Topor, Gainesville

Commissioner Murray urged the RYDC

"I don't remember their

new JCOs to think of their posi-

names. I don't remem-

tions as the first step in a career as opposed to just another ber their faces, but I do remember when they listened to

job.

me," she said.

DJJ WELCOMES OLDEST JCO BJCOT HONOR GRADUATES

Rodger Henderson, a member of the 138th graduating BJOCT class, has come to juvenile corrections as a second career. The 71 year-old's first career was as an aerospace project engineer. He lived in Southern California and worked on the Apollo space program.

Henderson retired 12 years ago

and has held other jobs, includ-

Rodger Henderson and Commissioner ing working in retail and mowing

Albert Murray

golf courses, just to keep busy.

Henderson said he wasn't sure

he would get a job at the Paulding Regional Youth Detention Center

(RYDC) because of his age but was pleased to be accepted. He said he

was planning on being a JCO for at least 8 years.

HONOR GRADUATE BJCOT CLASS 133 Shimila Stewart, Marietta RYDC
HONOR GRADUATES BJCOT CLASS 135 Loretta Mimms JCO McIntosh YDC Brian Thornton JCO Sumter YDC
HONOR GRADUATES BJCOT CLASS 136 Isamel Rodriguez (JCO) Augusta YDC
Ophila Boyd (JCO) Augusta YDC Serquwilla Mackeroy (JCO) Crisp RYDC
Derrell Sutton (JCO) Claxton RYDC Kulisha Williams (JCO) Blakely RYDC

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ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

QUICK ACTION FROM DJJ STAFF MEMBERS SAVES LIVES

A COMBINATION of good training and quick thinking helped DJJ employees save two lives in December.

In both incidents, facility staff used the Heimlich maneuver to help save a choking victim. In the first incident, on Dec. 14, 2008, Cynthia Joyce, a counselor at the Claxton Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC), used the Heimlich on a parent who started to choke during visitation.

Cynthia Joyce

Joyce, who has been a counselor

at the facility for three years, said

that when the youth told her his parent was choking she

sprang into action.

Heimlich maneuver on Jorge Tostado, a juvenile corrections officer at the Elbert Shaw RYDC, when Tostado began to choke at lunch. Both employees were attending pre-service orientation at the South Cobb Government Services Center

in Austell at the time. Two days

prior, they had undergone

First Aid/CPR/AED training from the American

"I didn't think

Heart Association. about doing it. I just

did it."- Jones, who transferred
to the Paulding RYDC in

Cynthia Joyce

November, said he didn't

think he did anything special.

"I'm sure [Tostado] would have done the same for me," he said.

"It just happened," she said. "I didn't think about doing it. I just did it."
Joyce credited the First Aid training she received in July with giving her the knowledge necessary to help save a life.
In the second incident, which occurred on Dec. 17, Lt. Vincent Jones Jr. from the Paulding RYDC performed the

"These incidents prove that there is a real value in the training we provide for our staff," said Fabienne Tate, director of the Office of Training. "In corrections you have to be prepared for the unexpected, and I think these two incidents show that our employees are ready to act decisively when action is called for." DJJ field staff complete First Aid and CPR training. Facility staff also complete the AED training.

AROUND DJJ

EMPLOYEES SHOW GIVING SPIRIT FOR HOLIDAYS

During the holidays, DJJ employees got into the giving spirit. Central Office employees participated in their annual Toys for Tots Drive. Overall, the drive collected a total of 176 toys for needy children in Metro Atlanta.
Employees on the first and fourth floors collected 57 toys. Employees on the second and third floors collected 119 toys.
Employees from the second and third floors in DJJ Central Office display some of the gifts they donated to Toys for Tots.
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LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

HOUSE BUDGET OFFICE TOURS DJJ FACILITIES
Employees of the State House Budget Office along with State Representative Chuck Martin toured four DJJ facilities in November.

