Directions: a publication of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, Vol. 15, no. 5 (Spring/Summer 2010)

Directions

D A publication
of the Georgia

epartment of Juvenile Justice

Volume XVI, Issue No. 5 Spring/Summer 2010

Garland R. Hunt Esq. Named DJJ Commissioner

Garland R. Hunt, Esq. was unanimously appointed Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) by the Board of Juvenile Justice at a special called meeting May 19. The action followed Governor Sonny Perdue's recommendation May 11 that Hunt become DJJ commissioner. Commissioner Hunt resigned his position on the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles in order to be appointed DJJ Commissioner.
Jim Lientz, Georgia's Chief Operating Officer, introduced Hunt to the board members during the May 19 meeting and described Hunt as having, "a great background, he has a good heart and he is a good leader." Lientz said Governor Sonny Perdue believes Hunt; "an ideal person to become Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice."
Hunt thanked the Board of Juvenile Justice members for their vote.
"I am honored and ready to lead this department and I look forward to this challenge ahead. I have benefited personally and professionally from my work on the parole board and am proud of the many faith based programs we were able to start for adult inmates leaving the DOC. I have had many opportunities in my professional and life experiences to work with our youth and give them more successful opportunities. I am excited for this opportunity to continue that work with the youth we serve in this agency."
Commissioner Hunt replaces Albert Murray as DJJ commissioner. Murray accepted an appointment by Governor Perdue to join the parole board.
"Albert has left a lasting legacy at DJJ, and I am very thankful that Garland has agreed to step into this

important role," Governor Perdue said.

Commissioner Hunt was sworn in as a member of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles on January 23, 2004. His six years on the parole board included a two year term as chairman.

Garland R. Hunt, Esq. Commissioner

After attending undergraduate and law school at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Commissioner Hunt served as staff attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. He is a member of the Georgia Bar Association. Prior to becoming a member of the parole board, he served as General Counsel and Executive Vice-President for the Fellowship of International Churches (FOIC) in Atlanta. Commissioner Hunt is also Vice-President of Wellington Boone Ministries in Atlanta. Wellington Boone Ministries is an umbrella organization of several community-based initiatives including outreach for college and high school students and athletes. Commissioner Hunt is currently a co-pastor of The Father's House in Norcross.

Commissioner Hunt is also the Vice-President of the Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI). In 2008, he received the APAI President's Award. In 2009, he received the Ben Baer Award for outstanding work nationally in the field of parole.

Also in this issue: BJCOT Class Makes History DJJ Teacher of the Year Murray Joins Pardons and Paroles

PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SERVICES

ECONOMY THE FOCUS OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION

State Agencies continue tightening their belts in order to meet the state requirement of a balanced budget. In July 2009, Governor Sonny Perdue issued instructions for agencies to submit budget reduction plans of four, six and eight percent for the Amended 2010 and FY2011 budgets.
For DJJ, that equated to up to $22 million of cuts. Many hours of planning and analysis were required in order to minimize adverse impacts on the agency's ability to perform its core functions and ensure the best use of resources. The reductions to the DJJ's budget were significant. House Bill 947 (FY2010 Amended Budget) reduced the original agency budget by a net $18.5 million, from $288 million to $269.5 million. The FY2011 budget for the upcoming fiscal year was further reduced to $266 million. The FY2011 budget reductions represent the annualization of the actions taken in the Department's FY2010 amended budget; with the exception of the one time reductions of furloughs, hiring freeze and vehicle purchase moratorium.
Budget cuts were achieved through capacity, staff and contract reductions. Capacity reductions resulted in over $20 million in savings with the closure of the Bill Ireland YDC (300 beds) effective January 2010 and the closure of one unit (24 beds) at the Macon YDC. Over $3 million was generated by streamlining service delivery and eliminating approximately 50 administrator, director, manager and

