First Alternative Probation Counseling has been sold by Charmaine West and Jeff Denton.
Ms. West had been the owner of the firm when she sued WDEF-TV, Channel 12, on grounds she and the company had been defamed by its "Probation For Sale" series. She won a verdict in Federal Court.
The buyers are Jeanna Mullins and David Guffey. Mr. Guffey is retired from the military and has been human resource manager for a large local manufacturer. Mrs. Mullins is the wife of Richard Mullins, who formerly worked in General Sessions Court. She has been employed at First Alternative for the past seven years and has served in various posts there.
Officials said they will continue to work with a number of courts in Hamilton County and are setting up several new programs.
Mr. Guffey said, "First Alternative provides the judge, district attorney, public defender and the defense attorney an alternative to jail by providing supervised probation, counseling and drug testing services for offenders. The benefit is that the offender pays all fees for probation or counseling, thus costing taxpayers nothing.
"Taxpayers of every municipality all over the country are being challenged each year with increased taxes to balance the budget due to the rising cost of operating their educational systems and jail overcrowding, while the state and federal funds are dwindling rapidly."
He also said, "Counseling services are available in English, Spanish and sign language to the Tri-State community and courts. We also experience many clients who have not broken any laws, but come seeking affordable counseling and we are able to meet that need.
"Many new programs are being developed to meet the changing social issues in the community.
"Additionally, free workshops for clients will soon be available in the areas of job hunting skills, budgeting and alternative housing planning. Someone will often complete a counseling program at any facility only to quickly return to their old habits. We recognize that if their job hunting skills are weak, it makes it almost impossible to get a job. Soon they will revert to what they know to acquire their income regardless of legal consequences.
"A person may be living with a relative or friend who still has illegal activities occurring in the household and they see no alternative to their living arrangements. We plan to teach them how to get out of the environment and how to acquire their own home.
"Currently, we know of no other counseling facility offering these in-house programs free of charge to clients. Our goal is to fully support the courts, client and community in returning people back to neighborhoods that are law abiding and self-sustaining."
The TV show had examined the role of Ms. West with several of the judges in General Sessions Court.
WDEF has appealed the $310,000 judgment it was ordered to pay Ms. West.
She was awarded $50,000 in compensatory damages, $100,000 for past economic loss and $10,000 for future economic loss.
The jury awarded First Alternative Probation Counseling $30,000 on grounds of false light and emotional distress.
It denied punitive damages to both Ms. West and the company.
Judges Richard Holcomb and Clarence Shattuck testified for Ms. West, while her attorneys read the depositions of Judges Mike Carter and Ron Durby.
The fifth General Sessions Court Judge Moon, was called as a witness by Channel 12.
Since the lawsuit was filed, Hamilton County has started its own probation program.