Robert Guy | newsobserver.com projects

Probation head to leave Friday

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on January 7, 2009 - 10:36am.

Friday will be Robert Guy's last day of the state's probation system.

No word yet on who will replace him, Sarah Ovaska reports.

Guy, the director of the state’s probation system since 1997, had been one of the focuses of "Losing Track," an N&O series that ran in December and found, in several cases, probationers had been unwatched, and went on to kill.

The investigation also found that Guy missed several chances to implement technology to help his officers and didn’t respond to years of warnings that in several urban officers the high level of vacancies left remaining staff with unmanageable caseloads.

His retirement won’t be effective until Feb. 1, but he'll be out of his office by the end of the week, he wrote in a letter distributed to community correction staff on Monday.

"The staff of the Division of Community Corrections is the hardest working and most dedicated public servants at any level of government," Guy wrote. "In closing, I love our chosen profession and I will always love and cherish our work together and wish all of you the best!"

More after the jump.

Document(s):
guy-probation-letter.pdf

Probation head is out

Submitted by bniolet on January 2, 2009 - 3:28pm.

Robert Guy, the head of the state's probation system, will not be returning to his job once Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue takes office.

Perdue will accept a resignation from Guy, who has lead the system responsible for monitoring 114,000 probationers since 1997, said David Kochman, a spokesman for Perdue, Sarah Ovaska reports.

Kochman made the comments after Perdue announced in an afternoon press conference today that Alvin Keller Jr., a retired Marine colonel and outsider to the state corrections department, will take over as Correction Secretary. His predecessor Theodis Beck announced in November he wouldn't be staying on under Perdue.

During the press conference, Perdue would not say whether Guy would have a job under her administration. She also announced that Jennie Lou Lancaster, former warden for one of the state's female prisons, will be taking over as the chief operating officer for the correction department.

Guy's leadership has been under fire after festering problems with the state probation system, which were revealed in a three-part News & Observer series, "Losing Track," that ran in early December.

It focused primarily on the past eight years — the years Easley has been governor and when Beck and Guy, the Division of Community Corrections director, have overseen the statewide probation system.

The N&O stories found that 580 probationers had killed since the start of 2000, and the probation system had lost track of nearly 14,000 convicted criminals. The series also found that Guy and other leaders missed several chances to help officers keep up with their charges.

Several people later convicted of murder or manslaughter had multiple arrests while on probation and had gone months or even up to a year without being contacted by a probation officer.

Guy did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment Friday.

580 probationers convicted of murder

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on December 11, 2008 - 9:05am.

Since 2000, 580 people were convicted of murder or manslaughter while on probation.

The N.C. Division of Community Corrections has allowed vacancies among probation officers to pile up in urban areas with heavy caseloads. They failed to convey to legislators the growing difficulties. And when they did ask for help, the legislature usually said no.

Community Correction head Robert Guy and Correction Secretary Theodis Beck both work for Gov. Mike Easley and have made significant financial contributions to his campaign. Beck held Guy's job for two years under form Gov. Jim Hunt.

Yet for the past decade, problems in the probation system simmered beneath the surface.

The arrests of Demario Atwater and Laurence Alvin Lovette in the killing of Eve Carson, the popular UNC-Chapel Hill student body president, were followed quickly by the news that the two had scant supervision while on probation.

Beck said his department should have paid more attention to the problems. (N&O)

State names new probation leaders

Submitted by bkrueger on August 25, 2008 - 12:39pm.

State corrections officials today named new leaders in the Wake and Durham probation offices as well as a regional office after the arrest of two probationers on murder charges exposed mismanagement in the offices.

Diane Isaacs was named assistant chief for community corrections in a 21-county region that covers Wake, Durham and Cumberland counties. She had been serving as assistant interim manager for the probation office in Wake County and previously was a manager for a district covering Hoke and Scotland counties.

Margaret Brewer was named judicial district manager in Wake County. She will oversee a staff of 141 employees who supervise about 7,400 offenders. Brewer previously served as chief probation/parole officer in Wake County.

More after the jump.