Cherokee County is canceling a contract for outside probation management services and creating an in-house Probation Division under the Cherokee Marshal’s Office.
The county Board of Commissioners recently approved giving Professional Probation Services Inc. a 30-day notice of cancellation. The actions had been requested by Cherokee Chief State Judge W. Alan Jordan and Chief Magistrate Judge James E. Drane III, according to resolutions approved by commissioners.
The change will affect about 135 current misdemeanor probationers from the Cherokee County Accountability Courts, and new misdemeanor probationers from the state, superior and magistrate courts, according to a staff report to commissioners. All other probationers will remain with Professional Probation Services until their sentences expire.
“In-House Probation will initially employ one director, one assistant director, one clerk (and) two probation officers,” staff said. As the operation ramps up, it will add four probation officers as well as a male drug tester and clerk.
The county will take “small steps” implementing the program over three to six months under a plan acceptable to the superior and magistrate courts, County Manager Jerry Cooper told commissioners.
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