coordinator positions. During the final weeks of the legislative session, the department was required to identify more FY2011 cuts. DJJ's final cuts were $4.6 million. They included the closure of 20 additional beds at the Macon YDC and elimination of 16 positions, a reduction in the availability of residential placements, personal services funding, and several changes to the education program in the YDCs.
The education reductions included one assistant principal, increasing student-teacher ratios from 1:15 to 1:20 in the YDCs, and changing the education focus at the Eastman YDC to attainment of a GED due to the age and needs of the facility's population. While these reductions are significant, DJJ staff will continue to meet the agency's goals and objectives as it has always done in the past.
House Bill 1104 passed and extended the sunset on the 30-day Short Term Program sentence until 2013. 1104 also gives youths credit for time served in detention toward a designated felony sentence. The bill creates graduated sanctions and includes a secure sanctions program for youth who continue to violate conditions of probation. The provision allows for seven, 14, or 30 day sentences for violations of probation. The bill also includes a "smash and grab" designated felony act.

BJCOT CLASS 152 MAKES HISTORY

Front row: (L-R) Andrell Govan, Eastman YDC; Kenneth Davis, Metro RYDC; Jacqueline Dehmeri, Eastman YDC; Denise Taylor, Aaron Cohn RYDC; Saundra Ball, Eastman YDC; Veronica Garcia, Paulding RYDC

Middle row: (L-R) Trevor Ogle, Waycross RYDC; Yent'l Poole, Bob Richards RYDC; Marcus Graves, Sumter YDC; Joseph Badger, Griffin RYDC; Michael Hammond, Metro RYDC; Edrick Washington, Metro RYDC; Anton Liverman, Eastman YDC; La'Marcus Rahney, Augusta YDC; Ty Stowers, Augusta YDC

BJCOT Class 152 graduated April 22, 2010 and made Department Back row: (L-R) Matthew Lipscomb-Ross,

of Juvenile Justice history by becoming the first class in the DJJ Training Gainesville RYDC; Tillie Willis, Metro RYDC;

Academy's existence to graduate all candidates who enrolled in the four Elliot Banks, Gainesville RYDC; Alesha

week course.

Class 152 consists of 23 graduates.

The DJJ Academy

Harris, Aaron Cohn RYDC; Jaimain Smoak, Paulding RYDC; Phillip Kennedy, Eastman

located in Forsyth was started in 1997. Joseph Badger, JCO I, Griffin YDC; Bryant Foster, Sumter YDC; Dwayne

RYDC was the sole honor graduate for this class with a GPA of 97. Lynes-Bell, Waycross RYDC

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PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SERVICES

STAFF PARTICIPATE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE CONFERENCE
DJJ staff were heavily involved in the planning and execution of the Fifth Annual Summit on Substance Abuse, Mental Health and School Safety/Discipline Best Practices for Working with Youth, which was held in March at Callaway Gardens.

The event brings juvenile justice professionals, educators, and treatment providers together for an opportunity to share ideas, facilitate communication, and learn about the organizations involved in providing social services to youth. This year's conference was sponsored by the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, the Georgia Department of Education, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Assistant Director of the Office of Behavioral Health Services Miguel (DBHDD), Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, Fernandez, Statewide Coordinator for Substance Abuse Treatment Dr. the Student Assistant Professionals Jody Tarleton, and Associate Superintendent Dr. Jack Catrett Association (SAPA), and the Southeast Addiction Transfer and Technology Center (ATTC).

DJJ Education Director Dr. Jack Catrett, Assistant Director of the Office of Behavioral Health Services Miguel Fernandez, and Statewide Coordinator for Substance Abuse Treatment Jody Tarleton all served on the planning committee for the three-day conference.

Deputy Commissioner Steve Herndon addressed the conference during the opening session. He emphasized the fact that those in attendance have interconnected aims, and encouraged everyone to continue the successful collaboration that has arisen between agencies over the last few years.

"It is in our interest, in your interest, and most importantly in the interest of youth and families, that we all leave here with a better understanding of what we each do and some better ways of doing what we do," Herndon told the attendees.

