Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4F
- FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - Sundiy, March 28,1999
Program providing assistance to victims of crime and witnesses)
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Photo/Colby Jones
The Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit Victim-Witness Assistance pro
gram operates from the Government Annex Building. Staff
members are (seated) administrative assistant Elaine LaMoy,
(standing, L-R) coordinator Diane L. Smith and advocates
Rhonda Sorrells and Julie Ellis.
Grant for juvenile court sought
By Jim Riley
Staff Writer
•A*
While Forsyth County does not have the economic
end social conditions present that engender wide
spread juvenile crime, the speed at which the popu
lation is growing does mean an increase in the num
ber of juveniles appearing in the court system.
%A grant approved by Forsyth County
Commissioners last month could provide some relief
in the form of a full-time Juvenile Court judge and
.erosetutor. However, according to Superior Court
'Judge Stan Gault, the personnel are needed whether
‘the county receives the requested grant or not.
* The idea seems to have widespread support, with
•the Forsyth County Grand Jury issuing a special
presentment in support of the grant application on
;Feb. 8:
•7-“...the Grand Jury does hereby express its full sup
port of the Bell-Forsyth Judicial Circuit application
•for funding ... and strongly urges the Governor’s
Council on Children and Youth to approve funding
and implementation of the grant proposal. The fund
ling of the grant proposal will improve the delivery of
judicial services to the children and families of
'Forsyth County by making the court system better
Table to respond to their needs.”
2 State Court Judge Jeff Bagley said that he was
Tencouraged by a meeting that the Juvenile Court
. Administrator attended in Macon. Since attendance
’at the meeting was required before the grant applica
tion can be approved, and there were very few
municipalities represented, Bagley said that he was
“very hopeful” the grant would be approved.
r If approved, the county would receive $150,000 per
year for three years. At the commission meeting,
ZGault warned that the addition of more personnel
2 n&ight create an office space problem.
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HEALTH & SAFETY
By Colby Jones
Staff Writer
Crime victims no longer have
to feel like the system is work
ing against them.
“We want to let them know
they have a voice when it comes
to things like bond conditions
and sentencing,” said Diane
Smith, coordinator of the recent
ly formed Victim-Witness
Assistance Program for the Bell-
Forsyth Judicial Circuit.
When Forsyth County was part
of the Blue Ridge Judicial
Circuit, residents could utilize
the program in that court sys
tem. However, when the court
system split last summer,
Forsyth County was left without
a program of its own.
On Sept. 28, at the request of
District Attorney Phil Smith,
county commissioners unani
mously approved $93,000 to get
the program up and running. In
“The office space in the courthouse is not suffi
cient,” he said. Gault said that the current courtroom
space probably would be sufficient for Forsyth’s
short-term needs.
When asked about the possibility of a Forsyth
County judicial complex, Gault said that it might be
time to start thinking about that possibility.
The number of juvenile cases has been increasing
in the last few years, with 623 recorded in 1996
compared to 868 last year. Also, the number of
deprivation cases have increased by an astounding
98 percent, from 57 in 1997 to 113 in 1998.
“Juvenile cases take a tremendous amount of time,”
Bagley said. Currently, part-time Associate Judge
Russell Jackson handles much of the Juvenile Court
load, with Bagley filling in as his State Court sched
ule allows.
District Attorney Phil Smith said that from a prose
cutorial standpoint a full-time juvenile court prose
cutor and judge would have several positive effects.
He noted that a full-time prosecutor would be more
familiar with ongoing juvenile problems, and would
be a deterrent to recidivism.
“The children we only see once aren’t the prob
lem,” Smith said.
Since a significant amount of Smith’s manpower
currently goes toward juvenile cases, additional staff
would allow more time to be spent on State and
Superior Court cases.
Smith said that there were no shortcuts to trying a
juvenile. “A juvenile is entitled to the same burden
of proof as an adult,” he said.
Smith said that the county ought to place a high
priority on juvenile cases. “We have much more of a
chance of turning a young person’s life around than
an older person,” he said. “We ought to be putting
more resources into where we have a greater chance
of success.”
addition to receiving state and
federal grants, the program gets
money from fines paid by crimi
nals themselves.
