Author: Matt Debnam
It’s Juvenile Justice Week in North Carolina, a time to celebrate the contributions of Juvenile Justice employees to public safety and the difference they make in the lives of the youth, families and communities they serve. Gov. Josh Stein has issued a proclamation in recognizing Juvenile Justice Week as Sept. 28 – Oct. 4. In his proclamation, Stein praised the work that DJJDP employees perform each day.
“The commitment of these juvenile justice professionals and community partners is critical to addressing the root causes of juvenile delinquency, creating better outcomes for at-risk and justice-involved youth, strengthening North Carolina families, and preparing committed youth to successfully reenter the community,” the proclamation reads. “Employees of the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention approach this mission-driven work with passion, care, and concern for the well-being of others and society as a whole.”
During the DJJDP Annual Conference this week, division leadership recognized some of the best and brightest at the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – this year’s DJJDP Raising the Bar Award winners. Each of these individuals, representing different sections within the division, has gone above and beyond the call of duty to serve youth, uplift their colleagues and make a difference for young people.
“Our Raising the Bar Award winners represent the best of the best within our division,” said DJJDP Deputy Secretary William Lassiter. “I am proud of the contributions these employees have made in pursuit of our mission to prevent and address juvenile delinquency, strengthen families and enhance public safety.”
Congratulations to this year’s Raising the Bar Award winners, and thank you to all Juvenile Justice employees for the crucial work you do each day.
Application Development – Mark Aycock
This year’s Raising the Bar Award winner from the DJJDP Application Development Team is Mark Aycock. Serving as the user support analyst for the division, Aycock provides quality technical support to approximately 2,000 juvenile justice employees across the state, managing accounts across a variety of systems. In his daily work, Aycock exemplifies dedication to exceptional customer service, with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to efficiency and effectiveness.
Administration – Santan Ballard
Santan Ballard is this year’s Raising the Bar Award winner from the DJJDP Administration section. In her role as manager of JJ candidate processing on the DJJDP human resources team, Ballard has been a key player in helping streamline the division’s recruitment and hiring processes. During FY 2024-25, Ballard and her team processed 588 candidates for frontline JJ positions, significantly reducing the division’s vacancy rates in several hard-to-fill positions.
Community Programs – Daniel Sevigny
Daniel Sevigny has been recognized as this year’s Raising the Bar Award winner from the DJJDP Community Programs section. Sevigny serves as an area consultant in the Piedmont region, where he works hand in hand with local juvenile crime prevention councils and community programs to provide services that address the most pressing needs for youth in each county. In the communities he serves, Sevigny is known for his positive attitude, his leadership and his capacity for finding solutions in the best interest of youth.
Court Services – Charnita Ricks
The DJJDP Court Services section has selected Charnita Ricks as its Raising the Bar award recipient for 2025. Ricks serves as a juvenile court counselor in District 2, which covers Beaufort, Martin, Washinton, Tyrell and Hyde counties. Within her community, Ricks works tirelessly to not only serve the youth and families on her caseload, but to provide for the needs of any family that comes to her attention, including collecting food, clothes and furniture to meet their basic needs. She is known as a problem solver, and is a world class ambassador for the juvenile justice system in her community.
Facilities and Programs – Ian Minor
This year’s Raising the Bar Award winner from the DJJDP Facilities and Programs section is Ian Minor. Minor serves as a supervisor at Cabarrus Juvenile Detention Center, where he is regarded highly for his standards of leadership and professionalism and known for his contributions toward improving efficiency, safety and staff morale. Beyond being a mentor for his colleagues, Minor is also known for his ability to positively engage with youth in his facility, always with a smile on his face.
Facilities and Programs – Electronic Health Record Implementation Team
In addition to the individual award winner from the Facilities and Programs section, members of the DJJDP Electronic Health Record Implementation Team were also recognized with a Raising the Bar Award. This talented team of staff members has worked tirelessly during the past several years to tackle the monumental task of digitizing the division’s juvenile health and mental health records. Pairing this electronic health record with new telehealth technology in each DJJDP facility, this team has increased efficiency, quality of care and safety by allowing virtual triage and diagnosis without having to leave the facility.
People’s Choice Award – Anthony Cobb
This year, DJJDP is proud to recognize its first-ever People’s Choice Raising the Bar Award recipient – staff development training specialist Anthony Cobb. Cobb serves as a core member of the DJJDP Staff Development and Training Team, where he helps train frontline staff members to work with youth. He is known throughout the division for his leadership, vision and dedication to providing staff with the tools and training they need to be successful.