In addition to helping plan the conference, DJJ staff also

served as presenters. Catrett and Curriculum Director

Martha Patton presented a workshop on the DJJ School

Education Curriculum Director Martha Patton explains System. Medical Director Dr. Michelle Staples-Horne

DJJ's student record keeping system.

presented on HIV/AIDS in youth, and Fernandez gave a

presentation on "The Addiction of Self Injury."

Approximately 250 people attended the conference. The Department of Juvenile Justice sent 20 staff to the three days of meetings. The remaining attendees were divided between educators, educational administrators and service providers.

"The primary goal of the conference is to increase communication between agencies, to improve the outcomes for the children we all serve and to make sure they get all the services they need," Fernandez said.

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PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SERVICES

GILBERT NAMED DJJ TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Janice Gilbert, the special education teacher at the Sumter "You can open kids up to the world of education by showing

Youth Development Campus (YDC) in Americus, has been them that you're there for them," she said.

selected as the Department of Juvenile Justice Teacher of the

Year for the 2010-2011 school year.

Former Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Albert

Murray said education is among the most valuable services

Gilbert received the honor during

DJJ provides to youth in our

DJJ's annual Education

care, and teachers are key to

Professional Development

the agency's success.

Workshops, on Monday, February 8, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. Gilbert's term as Teacher of the Year began on July 1, 2010.

"People like Ms. Gilbert and her colleagues are essential to the department accomplishing its goals," Murray said.

Gilbert has worked at the Sumter

YDC for three years. She has

Gilbert follows outgoing

been a teacher for 25 years,

2009-2010 DJJ Teacher of

spending most of her career as a

the Year Betsy Stone, a spe-

special education teacher and

cial education teacher from

assistant principal in the

the Aaron Cohn Regional

Randolph County School System. Aaron Cohn Teacher Betsy Stone and DJJ 2010-2011 Youth Detention Center

Gilbert said she was "shocked Teacher of Year Janice Gilbert

(RYDC).

and honored," by the award.

Jennifer Devine from the Augusta YDC, Simone Garwood from

Gilbert said she found teaching in a juvenile facility was not the Metro RYDC, and Jacqueline Cain from the Paulding all that different than teaching in any other public school sys- RYDC were also honored as Regional Teachers of the Year

tem. She said the key to reaching young people is to show at the event. Devine and Garwood are from the Northeast

them that you care about them.

Region and Cain is from the Northwest Region.

EASTMAN YDC HAS LARGE GRADUATING CLASS
Eastman YDC held a graduation ceremony on January 29, with 27 youth graduating. This graduation had one of the best showings of parent participation that the facility has ever had at a graduation exercise.

Sixteen students received their GEDs. Five received high school diplomas, and one received a college preparatory high school diploma. Another five students received technical certificates of credit from the Heart of Georgia Technical College.

Dr. Virginia Dixon, a member of the Peach County Board of Education, served as

DJJ staff attend the Eastman YDC graduation.

commencement speaker. Dixon is a former chairperson of the Teacher Retirement System of Georgia and a member of the

National Teacher Retirement Board. She also serves on numerous local boards as an advocate for troubled children.
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STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

WILLARD RETIRES FROM OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS

Randy Willard

Randolph "Randy" Willard, investigator with the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), retired April 30 with 30 years of service to the state of Georgia. Willard came to DJJ in 1998 and assumed the position of principal investigator after spending 15 years with the Secretary of State's Office as a securities investigator. As principal investigator, Willard supervised a team of investigators, taught as an adjunct instructor at the DJJ Training Academy in Forsyth, and conducted many investigations. Willard has a total of 43 years of government service, having started his career in the Army in 1968. Willard has also worked for the Georgia Tech and Smyrna police departments.

JACKSON RETIRES FROM TRANSPORTATION UNIT
Although he has "thoroughly enjoyed" his service and will miss the dedicated employees, George Jackson, DJJ Transportation Officer, retired June 1, with 20 years of service.

Jackson came to the Department of Juvenile Justice in 1995, after working for the Department of Corrections for seven years. He started at the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) and became a transportation officer in 1997.

