Stephens County Records Disproportionately High Number of Violent & Gang Crimes

Yesterday, during routine FY2025 budget prep meetings, Stephens County Commissioners met with numerous department heads and elected officials to clarify departmental budget requests for the coming fiscal year. 

Among those that commissioners met with was Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian. During Christian’s discussion with commissioners about funding necessities for the District Attorney’s office and upcoming changes in the Mountain Judicial Circuit, which currently covers Stephens, Rabun and Habersham counties, he spoke of the disproportionately  high percentage of violent crimes that are investigated, charged and tried in Stephens County.

He added that there is a local gang history that plays into the current problem, and pointed out that a majority of the violent and gang-related crimes occur inside the city limits.

In the coming months, WNEG News will be providing in-depth reporting on these statistics and the possible contributing factors, likely outcomes, and ongoing and proposed efforts to address the situation.

WNEG News will also begin providing a department-by-department overview of budget requests over the coming days as the Board continues with the annual Budget Retreat today, and then again next Monday and Tuesday.