State law mandates such a pro
gram exist under the Crime
Victim’s Bill of Rights, which
guarantees victims stay protect
ed and get a say in the judicial
process. The local program now
has two full-time advocates for
superior, state and juvenile
courts, in addition Io a coordina
tor and administrative assistant.
Interns from North Georgia
College and State University are
slated to begin helping the full
time staff this summer.
The program offers myriad ser
vices from informing victims
when an inmate is going to be
released to putting them in touch
with social service agencies. It
also secures victims with money
for medical expenses and coun
seling sessions, and even can
provide babysitting services
when court dates present a con
flict.
Prosecuting attorneys, primari-
Tired? Stressed Out? Low On Patience? Need Time For
Help Is Available At The Forsyth County Senior Center 5
Caregivers, every Thursday afternoon you may send your loved onej
who has Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or any other form of Dementia t<§
the Forsyth County Senior Center in Cumming.
❖ For three hours each Thursday, trained compassionate volunteers provide -5
attention and activities for our clients. Activities include chair exercises, games,
music, videos, reminiscing, etc., all according to the client’s abilities. Transportation is*
available. Fees will be charged according to ability to pay.
❖ The goal of our respite program is two-fold: to provide relief for
and to provide stimulation for Alzheimer’s/Dementia clients. One caregiver
recently wrote about the respite care program: “As the sole caregiver,
it gives me some time to relax knowing my husband is in such
wonderful hands. I can’t thank you enough.”
For more information please call the Forsyth County Senior Center at
(770) 781-2178 or Beverly Carson at (770) 844-4429.
LET VS HELP YOU i;
For your whole family’s primary j;
health & wellness needs...
•;
The Neighborhood Healthcare Centers in Coal Mountain and Cumming «;
provide high quality primary healthcare services including:
• Family medical care • Pre-employment screenings
• Health screenings • Medical care for workers’
• Preventive education compensation patients and 2
• Physical & occupational therapy industrial clients .
1
Providers at the Neighborhood Healthcare Center in Coal Mountain: 51
Jan Smith, MD ) |
Sonja Chafin, CFNP > |
2825 Keith Bridge Road (next to Ingles) ( 5
Cumming, GA 30041 5S
Providers at the Neighborhood Healthcare Center in Cumming:
David Moore, MD
Bart Richards, DO j
Deborah Whitehair, PA-C
655 Atlanta Hwy., Lanier Crossing Shopping Center <
Cumming, GA 30040 X
770-844-7494 >
an affiliate of S j
• Northeast Georgia Health System, Inc.™
# *
ly concerned with putting
together a case, often do not
have time to ask whether a wit
ness needs a glass of water or if
a victim would appreciate a lis
tening ear.
However, even small details,
such as providing a friendly face
in the courtroom, go a long way.
It can mean the difference
between a victim feeling satis
fied or overlooked by the judi
cial process.
“It is the public’s main contact
with the District Attorney’s
office,” said Phil Smith. “It’s
really to provide a human touch
to make sure they don’t get vic
timized a second time on
their way through the system.”
The staff works closely with
the Forsyth County Sheriff’s
Office and Cumming Police
Department to find out about
victims, then contacts them as
quickly as possible.
“There is so much talk about
defendant’s rights that people
are surprised to find out there is
as much help for the victim,”
said Diane Smith. “We wjhj
them to know we’re here for
them.”
Advocates are available to vic-,-
tims and witnesses on an
around-the-clock basis.
As part of its ongoing training,;
the staff was scheduled to attepd,
the “National
Child Sexual Abuse” frojn,
March 9-12 in Huntsville, Aljp,.
Workshops at the symposium
focused on preparing advocatps.
to intervene when a child has.
been abused, and educating thpgi
on pertinent laws and medical
studies.
The Victim-Witness Assistance,
Program is located in the,’
Government Annex
The mailing address is 101 E,.’ 1
Main Street, Cumming, Ga*
30040-2686.
Volunteers currently are necj-„
ed to assist with victims
help with filing paperwork.
If you are a victim needing,
assistance or want to volunteer
with the program, call Diane.
Smith at (770) 205-2268.