SPRINGFIELD – In 2019, Superior Court judges in the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit opted to establish a separate court for juvenile cases. The circuit, which encompasses Effingham, Bulloch, Jenkins and Screven counties, was the last of 49 in Georgia to make such a move.

Judge Melissa Calhoun thinks the decision to create the Ogeechee Juvenile Court was wise. She and Donald Sheppard were appointed to preside over the circuit’s juvenile cases on a part-time basis.

“Gosh, where to start!” Calhoun said. “Obviously, it has helped the Superior Court judges because they are not having to deal with the juvenile calendar anymore and, as you can probably tell, they are just as booked as much as we are between all four counties.”

The COVID-19 pandemic and population growth have strained the courts.

“I think (the Juvenile Court) has helped as far as time management,” Calhoun said.

Time is precious to Calhoun because she spends a majority of her time on cases involving children in the foster care system. She strives to find safe and permanent homes for them, preferably with their parents who achieve court-ordered objectives.

“That is the ultimate goal,” she said. “I know a lot of times there is this myth that DFACS (Division of Family & Children Services) wants their kids. No, that is not what they want.

“We would really prefer that the parents get the education that they need and the assistance that they need to get their kids back.”

Calhoun devotes entire days to handling DFACS cases.

“I always do DFACS (cases) separate from the Department of Juvenile Justice,” the judge said. “When we have DFACS days, at least we are able to give them the time that they need on these cases. It’s not just summarily (judged) that the parents have done wrong and that the children need to stay in foster care -- or it’s a situation wherein the rights of the parents are terminated -- because they get a full hearing because that’s what our designation is and it helps, too.”

Parental hostility toward DFACs in the early stages of many cases has been a problem, the judge said.

“I keep telling them, ‘If you go into it thinking everybody is against you, then you are never going to get anywhere,’” Calhoun said. “There are so many programs that they can be alerted to through DFACS and they can get the education they need.”

Education is the key to reducing domestic violence and creating safe environments for children, Calhoun said.

“It’s a cycle and (parents) just don’t see it,” she said..” … Once they realize (court involvement) is not the norm and (the court’s ruling) is what’s best for them, I think they realize, ‘I can do better.’”

Despite Calhoun’s efforts, her court faces a backlog of termination cases. These involve children who have been in the foster care system for a minimum of 15 months.

“After a certain point, there is a bond that develops between those foster families and the children, and it becomes more harmful for the children to go back (to a parent),” Calhoun said, “or it’s just a case where the parent hasn’t remedied the situation.

“People hear it from me all the time. “I don’t want promises. I want progress.”

Calhoun feels a sense of satisfaction when foster children are adopted or returned to a parent who has kicked a bad habit such as alcoholism or drug abuse.

“I’d like to see more of those cases,” she said.

The hope of reunifying children with their parents is always foremost in the judge’s thoughts.

“It’s never my goal to beat up on people,” she said. “No matter what their circumstances are, I think I have to take into consideration where (parents) are coming from and the way they grew up, and the way they believe, and get it to the point where they are making progress and keep it going in that direction.

“But, they are still held accountable. When (a parent) is doing something well, you do have to encourage them. Nobody wants to be beat up on all the time.”

Juvenile Court is also designed to give young perpetrators a chance to accept responsibility for their actions and to take steps to create positive change to avoid having a criminal record for life.

“More mentoring would be great,” Calhoun said. “It would be nice if we could get the community behind us to have more established mentoring groups. It would really be beneficial if we had a Boys & Girls Club.”

Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Tyrone Oliver recently said 50 percent of Georgia youths in the Department of Juvenile Justice’s long-term facilities refer to themselves as gang members. Most are there for violent crimes, he added.