Georgia juvenile corrections officer faces felony drug charges
Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested off-duty juvenile corrections officer (JCO) Craig Banks on felony drug charges, according to Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Avery D. Niles.
Narcotics investigators notified DJJ Internal Affairs the arrest was made in connection with a two-year sting operation targeting Banks for the alleged sale of marijuana. Their investigation continues at this time.
According to local police investigators Banks was taken into custody Thursday afternoon and booked into the Polk County Jail where he is currently being held on misdemeanor charges of Marijuana Possession, and felony charges of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime.
Following the arrest, Niles said he would order immediate administrative action for the suspension of JCO Banks from all duties at the Department of Juvenile Justice. Before his suspension today, Banks was posted as a juvenile corrections officer at the Marietta Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Cobb County.
The Commissioner said an immediate DJJ internal affairs check into all incidents reported at the Marietta RYDC revealed no contraband cases involving the former Juvenile Corrections Officer. The Commissioner also said there was no other evidence to indicate Banks may have moved contraband into the state detention facility where he worked.
“This officer has been with the department for nearly ten years,” Niles said in a statement. “But regardless of employee seniority, rank or position, those who break our laws and those who violate our policies will continue to face serious consequences and DJJ will continue to cooperate with prosecuting authorities. I gave clear warning of this when I was appointed Commissioner.”
The Commissioner’s’ core message since his November 2012 appointment by Governor Nathan Deal has emphasized that the critical duties of the Department of Juvenile Justice are to uphold and enforce policy, ethics, and safety and security measures at Georgia’s juvenile justice facilities so both DJJ detainees and staff can function in a safe and secure learning environment.
