[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6164819,"mediaKeyId","5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba","parentId",5427006,"title","Cobb sheriff highlights community programs: 5,000 backpacks, teacher supplies, food drives and toy giveaways","audioSeconds",182,"startMs",1114000,"endMs",1296000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba&start=1114&end=1296","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba/thumbnail_1114000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6164819/Cobb-County/Georgia/Cobb-sheriff-highlights-community-programs-5000-backpacks-teacher-supplies-food-drives-and-toy-giveaways","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164819-46f2fc1deae1f4e2723eb240d88364ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651236&Signature=WbCRPgRisyUCnLXmBpJ~4mazU4gnxT-qetAjoZzojgTkd2s7fiheOJsdnexNfbDIU5ozqYJ6-lv1CkLqKrryy2~0n~Wa8wEl-5QR2PqYY52L6uoO6HF9RoAQbmwAQeQisvgH1ZWWpr5cSb1xFjOACm2gzWTSxzcUa7P3b~7jSjXM9P4-F0arBwfm~HveVaj45leTo9n4Jhnn-jYbJatMBm-yct6NN6rOtKM6FDMne1lLboddpbLY-9PrMpUqWN7t5xDVlaNC~EY0mu1gloNpxkNQXYZVZshsqkf0QILIfypyuZUg3FjR0MqEqwcY6FSS0nm65O6k2~FEVm7aWkeqRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-18T21:07:26.567Z","article","Sheriff Craig Owens outlined several community programs the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office runs or supports, saying those efforts are intended to build trust and provide tangible assistance for families.

Key programs and numbers: Owens said the sheriff’s office plans to hand out about 5,000 backpacks at a back‑to‑school event this year and will distribute roughly 1,000 teacher‑supply packs; teachers will also receive $30–$50 gift cards. The office operates an annual holiday toy distribution — described on the podcast as “Sheriff Santa on Wheels” — that provides about 3,000 toys to children countywide. The sheriff said the sheriff’s foundation helps pay students’ unpaid lunch balances and that command staff are required quarterly to volunteer at Trinity Food Bank.

Why it matters: Owens presented these programs as part of a broader community‑engagement strategy designed to build relationships and trust, especially in communities that historically felt underserved. He said outreach is not just for visibility: “If you tell me you’re going to do something, you’re going to do it. When they call, answer the phone, and be receptive,” he said.

Discussion vs. decision: The comments described ongoing programs and operational choices by the sheriff’s office. No new appropriations, policies or contractual agreements were announced in the podcast.

Ending: Owens framed the outreach work as mutual: it helps residents immediately and strengthens deputies’ ties to the community. “People always think you’re giving, but really you’re receiving,” he said.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Smart Justice Works - July 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Sheriff Craig Owens outlined community programs — including plans to distribute about 5,000 backpacks and teacher supplies, an annual toy giveaway, food drives and support for unpaid school lunches.","taxTitle","Cobb County, Georgia","taxId",3733,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6164823,"Owens prioritizes jail infrastructure upgrades, cites asbestos and aging facilities",104,341000,445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba&start=341&end=445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba/thumbnail_341000.jpg","/articles/6164823/Cobb-County/Georgia/Owens-prioritizes-jail-infrastructure-upgrades-cites-asbestos-and-aging-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164823-eb8c9732fa2965baeab79bbee3e44c6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651236&Signature=Fo1V-4pjX6HAE~jXqy0gVKzqxkULzas5z82TfUpy2LDM0CVBP-46dDiPDdjWBIiNehuJ9ebH-qqpacjwM0BMC5usZC~EQjyfnuCZBxAmAnMrrFD4dVpfDJPDWJYChHAYOHsfFp71w-AF4ujxv1LJRhqdKyAd0Kxpwx1-FefRaBf8-gtU4XYlkZV96qiBHNwPPIRW0phpx3r~a9lCe6NdSPhaZKpewJpF5~5hsiivJehdF3a2krbTVHuP8stpLlf4v9KToCuIy-2QYG7P57VzRJsTz0Zt5NrMs0eEs92qZuhfJSF~iHFAXfkqNRYYQMKPMfwK3P1HP3LLsnrwdHIN9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Craig Owens told the podcast that facility maintenance and renovation are a top priority for his term, and that rehabbing older buildings can save taxpayer money compared with building a new facility.

Owens said several buildings in county custody have not been remodeled since 1984 or 1997 and that routine investment can avoid the need for an expensive new jail. “By rehabbing, keep them, and getting them back into shape, it saves the taxpayers money in the long run,” he said. He credited the Board of Commissioners with providing support for renovation projects and noted asbestos remediation as an ongoing health concern.

Why it matters: Owens framed infrastructure work as a public‑safety and fiscal issue — failing locks or outdated conditions can create safety hazards for staff and detainees. He described the jail as “basically a small city under the roof” and argued that regular upkeep reduces the risk of more costly capital projects in the future.

Discussion vs. decision: The comments were explanatory and programmatic. Owens described priorities and praised intergovernmental support; no capital appropriation or vote was taken during the recording.

