Keen v. Judicial Alternatives of Georgia, Inc.

124 F. Supp. 3d 1334, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110957, 2015 WL 5003567
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Georgia
DecidedAugust 21, 2015
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. CV 315-030
StatusPublished

This text of 124 F. Supp. 3d 1334 (Keen v. Judicial Alternatives of Georgia, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Keen v. Judicial Alternatives of Georgia, Inc., 124 F. Supp. 3d 1334, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110957, 2015 WL 5003567 (S.D. Ga. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER

DUDLEY H. BOWEN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

In recent years a number of traditional or typical functions of state and federal government have been “outsourced,” “privatized,” or contracted out to the private sector. For example, many state and federal prisons are now operated under contract. In 2000, the Georgia Legislature removed jurisdiction over misdemeanor probation services from the Georgia Department of Corrections (see 2000 Ga. Laws 926 (S.B. 474), codified at O.C.G.A. § 17—10—3(f)), leaving local counties and, municipalities with the choice of creating a local public probation system at their own expense or contracting with a private probation service company to provide probation supervision services at the expense of the probationers. The legislation effectively caused the proliferation of private probation service companies throughout the State, Contracts with private probation service companies are governed by state law, “Agreements for Probation Services,” codified at O.C.G.A. §§ 42-8-100 through 108 (hereinafter referred to as “the Statute”).

Many people disagree with the concept that governmental functions so close to the administration of justice should be relegated to a profit motivated business enterprise. Obviously, a majority of the Legislature in 2000 thought otherwise.

This federal district court and a number of superior courts in Georgia have been witness to many challenges to the concept and the details of the privatization of the administration and supervision of individuals on probation from misdemeanor convictions. Whether there is “Big Money” in the business of probation is unknown to the presiding judge. What is known is that a number of firms compete for this business opportunity. Whether the' state and county governments have saved significant money by privatization ,is also unknown. However, it is known that many abuses are alleged as a result of the system. Further, it should be noted that the Legislature was careful and specific in limiting private probation services to misdemeanor cases. See O.C.G.A. § 42-8-100(g)(1).

Finally, it is clear that the appellate courts particularly are disinclined to embark upon a course which would upset the legislative preference for privatizing misdemeanor probation services. •Appellate opinions have scrupulously parsed the elements of each of the plaintiffs’ claims, their standing as litigants and their purposes in bringing the action before wading into the deeper pool in which the ultimate question of the validity of the statute is immersed.

This case is yet another which must be decided on the basis of peripheral but important issues instead of the main thrust against the privatization of a governmental function which allegedly impinges upon the judicial prerogative of elected judges and which supplants the discretion of trained and, sworn state officials.

I. BACKGROUND

The Statute provides as follows:

[1336]*1336The 'chief judge of any court within the county, with the approval of the governing authority of that county, is authorized to enter into written contracts with corporations, enterprises, or agencies to provide probation supervision, counseling, collection services for all moneys to be paid by a defendant according to the terms of the sentence imposed on the defendant as well as any moneys which by operation of law are to be paid by the defendant in consequence of the conviction, and other probation services for persons convicted in that court and placed on probation in the county. In no case shall a private probation corporation or enterprise be charged with the responsibility of supervising a felony sentence.

0.C.G.A. § 42-8-100(g)(l). Pursuant to this provision, on March 16, 2008, the Chief Judge of Treutlen County State Court entered into an Agreement with Defendant Judicial Alternatives of Georgia, Inc. (“JAG”), a private company, to provide probation services to probationers referred by the state court. (Compl. ¶¶ 7-8 & Ex. A.) The Agreement was approved by the Treutlen County Commissioners. Attached to the Agreement is a Fee Schedule, which provides for a payment of $40.00 per month, per offender for regular (as opposed to “intensive”) probation supervision. (Compl., Ex. A.)

The Agreement had a one-year term. (Id. at 7.) The Agreement further provided that its terms and conditions “shall renew automatically for succeeding periods of one (1) year unless otherwise terminated as provided, for herein or unless written notice to the contrary is directed to the other party at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of expiration.”.(M) The members of the Treutlen County Commission changed in 2009 as new commissioners took office. (Compl. ¶ 8.) This newly comprised County Commission did not approve any subsequent contract between the State Court of Treutlen County and JAG in 2009 or any year thereafter.1 (Id. ¶ 10.)

In January 2012, the State Court of Treutlen County placed Plaintiff Philip Keen, Jr., on probation from his twelvemonth misdemeanor sentence upon his conviction for driving under the influence. (Id. ¶¶ 15-16 & Ex. C.) Pursuant to the terms of his probation, Plaintiff paid-JAG the sum of $1,395.00 in payment of fines, surcharges and probation fees. (Id. ¶ 16.) Plaintiff claims that a portion of the $1,395.00 paid to JAG consisted of more than one and as many as eight monthly probation fees of $40. (Id. ¶ 17.) In fact, his judgment of conviction 'expressly states that he must pay a $40 per month probation supervision fee. (Id., Ex. C.) Plaintiff paid all assessed fees and costs and served his probationary period.

Nearly two years following termination of his probation, Plaintiff filed the instant purported class action, seeking a declaratory judgment that the Statute, O.C.G.A. §§ 42-8-100 through 108, as written and applied, is unconstitutional. (Id., Count I.) Plaintiff also seeks to recover the fees paid to JAG under the state law claim of money had and received. (Id., Count II.) Presently, Defendant JAG has filed a motion to dismiss the complaint upon several grounds. The Court heard oral argument on the motion on July 27, 2015. Upon consideration of the pleadings, the relevant law, and the arguments of counsel in brief and at oral argument, the motion to dismiss the complaint is GRANTED for the reasons stated herein.

II. LEGAL ANALYSIS

Plaintiff asserts two causes of action on behalf of himself and a purported class. [1337]*1337For the first cause of action, Plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment that the Statute is unconstitutional, inter alia, as written and as applied, under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and, as applied, under the Due Process Clause of the Georgia Constitution. For the second cause of action, Plaintiff asserts a state law claim for money had and received, whereby Plaintiff alleges that the probation supervision fees were paid to JAG unlawfully or under a void contract.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
124 F. Supp. 3d 1334, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110957, 2015 WL 5003567, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/keen-v-judicial-alternatives-of-georgia-inc-gasd-2015.