Prior to working for the state, Jackson had an extensive military

career, which began in 1968 when he joined the United States

Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam and has also served as a

Naval ROTC instructor at Georgia Tech and Atlanta University George Jackson with Office of Classification and

Center.

Transportation Director Jackie Kelsey

NEW LEADERSHIP AT METRO RYDC
The Metro Regional Youth Detention Center The facility also has two new assistant directors. Delbert

(RYDC), DJJ's largest short-term facility, has new Montgomery has been selected as the associate director of

leadership. Associate Director Debbie Alexander is the new security. Montgomery, a former employee at DJJ, previously

director of the 200-bed detention facility; appointed in served as the director of the Marietta RYDC and as a unit

January.

manager at Metro. Most recently,

Alexander fills the void left when John Wright took a position in the private sector last December. Alexander had also worked at the Metro RYDC as a director I. She

Montgomery was the director of residential services at the Jackson County Family Court (Kansas City, MO), where he oversaw seven residential facilities.

began her career with DJJ in 1995

James Brown has been selected

when she started as a juvenile

as the associate director of

correctional officer II (JCO II) at the

programs. Brown began his career

Marietta RYDC. Alexander has also

with the Department of Corrections

served as a lieutenant, unit

(DOC) in 1985. He held several

manager,

and

assistant

director

(Left to right): James Brown, Director Debbie Alexander and Delbert Montgomery

positions during

his

tenure

with

the

during her DJJ career. She was also

DOC. Brown came to Metro from

the director of the Martha K. Glaze RYDC in Clayton County the Marietta RYDC, where he was serving as director, a

for two years before returning to Metro. Alexander has a position he had held since April 2007. Brown has a

bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Troy State

in business administration, both from St. Leo University.

University.

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STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

Bertron Martin has been selected as assistant director of security at the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC). Martin started with DJJ in 1997 as a JCO I at the Augusta RYDC, then transferred to the Transportation Unit in 1999 as a transportation officer. He was promoted to transportation lieutenant in 2002 and later to transportation captain in 2004. As transportation captain, he was selected as the agency's emergency management director and was responsible for implementing DJJ's current emergency management program. He has earned an associate's degree from University of Phoenix in criminal justice.
Fra Johnson-Maddox has been selected as juvenile detention counselor at the Martha K. Glaze Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC). Johnson-Maddox started her career with DJJ in 1997 at the Griffin RYDC as a JCO. She began working as a senior instructor two years later. In 2004, she received her P.O.S.T. Instructor Certification, and in 2007 she began working at the DJJ Training Academy as a public safety training instructor. Johnson-Maddox earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Phoenix and has also earned a master's degree in criminology from the same institution.
Roderick Haugabook has been selected as assistant director of security at the Sumter Youth Development Campus (YDC). He started his career with DJJ in July 2000 as a lieutenant, transferring from the Department of Corrections as a lieutenant. In March 2005, he was promoted

to the position of captain of security. Haugabook has a bachelor's degree in biblical studies from the Minnesota School of Theology.
Patricia Wallace has been selected as personnel manager at the Sumter Youth Development Campus (YDC). Wallace has been the acting personnel manager since 2007. She earned her bachelor's degree in business management from Fort Valley State University.
Vita Jordan has been selected as director of the Office of Financial Services. She has over 20 years of professional experience and has been with DJJ since 2002, having served as DJJ accounts payable supervisor and accounting manager. Jordan received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Clark Atlanta University and a master's in business administration from Mercer University.
Mark Edwards has been selected as assistant director at the Eastman Youth Development Campus. In 1992, Mark began his career with state government with the Georgia Department of Corrections as a correctional officer. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant, and was later promoted to lieutenant. In 1998, Edwards transferred to the Eastman Youth Development Campus as a sergeant. In November 1998, he was promoted to lieutenant. In December 2002, Edwards was promoted to the position of institutional program director. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Fort Valley State University.

COMPACT ADMINISTRATOR RETIRES WITH 35 YEARS OF SERVICE
When Cindy Pittman, DJJ's interstate compact coordinator, retired in February, with 35 years of service to the state, the agency lost not just an employee, but a valuable resource.

