Mental Health Professional Named to Head Fulton Drug Court

For Immediate Release
ATLANTA – The Superior Court of Fulton County has selected an experienced mental health clinician and manager as Drug Court Director.

Kevin D. Larry, who has more than 20 years experience in the mental health field, was selected following an extensive search.

The Superior Court’s Drug and Mental Health accountability courts together supervise more than 400 felony offenders with addiction and mental health problems. These accountability courts are credited by police with drastically reducing their charges’ incidence of repeat offenses and increasing the quality of life and safety of Fulton communities.

Mr. Larry comes to the Drug Court from the Fulton County Mental Health Department where he was the manager of The Fulton County Center for Health and Rehabilitation programs since 2007. He will begin his new assignment on March 3, 2010.

Previously, Mr. Larry worked as a psychiatric social worker at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Medical Center; as a behavioral manager at HealthPlus of Michigan; a therapist at the Mott Children’s Health Center in Flint Michigan; and a transplant social worker at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.

Mr. Larry obtained a bachelor’s degree at Eastern Michigan University and a master’s degree in Social Work at Wayne State University in Detroit. He also has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

The Superior Court of Fulton County is one of the top-performing urban courts in America. Our innovative programs, nationally recognized best practices and excellent judges and staff reflect our commitment to ensuring that all find justice in our court.
 
For additional information about our court, please visit our Web site at http://www.fultoncourt.org/.

No program reductions despite $1 million cut

The judges of the Superior Court of Fulton County have approved a final budget for 2010 that is $984,090 less than 2009 expenditures. The $24.3 million 2010 Superior Court budget does not include reductions in Court progerams, nor staff layoffs, said Court Administrator Judy Cramer.
"We will be tightening our belts throughout the courthouse," Ms. Cramer said. "But due to the excellent work of our business office we will not lose any employees."
Among the cost-saving measures employed to reduce this year's budget are not filling open positions and postponing the hiring of the support staff for the Court's 20th judge named in November by Gov. Perdue. Other savings in operating costs include savings on postage for juror summons, calling fewer prospective jurors, and tighter purchasing controls.
But the most important actions were those taken to avoid massive cuts that threatened to cripple the county's judicial system.
In November Fulton County officials notified the Superior Court that its 2010 budget would be reduced by $5.2 million from the 2009 budget of $24.5 million. Chief Judge Doris L. Downs said such a drastic cut would threaten public safety.
Her warning, echoed by Fulton District Attorney Paul Howard and other elected judicial officials, set off a public outcry aganst such cuts at subsequent Fulton Commission meetings that steadily mounted until Jan. 20 when Fulton Commissioners approved a Court budget that is approximately $1 million less than the prior year.
"While we were cut almost $1 million from last year after having five positions eliminated at mid-year 2009, we have adjusted and will continue to provide good public service," Cramer said in announcing the cuts to staff.
"Thanks to all of you for your patience and support during the period of budget uncertainty we experienced in 2009."

Thank You!

Thank you to the hundreds who signed the Court’s petition to save the Fulton Justice System and to those who stood before the Fulton County Commission to urge full funding of vital public safety and judicial services.
On Wednesday Jan. 20, 2010 Fulton Commissioners reinstated $1.3 million to Justice System agencies and court programs.
Among the funds restored to the 2010 budget on Wednesday is $150,000.00 for Drug Court, $800,000.00 to Pretrial Services for State and Superior Courts and $426,000.00 for the Circuit Public Defender’s office.
While there are cuts to the 2010 Justice System budget they are much less than what they would have if each of you had not added your voice to those who stood up for programs that make Fulton a safer county.

Doris L. Downs

Chief Judge

Superior Court of Fulton County