CIT Programs and the Role of Probation and Parole: Bridging the Gap for Better Outcomes

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JaTonya began her career in private probation in 1999. In 2004, she joined the Department of Human Resources Child Support Division before transferring in 2005 to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. There, she served as a Parole Officer, Senior Parole Officer, Specialized Parole Officer, and Max-Out Reentry (MORE) Officer. In December 2022, she was promoted to Program Manager Sr. Lead with the MORE Program while continuing to supervise a specialized caseload. Throughout her career, JaTonya has represented the agency at Career Day events at elementary schools across multiple counties. She has served in a variety of specialized roles, including Field Training Officer, Electronic Monitoring Specialist, ICOTS Specialist, Mental Health Liaison, and MRT Instructor. She was named Parole Officer of the Year for the Southwest Region in 2013 and received a Leadership Coin from Commissioner Nail in 2018 for exemplary service. JaTonya earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Services from Macon State College in 2005. She previously served two consecutive years on the Executive Board of the Parole Association of Georgia (POAG) and is currently an active member of the Georgia Professional Association of Community Supervision (GPACS).

Taylor currently serves as a Counseling Services Supervisor and Mental Health Specialist for the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), bringing over ten years of experience across community supervision, community mental health treatment, and victim advocacy. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds multiple certifications, including Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified POST General Instructor, Mental Health First Aid, and LEAP. Taylor holds a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. In her current role, she and her team provide comprehensive support services to community supervision officers and counselors within DCS, with a strong focus on best practices for working with individuals experiencing severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders. She has played an integral role in updating the department’s internal mental health screening process, restructuring initial mental health training for officers to improve outcomes, and developing annual refresher training for mental health officers. Taylor is passionate about using evidence-based and data-driven practices to improve outcomes for individuals on community supervision with mental illness, while also strengthening officer skillsets and well-being.

Michele Saunders, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has devoted over 35 years to the field of community mental health services. During these years she has held several roles in nonprofit, government and private sector work at the direct service level to executive management level. Michele is a founding member of CIT International, Inc. in 2008, and served as Vice President of the board for 10 years. Michele played a significant role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction, provided technical assistance to CIT communities nationwide, and coordinated the annual conference. Michele currently works part time for CIT International as its Strategic Partnership Coordinator, assisting with the annual conference, providing technical assistance, instructing for the CIT Train the Trainer course and building cross system relationships. Michele is also a consultant with Policy Research Associates, where she conducts Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping, SIM Facilitator Training and CIT Program development. Michele earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree from James Madison University and a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State University. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1986.