Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Do the DeKalb County Grand Jury presentments show probable cause on the entire DeKalb criminal justice system?


Several months ago I was looking on-line for DeKalb County Grand Jury Presentments and couldn't find them, therefore, I requested the last year and a half from District Attorney Sherry Boston and she provided me what I requested.  Sherry is a former City of Dunwoody municipal judge who is coming up on her one year anniversary of being our County D.A. and I think very highly of her and the difficult job she does for all the citizens of DeKalb.  Ms. Boston who champions government transparency has stated that they are redoing the D.A. website and she will consider posting these important documents on line every other month as they come available.

DeKalb citizens are asked to serve on a grand jury for several months for little pay, in what appers to be uncomfortable circumstances and are asked to make tough law enforcement decisions where they are sometimes very ill-informed to do so.

By these reports written by everyday citizens of this county, it appears that all aspects of our criminal justice system in DeKalb County may be underfunded, may need better oversight and various process changes to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.

I am publishing these presentment reports not to embarrass any one aspect of the criminal justice system in DeKalb but to bring these issues to light so that our DeKalb County Commissioners and the CEO can set proper funding for long-term improvements in the police, the jail and the court systems.   I raise these issues so the Grand Jury members time and efforts are not wasted in vain, so that the world is aware that these common citizens have requested in-depth investigations be made into possible improprieties in various DeKalb Departments and that the lack of funding in some aspects of the DeKalb County Criminal Justice System could almost be considered criminal.

Date  Item Issue
5/1/2016 efficiency  Large Map of DeKalb is needed on wall for jury reference
5/1/2016 efficiency  improve the lighting in Grand Jury Room
5/1/2016 efficiency  wireless mics need to have batteries replaced
5/1/2016 efficiency  Grand Jury needs more training on probable cause 
5/1/2016 Water Dept. Fraud Further investigation needed
7/1/2016 efficiency  Shoplifting - 3 times is a felony
7/1/2016 efficiency  first time offenders with family violence should go to counseling
7/1/2016 efficiency  Grand Jury is using outdate manuals
7/1/2016 efficiency  wireless mics need to have batteries replaced
7/1/2016 Ethics Board Reviewed Dept. and were satisfied that changes will improve DeKalb
7/1/2016 Jail pay higher caliber of employees
7/1/2016 Jail suicides DeKalb PD should investigate - still not happening?
9/1/2016 pay Trial jury pay raise from $25 to $40 per day
9/1/2016 pay Grand jury pay raise from $40 to $50 per day
9/1/2016 efficiency  Shoplifting felonies trial needs to be more efficient - like traffic court
9/1/2016 gang violence Underfunded DeKalb County Gang Unit severely ill equipped to handle gang violence rising to level of Chicago.
9/1/2016 Racial Profiling via tags manual tag runs vs ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition Scanning)
9/1/2016 Jury exemption request After grandy jury service - some jurors request to be exempt from future service for a number of years.
9/1/2016 Jury Notice Request  Request certified mail
9/1/2016 Police Training More training is needed on mental illness
9/1/2016 Oversight of Sheriff's Office External oversight committee is needed to check Sheriff's department
9/1/2016 Inmate visitation By videoconferencing only - needs to be reviewed?
9/1/2016 Jail pay higher caliber of employees
9/1/2016 Jail Officer training more training on conflict prevention
11/1/2016 pay Grand jury pay raise from $40 to $50 per day
11/1/2016 efficiency  wireless mics need to have batteries replaced
11/1/2016 efficiency  Jury seats are uncomfortable 
11/1/2016 efficiency  What is DA doing about the backlog of cases?
11/1/2016 Oversight of Sheriff's Office Special investigation of sheriff's office requested.
1/1/2017 efficiency  Grand Jury is using outdate manuals - law handbook.
1/1/2017 efficiency  clear process needs to be explained when Grand Jury wants to remove charges.
1/1/2017 efficiency  Why is the Grand Jury told the race of the defendant - is it needed?
1/1/2017 efficiency  Grand Jury  needs more training on probable cause and less on guns and drugs.
1/1/2017 efficiency  Why does the Grand Jury hear cases that do not need to be heard - sex offenders not registering is one sided.
3/1/2017 efficiency  clear process needs to be explained when Grand Jury wants to remove charges.
3/1/2017 efficiency  Grand Jury  needs more training on probable cause 
3/1/2017 Racial Profiling via tags Updated presentation given - made this jury happy.
3/1/2017 pay Grand jury pay raise from $40 to $50 per day
3/1/2017 efficiency  Jury seats are uncomfortable 
3/1/2017 Jury selection Suggestion to offer to volunteers and salaried workers as hourly may not be paid.
3/1/2017 efficiency  Why are some defendants (Gov Employees) allowed in Grand Jury and others are not - unfair?
5/1/2017 Jury selection Only picked willing people?
5/1/2017 jury pay  Grand jury pay raise from $40 to $50 per day
5/1/2017 efficiency  Jury seats are uncomfortable - need clipboards and pens
5/1/2017 efficiency  install large screen display for jurors
5/1/2017 efficiency  jury needs availability of snack machine
5/1/2017 Jail Emergency water source needed as jail can not operate with out it.
7/1/2017 efficiency  Teenagers need to be educated on laws effecting them - outreach needed.
7/1/2017 efficiency  Why is the Grand Jury told the race of the defendant - is it needed?
7/1/2017 pay Grand jury pay raise from $40 to $50 per day
7/1/2017 efficiency  jury needs availability of snack machine
7/1/2017 efficiency  better temperature control in room
7/1/2017 efficiency  keurig coffee machine needed for room
7/1/2017 efficiency  Jury seats are uncomfortable 

2016GrandJury0506.pdf
 
2016GrandJury0708.pdf
 
2016GrandJury0910.pdf
 
2016GrandJury1112.pdf
 
2017GrandJury0102.pdf
 
2017GrandJury0304.pdf
 
2017GrandJury0506.pdf
 
2017GrandJury0708.pdf

1 comment:

  1. Well done, John and thank you for paying attention to this critical transparency issue.

    ReplyDelete