Justin started as a patrol officer with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and later became a corporal. He also served as a SWAT Operator and was part of the Crime Suppression Unit. He worked as a detective for the Lawrenceville Police Department and was promoted to sergeant.

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Justin Hipps' campaign for County sheriff is his first entry into politics.



Candidate website

Plans to enhance public safety in Newton County with experienced leadership in the Sheriff's Office, aiming to rebuild trust and ensure family security through effective law enforcement.

The candidate's website says, "He firmly believes that living in a community where your family is safe and where we can trust law enforcement to get the job done is a fundamental right."

Said, "I firmly believe that living in a community where your family is safe and where we can trust law enforcement to get the job done is a fundamental right."

Said, "After devoting my career to protecting people on the front lines of law enforcement... I will put my experience and commitment to work to provide new leadership that protects the people of Newton County. As Sheriff, I will:"

Plans to use experience and commitment to work to provide new leadership that protects the people of Newton County.

The candidate's website says, "Increase Advanced Law Enforcement Training department-wide."

Wants to increase Advanced Law Enforcement Training department-wide.

The candidate's website says, "Set high professional standards where the public will be proud of their law enforcement."

Wants to set high professional standards to improve public relationship with law enforcement.

The candidate's website says, "Engage in proactive policing techniques."

Plans to engage in proactive policing techniques.

Plans to reallocate resources, hire more qualified deputies, and use technology that allows dispatch to send the closest unit to the call.

- Plans to enhance public safety in Newton County with experienced leadership in the Sheriff's Office, aiming to rebuild trust and ensure family security through effective law enforcement.
- Said, "I firmly believe that living in a community where your family is safe and where we can trust law enforcement to get the job done is a fundamental right."
- Plans to use experience and commitment to work to provide new leadership that protects the people of Newton County.
- Wants to increase Advanced Law Enforcement Training department-wide.
- Wants to set high professional standards to improve public relationship with law enforcement.
- Plans to engage in proactive policing techniques.
- Plans to reallocate resources, hire more qualified deputies, and use technology that allows dispatch to send the closest unit to the call.

Public Safety

The candidate's website says, "Better utilize taxpayer dollars to improve technology, upgrade equipment, and attract and retain well-trained Deputies and staff members."

Plans to utilize taxpayer dollars to improve technology, upgrade equipment, and attract and retain well-trained Deputies and staff members.

Said, "Due to the Sheriff’s lack of commitment, accountability, and proper oversight... the citizens of Newton County do not get the services they are entitled to or the level or quality of public safety they deserve."

Said "We are facing a major Mental Health crisis across our nation and right here in our county.  I will work with the Health Department and other Mental Health agencies to find common sense solutions.  Incarceration cannot be the only solution.  We have to find ways to treat the problem, not arrest the problem."

- Plans to utilize taxpayer dollars to improve technology, upgrade equipment, and attract and retain well-trained Deputies and staff members.
- Said, "Due to the Sheriff’s lack of commitment, accountability, and proper oversight... the citizens of Newton County do not get the services they are entitled to or the level or quality of public safety they deserve."
- Said "We are facing a major Mental Health crisis across our nation and right here in our county.  I will work with the Health Department and other Mental Health agencies to find common sense solutions.  Incarceration cannot be the only solution.  We have to find ways to treat the problem, not arrest the problem."

Jail Management

The candidate's website says, "Develop pre-arrest diversion and co-responder programs to help with mental illness and substance abuse and focus on treatment instead of incarceration."

Plans to develop pre-arrest diversion and co-responder programs to help with mental illness and substance abuse and focus on treatment instead of incarceration.

Said "If I were your Sheriff, every sworn deputy would be assigned a take-home vehicle. There are so many benefits to having assigned vehicles, one of the most important being the ability to respond to emergency calls."

- Plans to develop pre-arrest diversion and co-responder programs to help with mental illness and substance abuse and focus on treatment instead of incarceration.
- Said "If I were your Sheriff, every sworn deputy would be assigned a take-home vehicle. There are so many benefits to having assigned vehicles, one of the most important being the ability to respond to emergency calls."

Criminal Justice

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Justin Hipps

Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown sworn in as president of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association

Ezell Brown is on the Board of Directors for the Newton County Salvation Army, serves as an Executive Board Member for Georgia Piedmont Technical College, and serves as the Treasurer of the Georgia Military College Georgia Public Safety Leadership Institute (GPSLI) Advisory Council. He is the current President of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association. Ezell Brown is married and has children. 

Ezell Brown began his law enforcement career as a patrolman with the Covington Police Department, and later joined the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. 
He previously served on the board of the Georgia Probation Subcommittee for the Council of Criminal Justice Reform. 

Ezell Brown was elected as the first African American Sheriff of Newton County, in 2008. He has served 4 terms in this office. 

The candidate's website says, "The agency embraces the philosophy of community policing... focusing its attention on partnerships with the communities it serves... Striving for a cooperative process of identifying police/community priorities... The agency recognizes that police incidents are symptoms of underlying problems and searches to identify problems in many different dimensions."

Said "The agency embraces the philosophy of community policing... focusing its attention on partnerships with the communities it serves"

Supports community engagement and equal justice by appointing a liaison for public concerns and earning respect for fair law enforcement in Newton County.

As County Sheriff, he appointed a community outreach liaison to hear public concerns and bring "equal justice".

Believes in maintaining high standards for law enforcement, as evidenced by the Newton County Sheriff's Office's accreditation from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and recognition of Sgt. Morrison's role in the certification process.

Believes in maintaining high standards for law enforcement. 

