Public Information Office 210 S. McDonald Street Suite 626 McKinney, Texas 75069 www.collincountytx.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2006

Dr. Melissa Cahill accepts position with federal government; resigns as Director of CSCD

(McKinney, TX) – Dr. Melissa Cahill, Collin County Director of the Community Supervision and Corrections Department (CSCD), has accepted a position with the federal government and has submitted her resignation to the county. She will be based in St. Louis, Missouri and work for U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.

“It has been a difficult decision to leave Collin County, one that I have taken months to consider,” says Dr. Cahill. “I am very proud of what we have accomplished in a short time, most notably working with the legislature to increase funding for probation by $55.4 million dollars.”

Dr. Cahill worked closely with State Representative Jerry Madden, Chairman of the House Corrections Committee, and other probation leaders to ensure funding to hire more officers. As a result, Collin County has significantly increased its staff and now has lower caseloads than in previous years.

“Dr. Cahill has been a wonderful source of information and support to me as a state representative,” states Rep. Madden. “She will be sorely missed by me and the citizens of Collin County.”

Collin County’s CSCD has also been able to streamline its management structure, increase starting salaries for officers, purchase new computers and software, and provide training for officers in new and progressive probation techniques and programs.

“I had hoped to continue with the department to see these changes come to fruition, but ultimately family and personal life comes first, so I will be relocating to St. Louis, Missouri. I wish the staff of the CSCD, the judges, and all the residents of Collin County continued success in their endeavors,” says Dr. Cahill.

The mission of the Collin County Community Supervision and Corrections Department and its personnel is:

1. To protect the community through supervision/incarceration of the offender;
2. To deter criminal behavior through the administration of sanctions;
3. To encourage positive changes in the offender's behavior; and
4. To increase community corrections involvement.

“Dr. Cahill brought a fresh perspective and new ideas to the department,” says Collin County District Judge Chris Oldner. “Her efforts at reducing caseloads, reorganizing and streamlining the CSCD, initiating employee satisfaction improvements and modernizing the department’s approach to supervision are among the many accomplishments Dr. Cahill implemented. Her enthusiasm and knowledge energized her team; and her leadership will be greatly missed.”

A new director or interim director is expected to be selected at an upcoming meeting of district and county-court-at-law judges in Collin County on July 28th.

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