The Superior Court's juvenile justice system has a new leader at the helm, Jeanne Brandner, who stepped into the role of Director of Juvenile Court Services on Monday, swiftly filling the vacancy left by the recently retired Denise Smith.
Brandner's credentials boast a hefty background in legal and juvenile services; she has returned to Arizona after a significant stint in Nebraska where, as Deputy Administrator for the Juvenile Probation Services Division, she honed her supervision skills over their juvenile programs since 2013, she's well-versed in the kind of challenges that come with the territory.
Court Administrator Todd Zweig has sung Brandner's praises, quoting to Pinal County's official website, "Ms. Brandner is a consummate professional and respected leader in the juvenile justice field."
Jeanne's career path before Nebraska wound through the Arizona Juvenile Justice Services Division as a Program Manager, this coupling of her local and out-of-state experiences set her apart as an ideal candidate for Smith's successor, and her educational foundation is rooted in a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s in Human Services, both reflecting her longstanding commitment to the field of justice and rehabilitation.
This leadership change comes as the juvenile services division seeks to navigate the complexities of juvenile reform and rehabilitation, with Brandner at the wheel, the court seems to be banking on her extensive background to steer the charge toward impactful changes for Arizona's youth in conflict with the law.