The candidate's website says, "Developed Crime Analysis tracking; created a Domestic Violence Unit"

As County Sheriff, he developed Crime Analysis tracking and created a Domestic Violence Unit. 

The candidate's website says, "Implemented a Crime Watch program"

Implemented a Crime Watch program and expanded the Crime Scene Investigation Unit. 

The candidate's website says, "Created a Crime Suppression Unit"

Created a Crime Suppression Unit and a Crime Analysis and Intelligence Unit. 

Wants to increase cooperation between police and the community to identify priorities, and recognizes that police "incidents are symptoms of underlying problems".

- Said "The agency embraces the philosophy of community policing... focusing its attention on partnerships with the communities it serves"
- As County Sheriff, he appointed a community outreach liaison to hear public concerns and bring "equal justice".
- Believes in maintaining high standards for law enforcement. 
- As County Sheriff, he developed Crime Analysis tracking and created a Domestic Violence Unit. 
- Implemented a Crime Watch program and expanded the Crime Scene Investigation Unit. 
- Created a Crime Suppression Unit and a Crime Analysis and Intelligence Unit. 
- Wants to increase cooperation between police and the community to identify priorities, and recognizes that police "incidents are symptoms of underlying problems".

Fox5 - Newton County sheriff credits jail programs with stark drop in repeat offenders

Said, "“This was a promise I made during the initial campaign, for the attainment and maintaining of this accreditation document to be nationally accredited,” said Sheriff Brown. ... “At first, I did not consider this to be a big deal. However, as we listened to all the different counties from around the United States ask, ‘how did you do it, how did you score 100s across the board on over 300 plus standards?’ ... That was an amazing sight to see. ... Not only a ‘Big Deal’ to me, but a ‘Big Deal’ to the NCSO family, the community and Newton County as a whole. ... On a daily basis we strive to meet the highest standards, and this award shows that we are doing a great job for the citizens of Newton County. It is an honor and privilege where jails and law enforcement services are recognized on state and national levels as a model facility. ..."

Said, "This was a promise I made during the initial campaign, for the attainment and maintaining of this accreditation document to be nationally accredited ...  On a daily basis we strive to meet the highest standards, and this award shows that we are doing a great job for the citizens of Newton County. "

The candidate's website says, "In conjunction with CALEA accreditation, the NCSO also holds Georgia State Certification, National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) accreditation, and American Correction Association (ACA) accreditation. These accreditations/certifications make NCSO eligible for the prestigious National Sheriff’s Association Triple Crown Award."

Obtained Georgia State Certification, National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) accreditation, and American Correction Association (ACA) accreditation.

The candidate's website says, "Sheriff Brown has accomplished these goals by using his employees’ individual talents and experiences without having to increase his personnel... the Newton County Sheriff’s Office will continue to provide the best quality service for its citizens."

Wants to utilize his employees’ individual talents and experiences without having to increase his personnel.

Supports maintaining high standards in jail management, evidenced by Sheriff Brown's pride in the Office of the Sheriff's third reaccreditation by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, acknowledged at a Newton County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Supports maintaining high standards in jail management

The candidate's website says, "This reinforces the high standards that we expect from our personnel and shows that we are aligned with international guidelines... Receiving this accreditation will continue to instill greater public confidence in our agency and employees.”"

Wants to instill greater public confidence in our agency and employees.”"

Supports rigorous jail management; established OPS and IA, secured state and national accreditations for Newton County Detention Center, and achieved CALEA reaccreditation for the Sheriff's Office over a 12-year tenure.

Established an Office of Professional Standards (OPS) and International affairs (IA) division. 

The candidate's website says, "To obtain the National Sheriff’s Association Triple Crown Award, agencies must obtain accreditation from ... the American Correctional Association's Commission on Accreditation for Corrections (ACA) and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC)."

When Brown was the county sheriff, the Newton County Sheriff's Office received the National Sheriff's Association Triple Crown Award.

The candidate's website says, "Newton County sheriff credits jail programs with stark drop in repeat offenders"

Supports offering programs like counseling, mental health, substance abuse courses, yoga, and art classes in jails, and believes that they cause a "stark drop in repeat offenders". 

- Established an Office of Professional Standards (OPS) and International affairs (IA) division. 
- When Brown was the county sheriff, the Newton County Sheriff's Office received the National Sheriff's Association Triple Crown Award.
- Supports offering programs like counseling, mental health, substance abuse courses, yoga, and art classes in jails, and believes that they cause a "stark drop in repeat offenders". 

The candidate's website says, "He previously served on the board of the Georgia Probation Subcommittee for the Council of Criminal Justice Reform... In 2019, Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Sheriff Brown to serve on the Sexual Offender Risk Review Board."

The candidate's website says, "Newton County Sheriff's Office become leaders in recidivism reduction"

Plans to reduce recidivism, or the repetition of crimes by the same individuals. 

- Plans to reduce recidivism, or the repetition of crimes by the same individuals. 

Ezell Brown

The County Sheriff is an elected official who acts as the chief law enforcement officer in their county. They are tasked with operating the county jails, keeping courtrooms secure during trials, and keeping the public safe through proper law enforcement. Each Sheriff's Office in Georgia may look a little different in how they hire and run their teams, but all County Sheriffs have the same duties. These duties include the following:

- Operating the county jail
- Providing court security
- Serving civil papers
- Executing arrest warrants
- Providing primary law enforcement within unincorporated areas of the county
- Working with city law enforcement officers to keep municipalities safe

The County Sheriff and their office are unique to other law enforcement agencies in that it has to answer to the people it serves. Historically, a turnover in the Sheriff’s office will likely result in noticeable change within the office, so voting for this office is a very effective way to vote approval or disapproval for how county law enforcement is conducted.