CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Former Clayton County District Attorney Jewel Scott sat down with investigative reporter Mark Winne to talk about the Deferred Prosecution Program she implemented while in public office that is the subject of federal investigation.
Winne first reported in March that a source confirmed a federal grand jury subpoenaed records pertaining to the program from 2005 to 2008, which corresponds with Scott's term in office as the Clayton County District Attorney.
"My initial reaction was shocked and a little dismayed," said Scott. "I tried to figure out what angle, where was the subpoena coming from and what were they possibly looking at."
Scott told Winne the Deferred Prosecution Program she created when she took office in 2005 was a life-changing program for lawbreakers.
Scott said, "To my mind it was a total success."
The Deferred Prosecution Program was an alternative to prosecution for first-time nonviolent offenders. The district attorney's office would dismiss the felony charges against individuals if they completed the program, which included doing community service, receiving values counseling, and paying program fees.
Attorney Steve Frey, who has had several clients complete Scott's program, said, "It worked well in the sense that the case was dismissed and our client's record was expunged."
Frey said the first client he had who the program was made available to has led a productive life since.
The federal subpoena specifically sought information on the total number of cases charged by the district attorney's office from 2005 to 2008, as well as all dismissals for the same period, including administrative dismissals.
The former Clayton County district attorney told Winne she has done nothing wrong.
"I went into office with integrity, and I left the office with integrity," said Scott.
Scott said several private organizations her office selected provided counseling and other services that were the backbone of the program.
Scott said no money ever came to her office from the Deferred Prosecution Program and that it all went straight to the private providers.
Scott acknowledged her husband, Lee Scott, invested with the owners of Kiya House, one of the private providers, but said her office dropped Kiya House as a provider to avoid a conflict of interest.
Frey said he was disturbed that another private provider charged his client additional fees at least twice, while holding sway over his future.
"My client was told at one point that if he were kicked out it would result in his arrest," said Frey.
Scott said complaints about that early provider led her to add others including Kiya House and Totally Committed.
Dr. Revette Thomas who runs Totally Committed said, "I would characterize the success as huge. Actually to date I have no individuals who have returned back into the system."
Scott said she did not wish to discuss her husband's investment in Kiya House, but she did tell Winne he did not make a penny and actually lost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Current Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson said she has a pretrial intervention program that is similar to Scott's program, but had the county seek bids and also selected new providers.