Jared Smotherman of Coffee County Probation told the Law Enforcement Committee on Oct. 9 that the departments activity report for June, July and August showed an average of 836 active clients and substantial caseload and contacts during the quarter.

"Average, active clients, 836," Smotherman said. He reviewed the report's metrics: 2,801 scheduled appointments, 419 client-canceled appointments, 331 no-call/no-shows, 165 completed intakes, 637 follow-up appointments, 853 unscheduled phone contacts and 243 documented contacts with therapists or caseworkers.

Smotherman said the office submitted 192 violation warrants and resolved 145. The department mailed 118 warning letters to try to bring clients into compliance before filing violations, and staff left 366 messages to reach noncompliant clients. For court-ordered services, the report listed 128 alcohol and drug evaluations, 23 inpatient completions, 24 outpatient completions, seven alcohol-and-drug education completions, 14 batterer-intervention completions (26-week program) and 80 DUI school completions.

Smotherman noted the department recently received approval to use echo-monitor technology for eligible clients and said probation will connect eligible clients to the program when they are released from custody. He also said the department has been recruiting: it filled an administrative assistant role but has continued turnover in probation officer positions and has reopened hiring for a probation officer role.

The report documented operational impacts: two client deaths possibly from drug overdose and an officer resignation after a better-paying offer. Smotherman said the office opened the probation officer job twice and received a limited applicant pool; the department aims to reopen recruitment.

Smotherman said probations reporting numbers may be off slightly because of human interpretation vs. computer output and credited staff for rising to the workload when colleagues were out sick. Committee members asked about first-time offenders, no-call/no-show handling and local DUI school providers; Smotherman said local providers include Solutions in Tullahoma and reported assessment and school fees ($175 assessment; $150 school) and that the department is exploring being a local provider.

No committee action was taken on the report; Smotherman answered questions and said staff will continue outreach and monitoring.