With Legislative Director Spiro Amburn, the group toured the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC), the Macon Youth Development Campus (YDC), and the Macon RYDC. Commissioner Albert Murray joined the group at the Metro RYDC.

Metro RYDC Director John Wright led the tour of his facility, accompanied by Assistant Director Debbie Alexander. The Metro RYDC, with 200 beds, is the largest youth detention center in the southeast and one of the largest in the nation. Martin, along with budget analysts Kendra Mitchell and Christine Murdock, got to see Metro's school day in progress. They also got to look at the facility's intake, medical and housing units and to speak with staff about the day-to-day operations.

Mitchell said seeing what DJJ does on a daily basis will help when it comes time to establish the agency's budget for the new fiscal year.

Legislative Director Spiro Amburn said the House Metro RYDC Director John Wright shows State Rep. Chuck Martin Budget Office requested the tour to get a better sense of the board where staff keep track of room assignments.
how the agency operates.

"The tour helped build awareness of operations and programs so that the General Assembly can better understand what we do as they make decisions about the budget and legislation that affect the agency," he said.
GOVERNOR PERDUE HIGHLIGHTS YOUTH'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Jeremy Lee, a former DJJ youth who persevered and obtained his high school diploma while at the Bill E. Ireland Youth Development Campus (YDC), was singled out by Governor Sonny Perdue at the January 14, 2009 State of the State address.

Governor Perdue compared Jeremy's resilience to that of thousands of Georgians, stating his confidence that because of that resiliency, the state would emerge stronger from the challenges facing it today.

The governor stated that Jeremy, "embodies the resilien- (Left to right): Jeremy Lee, GBI Director Vernon Keenan and

cy of our state."

Commissioner Albert Murray

Governor Perdue asked Lee to stand, and he was applauded by state senators and representatives. DJJ Commissioner Albert Murray sat beside Lee during the Governor's address.

Governor Perdue told the Georgia General Assembly, "It's Jeremy's resilience and the resilience of thousands like him across our state that gives me confidence that we will emerge from these challenging times stronger."
Lee is enrolled at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he hopes to study toward a medical career. Although Morehouse College was unable to provide Lee with a scholarship for his first semester, he could receive one in the fall based on his academic performance.
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DJJ CUSTOMER SERVICE

STATE RECOGNIZES MURRAY, TATE & O'ROURKE

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE was well represented at the Governor's Commendations for Customer Service in January. Commissioner Albert Murray, Director of Training Fabienne Tate, and retired Associate Superintendent Dr. Tom O'Rourke each received a Governor's Commendation for their contributions to the agency's efforts to make DJJ services faster, friendlier and easier. DJJ was one of 19 state agencies whose employees were recognized for their customer service efforts.

At the ceremony, held on January 29, 2009, Commissioner Murray was recognized for his efforts to make customer service a central part of the agency's day-to-day operations. During his five year tenure, Commissioner Murray has laid out a vision for serving juvenile offenders, their parents and the victims of juvenile crime. He has made customer service a regular topic at leadership and Board meetings. Under his leadership, customer service training is now mandatory for all employees and communication with customers has been improved through new on-line customer services.

Dr. O'Rourke served as DJJ's first customer service champion. He spearheaded many of the agency's customer service initiatives including education, training, measurement, and improvement of constituent services. Until his retirement, Dr. O'Rourke was responsible for providing monthly updates to the Board of Juvenile Justice about the agency's customer service efforts. His commendation cited his leadership in creating an accredited education system within DJJ.

Tate was honored for her leadership in the Office of

(Left to right): Deputy Commissioner Amy Howell, Commissioner Albert Murray, Director of Training Fabienne Tate, Board Chairman Daniel Shuman, retired Director of Education Tom O'Rourke, Deputy Commissioner Steve Herndon and Deputy

Training and for improve- Commissioner Jeff Minor

ments in the training for the

Office of Behavioral Health Services, as reflected in the consistent positive feedback from conference evaluations. Tate

was also honored for going above and beyond the call of duty when a participant at the 2008 Office of Behavioral Health

Services Conference had a heart attack. Without missing a beat, Tate made arrangements for the victim's family and

provided support to the family, both in person and over the phone, prompting the employee's seven year-old son to call

her "an angel woman."

