Cherie Townsend was appointed as Director of Juvenile Justice Services effective January 2, 2006.   In this position, she oversees intervention services, guidance and control for children ages 18 and under who are involved in delinquency.   Her responsibilities include leading over 400 employees in four direct service divisions:   Probation Services, Spring Mountain Youth Camp, Detention Services and Central Support Services.   Ms. Townsend s daily responsibilities include fiscal accountability, interaction with judicial officials, citizen advisory boards, various community based agencies, numerous elected officials and other Clark County Department Heads.   She is also responsible for managing ongoing programs within the department, such as the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI).

Ms. Townsend brings thirty years of juvenile justice experience to this position.   Prior to her appointment as Director of Juvenile Justice Services, Ms. Townsend served as Director of Juvenile Court Services in Maricopa County, Arizona.   She has worked for the Texas Youth Commission in various capacities, including Director of Community Services.   She also served as Director of Victim-Witness Services for the Travis County District Attorney in Texas.   Ms. Townsend has earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas.

In 2003, Ms. Townsend received the Juvenile Court Administrator Award from the National Juvenile Court Services Association.   She received the Sam Houston State University Award as the Outstanding Probation Executivefor 2001.   Ms. Townsend has been both a guest lecturer and a faculty member on various leadership, juvenile justice and crime prevention topics.