Pittman began her career with DJJ February 26, 1975 when she was 17 years old. She started at the Marietta Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC), and also worked in Transportation and Apprehensions before heading up the Interstate Compact.
The Interstate C o m p a c t o n Juveniles was implemented in 1954. I t w a s designed to put in place procedures that al- lowed for the return of juvenile runaways, absconders and escapees across state lines. The Compact has been modified several times over the years, but it is still an (Left to right): Melinda Thomas (DJJ retired), Cindy essential tool for juvenile justice agencies in all states. Pittman and Program Coordinator Diana Aspinwall
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STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS
HERNDON RETIRES AFTER DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE
Steve Herndon, deputy commissioner of the former division of Programs and Secure Campuses, retired June 1, after 35 years of service to the state of Georgia.

Herndon began his career with the state in May, 1977 as a caseworker aide with the Division of Family and Children Services in Cobb County. After two years, he moved to what was then called the Division of Youth Services as a crisis counselor working with status offenders. In 1980, he became the division's first full-time employee in Murray County, serving as a one-man Court Services Office. In 1981 he was named assistant director of the Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC). In 1985, he was named director of that facility, and in 1988 he moved to Central Office as the assistant to the director of Field Services.
In 1992, Herndon was named assistant director of the Division of Detention Services. He also served as acting director of the Marietta RYDC. In 1997, he was named director of the Office of Program Development and Evaluation. Shortly afterward, the agency entered into the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the United States Department of Justice, resulting in an expansion of services provided to youth in Georgia.

Steve Herndon and Dr. Michelle Staples-Horne
named assistant deputy commissioner of that division in 2000. He was named deputy commissioner of the renamed Division of Programs and Secure Campuses in 2008.
Herndon said he leaves the agency proud of the many changes, and the expansion of services that have occurred over the years. The services DJJ provides today are much improved over the services available when he started to work in youth services, he said.

In 1998, Herndon began serving as the executive assistant "I'm proudest of the program development that led to the for the Deputy Commissioner of Program Services. He was service improvements for kids in facilities," he said.

PEETZ RETIRES WITH 34 YEARS OF SERVICE
Longtime DJJ Finance Director Doug Peetz retired June 1 after 10 years with DJJ and a total of 34 years of service to the state of Georgia.

Peetz began his career with the Department of Audits as a state auditor. He stayed there for 19 years and rose to the level of audit manager. In 1996, Peetz was selected as an assistant commissioner at the Department of Labor. He came to DJJ in January of 2000 in his current position.

As finance director, Peetz oversaw the Office of Financial Services, which is responsible for ensuring the sound and ethical business practices of the department, including maintaining the integrity of the department's financial records, the accumulation and distribution of state government financial information to DJJ users, and the compliance with state and Deputy Commissioner Jeff Minor (left) with federal laws, regulations, and guidelines. Peetz was also responsible for Finance Director Doug Peetz standardizing the agency's business practices over the last decade.
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YOUTH SERVICES

MOREHOUSE LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAM AT DEKALB RYDC
Morehouse School of Medicine has partnered with the Department of Juvenile Justice to bring a mental health and substance abuse treatment program for adolescent male detainees to the DeKalb Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC).

The program is funded by a two year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the DeKalb RYDC is the first site to host the program. William Moore, a master's of public health student at Morehouse, and project coordinator for the program, said the ultimate aim of the program, called M.A.D. (short for "male adolescent detainees"), is to reach 75 African-American youth in Georgia's juvenile detention centers and assist them in learning a host of skills, from how to resist peer pressure to goal setting.

A Morehouse graduate student and faculty work with a youth at the DeKalb RYDC.

The program, which runs twice a week for nine sessions, is voluntary, and requires the consent of both the youth and the youth's parent or guardian. Moore said the sessions are designed to be culturally sensitive and provide a mentor/mentee relationship that will encourage youth to make good choices on their own.

