Safe Harbor?

Posted on April 17, 2013 by metrospirit

Though it might seem as if all the momentum has gone out of the move to kick Sentinel Offender Services out of the local probation business — and resolve the issues regarding the constitutionality of private probation and answer the…

Just SCRAM!

Posted on February 20, 2013 by metrospirit

“You guys totally missed the point on the Sentinel piece you wrote. You know Judge (redacted)’s wife works for the monitoring company her husband puts on everyone who comes in front of him?” Well. Yes and no. That is one…

Case Continues

Posted on February 13, 2013 by metrospirit

Sentinel’s motion to dismiss denied Eric Johnson Despite strong efforts to the contrary, the slow march toward a decision on the constitutionality of private probation continued Monday, as Judge Danny Craig denied a motion to dismiss the four civil cases…

Released

Posted on January 30, 2013 by metrospirit

Four inmates released as judge finds errors in sentencing procedure Eric Johnson Though the habeas corpus petitions filed on behalf of four people jailed for violating the terms of their misdemeanor probation resulted in their release on bond, the constitutional…

Case Management

Posted on January 30, 2013 by metrospirit

Just days after four people were freed from jail because Judge David Watkins failed to properly inform them of their rights to a trial, Watkins came before the Finance Committee looking for money to pay for a new case manager…

Showdown

Posted on January 23, 2013 by metrospirit

Sentinel to have its day in court Eric Johnson Having successfully driven Sentinel Offender Services out of Richmond and Columbia County’s Superior Courts, attorney Jack Long is attempting to further cripple the for-profit probation company’s ability to make a profit…

The True Cost of Doing Business

Posted on January 23, 2013 by metrospirit

With so many eyes watching Sentinel, more than one insider has whispered the words: follow the money… That’s a reference, of course, to the fact that the private probation company makes a mint charging all sorts of fees to the…

Gathering Storm

Posted on December 12, 2012 by metrospirit

Sentinel Probation faces an onslaught of cases threatening its stranglehold on probation services and questioning the legitimacy of its existence Eric Johnson The cases against Sentinel Probation Services are quickly piling up, and they could prove extremely costly for the…

Sentinel on Guard

Posted on November 21, 2012 by metrospirit

Last week’s Metro Spirit cover story highlighted Sentinel Offender Services and some seriously negative issues related to their handling of Augusta area probationers. Now, insiders are reporting the existence of a class action lawsuit filed in Columbia County alleging that…

Augusta’s Probation Problem

Posted on November 14, 2012 by metrospirit

Critics allege private probation companies are expensive, abusive and dehumanizing. A couple of Augusta attorneys are trying to prove they’re unconstitutional as well. Eric Johnson Hills McGee is a disabled veteran suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder whose only source…