Ending: Owens said the county will continue to pursue repairs and renovations during his term to maintain safety and avoid larger replacement costs.","Sheriff Craig Owens said his top infrastructure priority is renovating detention facilities built or last remodeled decades ago; he credited the county commission for support and said rehabs can be cheaper than building a new jail.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6164828,"Sheriff warns of increased scams targeting Cobb seniors, urges residents not to pay callers",264,528000,792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba&start=528&end=792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba/thumbnail_528000.jpg","/articles/6164828/Cobb-County/Georgia/Sheriff-warns-of-increased-scams-targeting-Cobb-seniors-urges-residents-not-to-pay-callers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164828-749ab708a47eb5de533bbc38d92981ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651236&Signature=PbgrdxCNnc~aE2A4BHKdRAt7IVHz0RlzDBkEa5Nv7vaXJeP7InmmAA6APkhR0~Gp1HvrvTWxswjI4K7cgkShAUc~fJ9z5A22drOyYk60RD1TMfQ6X1yaNp~6NL5nyoIKsFZwiIsBDt79tRKjS9hHtUDRuI5IdcuOMx5wqjsOqUt6B56mhE7sCxpYTBlOXQyz75II2Ogc63sE09Y5DGiq~FFYXrOLeDvZnGFMn2t04g~VfjIzFd8G4705Lqd7LSC5SNnjkqQ0YnwGAY4LjCz2FN6JLV121b83zi-nOPZcbcfIJ8IfwkaMdtzGZWeWZATaHXR-ELe7xpHQhEMSoXz5Hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Craig Owens warned Cobb County residents that scammers are increasingly targeting older adults with phone and text schemes and urged people not to send money or gift cards in response to unsolicited calls.

Owens described a frequent scam in which callers impersonate a law‑enforcement employee and tell family members that a loved one has been arrested, then demand immediate payment — often $500 — to secure release. “They say, ‘I am Sergeant Joe Blow from Cobb County Sheriff's Office. Your loved one has been arrested. If you do not want him or her to stay in the detention center, send us $500,’” Owens said. He added that scammers use spoofed phone numbers and often supply real names and courthouse addresses, making the call appear authentic.

Examples and advice: Owens said another common scam is a text claiming unpaid tolls with a link that steals personal and credit‑card information. He reiterated that the sheriff’s office and the prosecutor’s office will not call to demand money. “We would never call and ask for money, first and foremost,” he said, and he urged residents to hang up if a caller asks for payment or gift cards.

What the sheriff’s office is doing: Owens said the office issues public‑service announcements, posts fraud alerts on the Cobb County Sheriff’s mobile app and is coordinating with federal partners to trace spoofed numbers. “We’re actively pursuing them and working with our federal authorities to help us pull some information up so we can actually go ahead and make arrests on individuals doing these things,” he said, adding that some calls originate overseas and others can be traced to correctional facilities.

Discussion vs. decision: Remarks were informational; no policies or ordinances were proposed. Owens described operational practices (app alerts, public education) and investigative collaboration with federal agencies.

Ending: Owens and Solicitor General Mackie Metzger urged residents to stay calm if they receive threatening or urgent calls, verify by calling 911 or the relevant agency directly, and never pay via gift cards or wire transfers.","Sheriff Craig Owens described multiple fraud schemes aimed at older residents — fake arrest calls demanding payment, toll‑text scams and medical‑emergency cons — and said the sheriff's office is issuing public alerts, using its mobile app and working with federal partners to trace spoofed numbers.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6164833,"Cobb sheriff says jail has become de facto mental‑health provider; office added 24‑hour clinicians and padded rooms",504,1511000,2015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba&start=1511&end=2015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba/thumbnail_1511000.jpg","/articles/6164833/Cobb-County/Georgia/Cobb-sheriff-says-jail-has-become-de-facto-mentalhealth-provider-office-added-24hour-clinicians-and-padded-rooms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164833-f4a96127cd20b00307e07f2e88bd85e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651236&Signature=PJmBuYmbVLofcKcLosRY1QKYfm2TsTuSyAGglpQlL17mX9Sw0QxVWutCq7DQQQFsy58BsnBa9PVWxOJFQ0N~FXiXQxRkHr4mM2ZXs3moTD8l3NiimAfw7njkJYbeSpM4KAwLcMBShYsPJy9pasz-L0NY8fu9noMxk1tt57TtuNs1Yh0--BNNZ8rTZzJnQlgcZdWRth7v7Rq4WPDHGAbz6WH6we8fz8~pSXUFKr4vgFmaLXbjF2iHnsGcKzCzC3-nemVFWI3BBVUz286E4~~NTQg9r6L6KcIVRZsOI6YokvztC~WMEOafQUE-w93dt6M~zshcpeVAT4paCw3OouMUXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Craig Owens said Cobb County’s detention center now houses a large number of people with mental‑health issues and that the jail has become “your de facto mental‑health care institution.” Owens described new and planned changes intended to reduce risks and improve care, while warning that local officials cannot solve statewide capacity shortfalls alone.

