Restorative justice for youth in Georgia is not just a policy debate. In Cobb County, it is a courtroom, a graduation ceremony, and 34 young people who walked away with a clean record instead of a conviction. That is the story behind the Excel Restorative Court, founded by Superior Court Judge Kellie Hill, and it is one of the most compelling second-chance programs in the state.
Who Is Judge Kellie Hill?
Judge Stephens-Hill is a Superior Court Judge in Cobb County, Georgia, elected to her second four-year term in 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law.
Her path to the bench was anything but linear. She moved to Atlanta from New Jersey in 1989, sat for the Georgia Bar, and worked her way up from a temp agency receptionist to one of the state’s most prominent prosecutors.
She spent roughly 15 years in the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, ultimately serving as Director of the Public Integrity Unit under DA Paul Howard. She handled every law enforcement shooting in Fulton County and led the prosecution of the 2005 Atlanta courthouse shooting, a case in which Judge Roland Barnes, a court reporter, and sheriff’s deputies were murdered inside the Fulton County courthouse. That case was broadcast nationally and featured on Court TV, Dateline, and 48 Hours.
After leaving the DA’s office, she served as a full-time magistrate judge in Cobb County before running for Superior Court. She won every single precinct in Cobb County in that election.
What Is Restorative Justice for Youth in Georgia?
Georgia has a well-established network of accountability courts, including drug court, mental health court, and veterans court. These courts are state-mandated and serve specific populations. But Judge Hill saw a gap.
Young people between 17 and 25 years old were moving through the traditional justice system without the support or intervention they needed. Many were nonviolent, had no prior criminal history, and faced a charge that, if handled through standard prosecution, would follow them for the rest of their lives.
She built Excel Restorative Court to address that gap directly.
Excel is a diversionary program, not a state-mandated accountability court. Participants do not enter a plea to gain access to the program. They are identified by the district attorney’s office and referred to Judge Hill for a personal interview. If she believes the applicant is genuinely committed to change, they receive an invitation to participate.
The program runs for one year. Participants complete:
- Monthly check-ins with the court
- Community service hours
- Reading assignments
- Public speaking exercises
- Mentorship from community volunteers
At the end of the year, if participants complete all requirements, their charges are dismissed. No conviction. No permanent record.
The Results: 34 Lives Changed in Four Years
Since the Excel Restorative Court launched, 34 young people have had their cases dismissed upon graduation. The success stories shared on the podcast speak for themselves:
- One graduate started his own LLC with a box truck company.
- Another received a job offer from the Cobb County Clerk of Court on the day of his graduation ceremony. He went from working on a garbage truck to the clerk’s office that same day.
- A participant who had been on his way to medical school before a legal setback completed the program, earned a master’s degree, and now works as a tech consultant.
- Several graduates have gone on to healthcare programs through community partners.
- One participant enrolled in the Navy. His military recruiter was at graduation, waiting to sign paperwork as soon as his case was dismissed.
The program also accepts participants who live outside Georgia, as long as the offense occurred in Cobb County. Graduates have come from Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, and other states.
How the Program Selects Participants
The selection process is intentionally personal. After the district attorney identifies a candidate, and defense attorney Jeanette Van Der Linden meets with them to explain the program, Judge Hill conducts a one-on-one interview. The defense attorney is always present to protect the participant’s due process rights.
Judge Hill is direct about what she is looking for. She does not want someone seeking a dismissal for its own sake. She wants to see genuine motivation to change. Van Der Linden, who handles mitigation work as a criminal defense attorney, serves as a check on that process, advocating for candidates who deserve a closer look.
“Sometimes I realize all they really want is a hug. They just want somebody to hold them accountable and to care about them.” — Judge Kellie Hill
Why Restorative Justice Saves Money and Strengthens Communities
The financial case for restorative justice programs like Excel Restorative Court is straightforward. Incarcerating someone costs far more than running a year-long diversion program. Georgia taxpayers fund county jails, state prisons, and the long-term public costs of individuals who re-enter the system after incarceration.
Accountability courts and diversion programs reduce recidivism, which reduces those long-term costs. Young people who complete programs like Excel go on to pay taxes, employ others, and contribute to their communities rather than cycling back through the justice system.
As Judge Hill put it on the podcast, “We can’t incarcerate our way out of what’s happening in our community.”
For more on how alternative supervision and monitoring approaches are changing outcomes across Georgia and the Southeast, visit A 2nd Chance Monitoring: https://a2ndchancemonitoring.com/
A 2nd Chance Community Foundation Invests in Excel Restorative Court
On the day of the podcast recording, Daniel Matalon presented a $10,000 check from the A 2nd Chance Community Foundation to Excel Restorative Court. Because Judge Hill cannot personally solicit or accept funds on behalf of the program, attorney Jeanette Van Der Linden accepted the donation on behalf of Excel Restorative Court. The program has operated without dedicated funding for four years. A nonprofit entity for Excel Restorative Court has recently been established, and the donation will go directly toward transportation support, computer access, library resources, and other practical needs for program participants.
Matalon, who attended an Excel graduation ceremony, said the alignment between the program’s values and those of A 2nd Chance was impossible to ignore. “As long as Judge Hill’s giving out second chances, I’m all in,” he said during the recording.
Restorative Justice Youth Programs in Georgia: The Bigger Picture
Georgia’s accountability court system serves tens of thousands of participants annually across drug, mental health, DUI, and veterans courts. The Georgia Council of Accountability Court Judges has documented that accountability courts consistently reduce recidivism compared to traditional prosecution. Diversion programs like Excel operate at the local level, which makes community-built initiatives all the more significant.
A number of Georgia counties are now exploring how to expand diversionary courts for young adults, particularly for nonviolent offenses committed between ages 18 and 25. Research consistently identifies this group as most responsive to intervention. The developmental science supports this approach: brain development continues into the mid-twenties, and the consequences of a criminal record are disproportionately severe for young people still forming their life trajectories.
Watch or Listen to the Full Conversation
Judge Stephens-Hill’s full conversation with Daniel Matalon and Tug Cowart is available now on the Justice Unfiltered podcast. She covers her full career path, the courthouse shooting case, how she won every precinct in Cobb County, and everything behind the Excel Restorative Court program.
Listen at The Podcast Park: https://www.thepodcastpark.com/justiceunfiltered/ or search Justice Unfiltered on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
About A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds
A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds has been reuniting families for nearly 20 years. What started as a single office in Metro Atlanta has grown to multiple locations across Georgia and Alabama. Our licensed bail bond agents are available around the clock to provide fast, respectful service to every family we work with.
If you or someone you know is navigating the Cobb County court system and has questions about bail bonds, court dates, or supervision options, A 2nd Chance Bail Bonds serves 12 locations across Metro Atlanta and Birmingham with agents available 24/7.
