Juvenile Court gets a little more funding

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Juvenile Court gets a little more funding

Posted by

Mike Buffington

in Top Stories & Breaking News

Thursday, September 15. 2011

Comments (9)

Though the magistrate judge received no immediate help Tuesday, the Barrow County Board of Commissioners did add another $6,000 to the current year’s budget for the Barrow County Juvenile Court.

Judge Kevin Guidry requested the amendment to his court’s FY2011 budget in order to cover the cost of free legal services for indigent parents.

Most of the affected parents are facing the loss of their children due to poverty, he said.

Two years ago, the county budget included about $29,000 in funding for indigent legal services, but that figure was nearly cut in half in the current year’s budget.

With the additional $6,000 in funding through Sept. 30, that brings that total expenditure this year to $21,000.

Commissioner Larry Joe Wilburn noted that the new budget for FY2012 includes only $15,750 for that same kind of expense and asked the judge if he likely would be back at the end of the next fiscal year for another budget amendment.

“Is the extra a one-shot deal?” Wilburn asked. “My guess would be that you see that kind of number next year.”

Guidry said the request likely would not be a one-shot deal. He said Tuesday’s news that Georgia’s poverty level had increased by six percent over the past year did “not give much hope for holding down indigent costs.”

However, the judge said it is too far out now to predict next year’s indigent legal service costs.

“It depends on what kinds of cases come through the door,” Guidry said.

He said most of the cases involving free legal services are driven by actions of the Department of Family and Children’s Services.

“A lot of DFCS parents we see in court are simply broke,” he said. “If they had some resources they wouldn’t be dealing with DFCS. They are to the point that DFCS is looking at taking their children because there’s nothing there. If they can’t afford a lawyer, we have to appoint one for them.”

The BOC approved the judge’s request in a 5-1 vote with Wilburn voting no.

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#1 Peggy on 09/16/11 at 08:26 PM [Reply]

Why should the Magristrate Judge get anymore money? I called the jail the other day to find out some info about bonding and was told the judge only comes on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays for bond. What's up with that Judge? You whined about getting another person in your office approved fir being your back up judge, and then you still short change the taxpayers? You want, want, want, but when are YOU going to do your part of doing YOUR job that WE pay you to do? I' m sick of your whiny arse and want you to do the job you swore an oath to the taxpayers to do, even if they are criminals, they have rights too! A right to a bond within a reasonable TIME. Vote them all. out!!! No incumbents in 2012, yes that includes you Judge Davis!!!

#2 Are you Kidding on 09/16/11 at 08:47 PM [Reply]

I bet your the same type of person that complains about the drug dealers, thiefs and burglars being on or streets. You want them out of jail quicker, REALLY? I am guessing you were trying to bond someone out and you didnt get your way so you feel better about complaining about the judge. Let me make something clear to you because you apparently have NO CLUE. Judge Davis is not only charged with the criminal side of court, she also handles civil cases, signs warrants for officers, wakes up at three in the morning to sign search warrants, holds preliminary hearings for bond reductions (FOR PEOPLE LIKE)
as well as handles all of the city court cases for Winder. Are you really mad that you couldn't get your criminal friend, husband, family member or however it was out of jail. How dare she not give them a bond when YOU wanted it. Just a little fun fact for you, by law, she doesnt have to set a bond for 72 hrs if she doesn't want too.

#2.1 Anonymous on 09/16/11 at 09:30 PM [Reply]

I don't complain about drug dealers since I am one of those people who think the "war on drugs" is a big fat phony waste of time. What I complain about are fascist cops like you. Ignorant crypto-nazis who couldn't hold a job parking cars, so they pin cheap badges to their puffed-up chests, put them in souped-up cars and tell them to chase citizens down like dogs. Once in awhile some cop gets what's coming to them, and they have big phony funeral on tv.
Lord, how that makes my day!

#2.1.1 Are you Kidding on 09/16/11 at 10:08 PM [Reply]

Says the one with a huge criminal history I am sure who is most likely parking those same cars. Your the exact reason why some cops use excessive force, people just like you and boy do you deserve. I can call you boy, can't I, seeing thats what you are. By the way,isnt it past your bedtime?. Put the xbox down and go get some rest little boy, leave the real stuff to us grown folks. Did you also post the "all incumbents must go"? What should it matter to you, convicted felons can't vote anyway.

#2.2 Peggy's friend on 09/17/11 at 12:33 PM [Reply]

Judge Davis doesn't have to do the Ciry of Winder, she closes to. She was elected to run Magistrate court, not the City of Winder and their court. She has become greedy off the backs of the citizens and decided to dip into the city pf Winders business. We the citizens voted her in to run Magistrate Ct and it's functions, not negate her elected duties to run the city court for winder's cases. I call that double dipping on County time!! I believe, she does city of Winder court on Fridays during county hours in the County Courthouse! So the poor is me BS doesn't work forme. She chose to do city court and does it during regular business hours and gets paid by the city and county at the same time, I call that double dipping. If it's too much for her to handle, give it up and get a real non complaining working individual in there to do the job! I'm nor for inmate rights, but if it was your family member and they was locked up at 100 am On Saturday morning and had to sit till Monday afternoon when she felt like coming to the jail, you'd be a bit upset too!!

#2.2.1 Are you kidding on 09/17/11 at 12:53 PM [Reply]

Now Peggy, do you really know for a FACT the she is double dipping? If you do then you are just as bad as her for letting her do it and not bringing it to the attention of the proper people. I think you know it's NOT true and just want to try and get people on your side...guess what, it's not working. Most of us are too smart for that and know the real truth. Give me exact dates that you have seen City of Winder court in the county building, you can't, it doesn't happen nor will it ever happen. Also, just a little FYI, the City of Winder came to her, she wasn't "dipping" into any pockets. If you are going to accuse an elected official of wrong doing and criminal activity, and yes double dipping can be criminal on top of violation of oath of office, you better have all the facts. I'll be anxiously waiting for ALL of the TRUE FACTS.

#3 Anonymous on 09/16/11 at 09:09 PM [Reply]

You got that right!!! ALL incumbents must go. Vote'em OUT!!!

#4 Little birdie watching... on 09/19/11 at 05:31 PM [Reply]

Talk with bailiffs at the courthouse and ask the city clerk or the city probation officer if they've come to the courthouse for court on Fridays. You'd be surprised at the response. In fact check the court calendars for the city and you will see 652 barrow park dr was a court day back in august and September of this year, 2nd floor mag ct

#5 I CARE on 09/21/11 at 01:15 AM [Reply]

Did I read right? Parents are losing their children due to being poor? What happened to communities helping one another. Judge Guidry it costs to take these children away also.If these families were given the needed tools to empower them then that would be a great help. This is a tradegy that is sad and angers me at the same time. The government oversteps their authority a lot of times and we pay the bill on their decisions. Not a single post above mentioned the families and children's loss over this injustice. I understand the terms in the best interest of the child and unfortunately, it's at the expense of the child and their family. Their home and family unit has been destroyed/separated by a system that is corrupt and has their best interests being number one. Our county responds to false reports while these so called callers are not required to leave their names and info. I guarantee if they changed that rule, DFACS would not be busy chasing these false claims. Our community has got to change and stand up to the many injustice acts that surround us. It takes a village and somehow, somewhere we have lost that.

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