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