A central topic was the introduction of the Youth Rehabilitation Program (YRP), funded by a community intervention and prevention grant from the Office of Justice Programs. This program targets high-risk youth, offering up to 10 hours of skills work and four to six hours of therapy weekly over a three to seven-month period. The program could potentially provide 180 to 500 hours of services per youth, with an anticipated return on investment of $5,000 to $15,000 per youth by averting more costly placements. Despite receiving positive feedback during a recent site visit, the program remains in development, with only 19 external cases accepted and 28 transferred out. The board acknowledged data collection challenges, particularly with adult clients who decline to share demographic information. Discussions concluded with consensus that the existing contracted bed in Houston County, despite its associated challenges, suffices for current needs.

The meeting further explored the increasing workload and complexity within the county’s probation services. Rhonda Van Skoonhoven from court services presented a year-end report, revealing a 68% surge in the number of probation cases opened in 2024. Administrative cases, characterized as low-risk and requiring basic tracking, have increased, necessitating management by administrative assistants and probation officers.

Various statistics highlighted the nature of offenses being processed, with traffic-related offenses tripling to 450 cases and DWI cases rising by 45% to 266. The report also showed a 50% increase in felony person charges, while burglary and theft charges decreased. Interestingly, despite the increase in cases, there was a noted decrease in ordered jail time and electronic monitoring, prompting questions about judicial trends. The financial aspect was also discussed, with the department facing a $15 million funding shortfall, operating at 91.7% of its required budget.

The challenges faced by the juvenile sector were prominently discussed, particularly concerning the management of the juvenile community service crews. Issues related to gender mix within crews were noted, with policy constraints requiring a lone female to return home if the crew is predominantly male. This has created logistical challenges in managing the juvenile crew effectively. The absence of a juvenile work crew since April has left many youth unable to fulfill community service obligations, compelling agents to devise creative solutions such as facilitating classes and allowing youth to assist parents to complete required hours.

Juvenile agents completed numerous screens using the Maisy tool in 2024, generating close to $33,000 for mental health case management within Health and Human Services. While this amount might seem minor, it provides essential support for children’s mental health services. The agents strive to avoid imposing fines, with fees arising only in specific cases. The out-of-home placement budget surpassed $131,000 for 21 unduplicated youth, underscoring significant needs within the system. The use of a contracted bed in Houston County for 59 nights at $644 per night was also discussed, highlighting logistical challenges during crisis situations and issues related to youth communication policies at the facility.

Another point of discussion was the internal staffing challenges within the probation department. One agent, Emily, was reported to be overwhelmed with administrative and pre-trial cases, while another, Lindsay, handled data entry for all adult cases. A proposal to hire a half-time case administrator was considered to alleviate staff burdens. Andrea Emmery’s transition into a lead agent role was mentioned, focusing on evidence-based practices and high-risk female clients. Plans for future departmental improvements, such as enhanced risk assessments and expanded case planning, were also outlined.