In January, Joe Doyle, director of the Governor's Office of Customer Service and Katie Christopherson, director of Continuous Improvement for the Governor's Office of Customer Service, toured three DJJ facilties. Accompanied by members of the Office of Media and Public Relations, they visited the Metro Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in DeKalb County and the Macon RYDC as well as the Macon Youth Development Campus (YDC).

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Directions
Sonny Perdue Governor
DJJ BOARD
J. Daniel Shuman Chair
Dr. Edwin A. Risler Vice-Chair
Daniel Augustus Menefee Secretary
Larry Barnes Michael Lee Baugh
Bruce Garraway Van Ross Herrin James P. Kelly III Elizabeth Green Lindsey Perry J. McGuire
Judy Mecum Dexter Rowland Stephen K. Simpson Elaine P. Snow Sandra Heath Taylor
DJJ ADVISORY COUNCIL The Honorable Quintress J. Gilbert
The Honorable Steven C. Teske
Commissioner: Albert Murray
Editor-in-Chief: Steve Hayes
Writing Staff: Steve Hayes Nathan Cain
Editing Team: Nathan Cain
Janssen Robinson
Publisher: Printed Communications, Inc.
Please direct comments or questions to:
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Office of Media and Public Relations 3408 Covington Highway Decatur, Georgia 30032 Telephone: (404) 508-7147 Facsimile: (404) 508-7341 Website: www.djj. State.ga.us

T he mission of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is to protect and serve the citizens of Georgia by holding youthful offenders accountable for their actions through the delivery of treatment services and sanctions in appropriate settings, and by establishing youth in their communities as productive and law abiding citizens.
MURRAY TO RECEIVE E.R. CASS AWARD
Commissioner Albert Murray has been selected to receive the E.R. Cass Correctional Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Correctional Association (ACA). The E.R. Cass Award is presented each year to an ACA member who has made an outstanding contribution to the ACA and to the correctional field over a period of time and has exemplified the highest of principles and integrity as a corrections professional. The honor was announced at the ACA's Winter Conference, Jan. 9-14 in Kissimmee, FL.
Commissioner Murray will be presented with the award at the ACA's 139th Congress of Correction in Nashville, TN, Aug. 7-12, 2009.
The E.R. Cass Award was created in 1962 in honor of Edward R. Cass, who served as the ACA's general secretary for 40 years and spent a total of 50 years working in corrections. Cass was dedicated to the goals and growth of the ACA and to the corrections field.
Commissioner Murray has been a member of ACA for over 25 years. During that time, he has been very active in the organization. He has served on the Board of Governors, Delegate Assembly, numerous special committees, and is a certified accreditation auditor. He was elected by the membership of ACA to serve on the Commission on Accreditation and currently holds this national office. The Commission on Accreditation awards accreditation to state and federal prisons, county jails and juvenile facilities throughout the nation and abroad.
Commissioner Murray is the longest serving commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. He has directed the agency since January 2004 when he was appointed to the position by Governor Sonny Perdue. He reports to a 15 member Board of Directors, members of which are appointed by the Governor. He and his wife Connie reside in Rockdale County.
Prior to coming to Georgia, he was appointed by Governor Bill Graves as the first commissioner of the newly created Juvenile Justice Authority for the state of Kansas, serving in that capacity for six years. Commissioner Murray worked to build the Kansas agency from the ground up, spearheading the state's efforts at juvenile justice reform. He also worked for more than 20 years in his native state of Tennessee with troubled youth and held the position as Assistant Commissioner for both the Tennessee State Department of Children Services and the Department of Youth Development.
The American Correctional Association is the oldest and largest international correction association in the world with a membership exceeding 25,000. ACA serves all disciplines within the corrections profession, and it provides many services including accreditation, research, consulting and professional development.
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