Providing an alternative to jail time by implementing best-practices case management for the court system is the role of the DeKalb County Court Services Department. Director Michael Venditti along with Supervisors Audra Puelo and Goeff Livengood explained their responsibilities at this week’s Rotary Meeting. Venditti said his department provides probation services for adults and juveniles, monitors community restitution sentences, and documents pre-trial information to assist the courts, State’s Attorney’s Office, and Public Defenders Office. He went through a list of various processes and interventions used to determine what services will help accomplish a positive behavior change Offenders are evaluated for program participation and then are tracked for successful completion of their court ordered service.
Puelo oversees adult court services. She said probation sentences usually extend for 12 to 24 months. There are strict rules to follow. These include no firearms possession, not leaving the state unless granted a travel pass, and treatments for things like drug dependency. Her area of responsibilities also involves sex offender restrictions, treatment plans, and data base maintenance.
Livengood oversees juvenile court services. He said there is significant interaction with the juvenile’s home setting when working out a sentencing plan. A program for first-time offenders called ECAP helps juveniles considered minimal risks avoid a formal court process and has a 95% success rate according to Livengood. His duties also include documenting sentences for community restitution. These sentences can range from 10 to 480 hours. Livengood said in 2022 these community service hours translated into $237,484 worth of assistance to local projects.