At the program's start in March, 10 parents of youth at the DeKalb RYDC had given permission for their children to participate in the program.
"So far there has been nothing but positive reaction from the parents," Moore said.

"I found it a perfect fit to serve as a mentor and give them the tools to make their own right decisions as opposed to telling them what to do," he said.
Dr. Kisha Holden, assistant professor in the Morehouse School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and associate director of Community Voices: Healthcare for the Underserved, said the ultimate goal of the program is to reduce recidivism.

Holden said she and the students working with the program were aware of the unique challenge of working in a short-term facility, where most youth move in and out quickly. If they are not there long enough to complete the whole program, she said, then the hope is that they will at least leave with some new skills that will help them to better cope with life's challenges.

RAPPER SPEAKS TO YOUTHS IN RYDCS

As part of an effort to give back to

loved ones in violence as a result of the

community and let others learn from

kind of life he was leading at the time.

his mistakes, entertainer T.I., aka Clifford Harris, is speaking to youth across Georgia including youth being held in Department of Juvenile Justice detention centers. In May, Harris spoke to youths at the Marietta and Martha K. Glaze Regional Youth

Harris said, "You can't expect to stay right here in the same spot that you in and win." He told them it wasn't too late for them to change. "I understand it's a game to you, it was a game to me, but you don't know what I know."

Detention Centers (RYDCs).

Clifford Harris speaks to youth at Harris said, "You all have ideas, and those

the Marietta RYDC.

Harris, who spent nine months in a

are priceless." He encouraged the youth to

federal prison for illegal weapons possession, told the youth leave behind criminal activity because it limits their

at Marietta that he was there for them, to talk seriously to possibilities. He said, "If you don't care about life, life don't

them. Harris shared his life experiences, including losing care about you."

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YOUTH SERVICES
STATE AGENCIES SUPPORT CRIME VICTIMS
As part of recognizing National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 18-24, nine state agencies and offices participated in a Georgia Crime Victims' Rights Week Ceremony held at the Department of Corrections' state offices in Forsyth, Georgia on April 12. This year's national theme was; "Crime Victims' Rights: Fairness. Dignity. Respect."

Victims of crime as well as supporters and agency employees showing their support for victims of crime attended the ceremony and an open house that afternoon. The ceremony featured a panel discussion on victims' services.

The panel represented all victims, including young and adult victims of crime. The participants talked about their current services to victims, how they can be enhanced, and how victims can help themselves. Commissioner Garland R. Hunt, Esq. said more outreach is needed. "We at DJJ are committed to informing and serving the victims of juvenile crime," Hunt said. "We are very sensitive to the emotional and physical pain that victims incur. We always want to reach out to those that are hurting."

Two speakers shared victim testimonials. Sharon Saffold

talked about her sexual exploitation as a young child

through her teens with the message that just because a

(Left to right): Marietta RYDC Director Gary Morris, child or youth may not be physically forced into

Southeast Regional Administrator Assistant Deputy Commissioner Diana

Adam Newell

Kennedy, and Youth

prostitution,

that

child

or

youth

is

still

a

victim.

Saffold

is

Services Deputy Commissioner Rob Rosenbloom

working with the Governor's Office of Children and

Families and the new Georgia Care Connection Office.

Georgia Care Connection's focus is on addressing the needs of child sex trafficking victims. DJJ is participating in the

program through the Division of Youth Services, helping identify sexually exploited girls in detention and routing them to

appropriate treatment placements. Danielle Ruedt, of the Governor's Office of Children and Families, said more than 400

girls per month are commercially exploited in Georgia, and the difficulty is that many of them don't see themselves as a

victim.

State Trooper Horace Wilburn III also spoke at the ceremony. Wilburn told how his parents were killed by a drunk driver who had multiple DUIs. The Department of Public Safety is vowing to increase DUI arrests by 10 percent this year.

Richard Malone of the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council told the audience to call on prosecutors because they can answer all victim related questions and know what services are offered.