Owens, speaking on the Cobb County Smart Justice Works podcast hosted by Solicitor General Mackie Metzger, said the sheriff’s office now has a 24‑hour mental‑health professional available either in person or by telemedicine and uses deputies’ body‑camera footage during intake so clinicians can see and evaluate people as they are booked. “We were the first sheriff’s office to have a 24‑hour mental‑health care professional on‑site,” Owens said.

Those operational changes are intended to improve clinical triage and reduce self‑harm. Owens said the jail has increased the number of padded cells and is planning future infirmary and mental‑health wards in any new facility design so treatment spaces do not resemble standard jail cells. “We can secure them but still get the treatment,” he said, describing facilities that look less like a traditional cell and more like a mental‑health treatment area.

Why it matters: Owens and Metzger discussed how lack of state inpatient beds and delays in court‑ordered competency exams add to jail populations and lengthen stays for people who have not been convicted. Owens said some people can wait years for competency evaluations because the state system is limited, and he noted that local community providers — Highland Rivers and other community service boards — lack bed capacity.

The sheriff framed the local work as a stopgap: deputies and jail staff must provide medical support, medication administration and de‑escalation while broader policy and funding changes are needed at state and federal levels. Owens said many detainees require ongoing medication and clinical oversight: “They start pill calling in the morning at 7 and don’t finish at 7 at night,” he said, emphasizing staffing and cost pressures.

Discussion vs. direction vs. decision: Owens described operational decisions already made (24‑hour clinician coverage, expanded padded cells, use of telemedicine and body camera footage in intake). He framed longer‑term decisions — building an infirmary/mental‑health ward — as planning goals contingent on funding and facility design rather than actions already taken. No formal policy changes or ordinances were voted on during the recorded conversation.

What officials said: Sheriff Craig Owens discussed treatment, intake procedures and facility planning. Solicitor General Mackie Metzger asked questions and summarized community impacts; she noted family exhaustion when caring for relatives with severe mental‑health needs.

Ending: Owens said long‑term relief requires coordinated action across local, state and federal levels, including more state inpatient capacity and funding for community resources. “It’s gonna have to be all levels to help out in this mental‑health care,” he said.","Sheriff Craig Owens told Cobb County listeners that jail now houses many people with mental‑health needs, described steps the sheriff's office has taken — 24‑hour mental‑health coverage, telemedicine, padded cells and de‑escalation tools — and stressed the limits of local capacity when state inpatient resources are scarce.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6164814,"Cobb sheriff outlines emergency plans and multiagency coordination for major events",108,2398000,2506000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba&start=2398&end=2506","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5427006-c6e6d02197ef6ed21a8f79a26be356ba/thumbnail_2398000.jpg","/articles/6164814/Cobb-County/Georgia/Cobb-sheriff-outlines-emergency-plans-and-multiagency-coordination-for-major-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6164814-7a34f05e0e4382ec840aa84ff7ea5b0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773651236&Signature=TW895D9x6PBqzQURD84DgyBOLWSo3Ap2MsfKxrr~AuKeLieeZTyZKFfSKfbEaoN5oM52aMwnPLIj2IwcIkjEReDf0H8es9hRtcu7kl4rkgeWY3F0WIP-YQIzLYAh-nqF8hm9~kyGOyjjl4jCunisiLOQdGMmsNObf22PWdl~~UXJip2MtdjedxF1buTakIxXMsTPRvtiC6xb1v~pfapzrH0gynQ59kcPBtrFmAmi1C38GxXFoJHVRaENc9X-rWq9Ys58IECUMZpmNQgDrpFjIQH4Zr4c~BgNixH~pq~DdXWKf736HMpA5ACw~iI49TgV8MSb92FmDR2PzxCr~9o0Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sheriff Craig Owens described Cobb County’s emergency‑preparedness work, emphasizing planning, exercises and multiagency coordination for major events and disasters.

What exists: Owens listed preparedness plans for domestic terrorism, hazardous materials, plane crashes, tornadoes and active‑shooter incidents. He said the county runs tabletop exercises on a quarterly basis and conducts joint operations with state and federal partners for large events. Owens cited the recent All‑Star game as an example of a major event that required coordination with state troopers, the GBI and the FBI.

Why it matters: Regular exercises and interagency coordination are intended to reduce response time and improve operational clarity during incidents. Owens said public‑safety partners — police, fire and 911 — do not operate in silos and routinely test sirens and equipment to improve readiness.

Discussion vs. decision: Remarks described existing plans and practices; no new policy or expenditure was announced during the recording.

Ending: Owens said the county prepares for the worst and hopes for the best, running regular training and acquiring equipment informed by past incidents to improve future responses.","Sheriff Craig Owens summarized the county's emergency preparedness plans — tornadoes, hazardous materials, mass events and active‑shooter scenarios — and described multiagency coordination used for large events such as the All‑Star game.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cobb sheriff highlights community programs: 5,000 backpacks, teacher supplies, food drives and toy giveaways

Owens prioritizes jail infrastructure upgrades, cites asbestos and aging facilities

Sheriff warns of increased scams targeting Cobb seniors, urges residents not to pay callers

Cobb sheriff says jail has become de facto mental‑health provider; office added 24‑hour clinicians and padded rooms

Cobb sheriff outlines emergency plans and multiagency coordination for major events