Shunda L. Dean – Chief Probation Officer

Shunda L. Dean, a Texas native, received her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Corrections from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. After graduation Ms. Dean was afforded the opportunity to join the team of Smith County Juvenile Services as a part-time Case Aide in 1992. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Dean served as a Case Aide, Counselor, Juvenile Probation Officer and Probation Supervisor.

After nine years at Smith County Juvenile Services, Ms. Dean relocated to the state of Georgia in 2001 and began her career at DeKalb County Juvenile Court as a Juvenile Probation Officer. Shortly thereafter, she was promoted to Probation Supervisor in 2004.  In the latter part of 2014, Ms. Dean was promoted to Chief Probation Officer of the DeKalb County Juvenile Court under the leadership of Chief Judge Desiree Sutton Peagler.

Ms. Dean is a member of the National Association for Court Management (NACM), Georgia Council of Court Administrators (GCCA) and International Who’s Who of Professional Management. In 2007, she became a Certified Paralegal from the University of North Texas in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, she completed a Management Leadership Program from the University of Georgia/Carl Vincent institute of Government in 2014.

She was named Smith County Juvenile Services — Probation Officer of the Year in 1997; Smith County Juvenile Services – Supervisor of the Year in 1999; DeKalb County Juvenile Drug Court – Drug Court Initiative in 2003; DeKalb County Juvenile Drug Court — 5-year service award in 2009; Romae T. Powell Service Award in 2012, and Top Juvenile Drug Court in 2012.