Other speakers were: Molly Perry, Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; Commissioner Brian Owens of the Department of Corrections; Gale Buckner, Chair of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles; Major Mark McDonough of the Department of Public Safety, and Frederick Huff of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety. The Staff at the Blakely RYDC plant a tree in honor of Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs also sponsored the Victims' Rights Week. The observance was one of event. many held throughout the state by DJJ staff.
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CUSTOMER SERVICE

FOUR RECEIVE DJJ CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS
When Lt. Victor Martin, shift supervisor at the Augusta Youth Development Campus (YDC), met with the 10-year old youth and his mother, they were both highly upset. The boy's mother said he had been suspended from school and had a history of acting out. She was at the end of her rope and wanted her son to spend the weekend in the YDC. Locking up a youth who has not been adjudicated delinquent is not an option, and Martin could have simply explained this to the distraught mother and sent both her and her son on their way. Instead, Martin spent 90 minutes with the youth and mother, discussing their problems and offering support. The encounter ended when Martin offered to take the young man fishing with him on his day off. The young man was glad to have some positive attention. It didn't just end with one fishing trip, however. Martin took the young man fishing every Saturday morning for a year.

Martin's attention has helped keep the young man out of trouble and earned Martin DJJ's 2009 Customer Service Award. Martin received the award at the March 25 meeting of the Board of Juvenile Justice.

Also honored at the meeting were the Quarterly Customer Service Award winners for 2009. Billy Yarbrough, social service provider II (SSP II) at the Eastman YDC was the fourth quarter winner. He was honored for his efforts to engage the YDC residents in Black History Month by holding regular events, such as a quiz bowl, a debate team, a musical program and a Bible study class.

Alicia McLain, administrative operations coordinator (AOC) for District 4, was the second quarter winner. McLain came up with a centralized tracking and control (Left to right): Lt. Victor Martin, Alicia McLain and Billy Yarbrough
with former Commissioner Albert Murray method for office spending that will allow the District 4 office to stay within budget even as budget projections shift due to the uncertain economy.

Lt. Vincent Jones Jr. from the Paulding Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) received the award for the third quarter, although he was not present to receive his award in person. Jones performed the Heimlich maneuver on Jorge Tostado, a juvenile corrections officer at the Elbert Shaw RYDC, when Tostado began to choke at lunch.

EMPLOYEES HONORED BY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

Juvenile Detention Counselor Karmal Sims of the Sumter Youth Development Campus (YDC) passed away suddenly February 4, 2010. April 29

he and the Camden County Court Services Office (CSO) and High Intensity Team

Supervision (HITS) unit were

"KARMAL EMBODIED EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE honored by the Governor's

TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THESE KIDS. Office with Quarterly Customer

- HE GAVE THEM HOPE, INSPIRATION AND Service Commendations in a

FELLOWSHIP." ELDRIC BANKSTON, JPPS II

ceremony in Atlanta.

Sims won the award for individual excellence in customer service, posthumously. Tragically, he collapsed and died while playing basketball after hours with youth at the

JDC Karmal Sims

Sumter YDC. Staff submitted a nomination for the award after his death. Sims was not on duty when he collapsed on the

court. He was simply at the facility spending time with the young people to whom he had dedicated his life. Sims was often

at the facility when not on duty, working with youth, and both staff and the youth have felt this loss. (continued on next page)
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CUSTOMER SERVICE
GOVERNOR'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CONTINUED
Eldric Bankston, a JPPS II at the Sumter YDC, colleague and friend of Sims, was playing basketball with him when he collapsed. "Karmal embodied exactly what we're trying to accomplish with these kids," Bankston said. "He gave them hope, inspiration and fellowship."

Sims was well known and well liked by the youth who came

through the Sumter YDC. Sims had such a good reputation

that youth who were transferred to Sumter would sometimes

request to be placed on his unit without ever having met him

because they had heard such good things about him from

youth who knew him. Sims was often called upon to talk with

youth who were acting out even though they were not in his

dorm. He never said no. He also routinely visited youth in

(Left to right): Courtney McGriff, Omari Sims, Jody the facility's behavior modification unit, and he would often

Pate, Georgia Chief Operating Officer Jim Lientz and ask for youths on the unit to be moved to his dorm so that

Eldric Bankston, (JPPS II, Sumter YDC)

he could work with them.

"The loss of Mr. Sims affected every person on this campus, staff and youth," said Sumter YDC Director Shawn Banks. "How much he was loved and respected was never more evident, than at the ceremony, we had, at the facility, for Sumter youth and the Sims' family. We can't replace a man like Sims, who truly loved and cared for his residents and his job."

Contained within the Sims' customer service nomination was a quote from an unnamed Sumter teacher which said; "He could make these boys do things others could not get them to do; not because they were afraid of him but because they were afraid of letting him down."

The Camden County Court Services Office (CSO) and High Intensity Team Supervision (HITS) Unit received a team commendation for Customer Service Excellence. Over the past year, the HITS unit has seen the average caseload per staff go from 12 youths to 32 youths and the HITS program expanded into neighboring Glynn County to assist an understaffed office there. The change has resulted in more youth having access to services through the department, and the maximization of the use of HITS as an alternative to detention.
(Left to right): Assistant District Director Mark Bunkley, District The eight member Camden County CSO and 12 Director Patricia Merritt, former Commissioner Murray, HITS team members are: Program Assistants Bonnie Grambling, Lakita Hutchinson, Governor Sonny Perdue, Robin Taylor and Charlene Blocker; Juvenile Kimberly Pipkin, Stephanie Owens, Gerard Williams and Robin Probation and Parole Specialist II (JPPS II) Taylor Stephanie Owens; JPPS II Bonnie Gramling; JPPS III Gerard Williams; JPPS I Lakita Hutchison, and JPPS I Gina Duncan. Camden County Juvenile Program Manager (JPM) Kimberly Pipkin nominated the office for the award.

"We're very honored to represent DJJ in this fashion," Pipken said. " My staff does a fantastic job providing customer service to our clients. They're community oriented and pro-active in finding ways to help our families, especially with the budget being cut."
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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: Garland R. Hunt, Esq.
Editor-in-Chief: Scheree Moore
Writing Staff: 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.
AROUND DJJ
MURRAY MOVES TO PARDONS AND PAROLES
Albert Murray has replaced Milton E. "Buddy" Nix on the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Nix's term expired December 31, 2009. Murray's appointment was effective May 15, and expires on December 31, 2016.
"Commissioner Murray has done an outstanding job leading the Department of Juvenile Justice, including ending 11 years of federal oversight after demonstrating the care and education of Georgia's juvenile offenders has dramatically improved," said Governor Perdue. "He is a compassionate public servant that understands our justice system well and will provide a perspective on the Board of Pardons and Paroles shaped by his considerable experience and knowledge in the field."
Murray was sworn in as Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice on January 23, 2004, making his tenure as commissioner of six years and almost four months, the longest in the history of the agency.
AGENCY REORGANIZES
Effective May 14, the Department of Juvenile Justice has reorganized its administrative functions. The Division of Programs and Secure Campuses has been absolved and its functions absorbed by the existing three divisions which have all been renamed.
Deputy Commissioner Rob Rosenbloom now directs the Division of Youth Services which consists of all DJJ facilities, community services and the Office of Classification and Transportation. The 22 Regional Youth Detention Centers and the six Youth Development Campuses are the responsibility of this division.
Deputy Commissioner Amy Howell is responsible for the Division of Programs and Support Services which now includes Legal Services, Internal Investigations, Training, Health Services, Behavioral Health Services and Education.
Deputy Commissioner Jeff Minor directs the Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services. This division oversees the department's Budget Services as well as Financial Services, Federal Programs, Engineering, Information and Technology Services, and now Human Resources.
The Office of Continuous Improvement and the Office of Media and Public Relations continue to report to the Commissioner's Office.
The Department of Juvenile Justice prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and age in its programs and activities. For employee issues contact Sam Clonts at (404) 508-6500. For youth issues, contact William Amideo at (404) 508-6500.
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