Judicial Services of the Ozarks

What is pretrial services?

What is pretrial services?

What is pretrial services? It is the time between a defendant’s arrest and their potential trial. Courts use this time to review information about the defendant and resolve any administrative requirements (e.g., plea bargaining, filed motions, scheduling, etc.) to help the potential trial run smoothly.

Who Needs Pretrial Services?

Who needs pretrial services

Who needs pretrial services? The answer might surprise you. By allowing defendants to avoid jail time, these programs give individuals a lifeline and provide numerous benefits to the courts, the public, and our criminal justice system.

Harley Dutoit

Officer

Meet Harley Dutoit, a dedicated Officer, and member of the JSO team. With a background in Criminal Justice and Fire Science and 30 years of experience in Emergency Services, Harley is a pro at managing cases for our clients.

Harley is also a proud Momma to five and a Nana to eight. She looks forward to retiring from JSO one day and enjoying a peaceful life deep in the woods.

Outside of work, Harley loves photography, fishing, camping, hiking, floating, and spending quality time with her family. She’s always on the hunt for that perfect spot in the woods to call home.

Susan Johnson

Officer

Susan Johnson brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our team. With a Criminology degree in hand, she’s spent many years working with the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, along with stints in the collector’s office and the courts. Her primary goal is to support individuals struggling with drug addictions, helping them find a path to better themselves.

When she’s not making a difference at work, Susan loves spending time with her grandkids and enjoys showing horses. She’s passionate about all outdoor activities, including camping with family and friends, fishing, and hunting. Susan’s enthusiasm for life and commitment to helping others make her an invaluable member of our team.

Ellen Lambert

Officer

Ellen Lambert spent a decade as a case manager at the Missouri Division of Family Services. In her role, she expertly handles various administrative tasks, from sending vital court documents to managing new case setups and refunds. Outside of JSO, Ellen is mother to four wonderful boys. She enjoys hiking, traveling, gardening, and delving into the pages of a good book and looks forward to traveling once her kids are out of the house.

Megan Stracke

Officer

Megan Stracke served as an Administrative Sergeant in the Christian County Sheriff’s Office before accepting a position with Judicial Services of the Ozarks. Megan says her work at JSO helps her really reach people on a deeper level.

Judicial Services of the Ozarks has allowed Megan to continue growing her knowledge and personal development while being able to help others from around the area on a daily basis, she says. 

“In our position, we see our clients at their worst most of the time. They are fresh out of jail with court requirements that they will need help navigating through. This allows me to utilize the skills I have to help our clients enter back into a healthy and stable environment while maintaining sobriety and gaining the help that they may need.”

When she is not working, Megan enjoys spending time outdoors and with her family.

Ty Helton

Officer

Crystal Copeland

Owner

Team Description

Crystal Copeland

Owner

Crystal Copeland began her career in criminal justice at Arkansas Tech University and Missouri State University. She joined A-Advanced Bail Bonds in 2008 and became a bail bondsman in 2009.
 In 2014, she co-owned First Track GPS, diving deep into GPS Monitoring and taking charge of the company’s GPS caseload. Founding Judicial Services of the Ozarks (JSO) in 2017 was a natural next step, allowing her to provide much-needed pretrial and private probation services for local courts.

Crystal takes immense pride in the relationships she has built with local courts and JSO’s stellar reputation with Judges, Prosecutors, and Defense Attorneys. She’s incredibly grateful for her passionate and dedicated team at JSO, who go above and beyond to help individuals overcome their challenges and reach their full potential. Their commitment to serving the community is truly inspiring.

When she’s not at work, Crystal loves spending quality time with her two sons, Sebastian and Coulter, and her husband, Curtis. Together, they enjoy hiking and backpacking through the Ozarks, floating on beautiful rivers, and relaxing at the lake. Crystal also dedicates her time as the Secretary for The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters, preserving the rich history and culture of the Ozarks, and serves on the Executive Leadership Committee for the local Go Red for Women event of the American Heart Association, raising awareness and resources for women’s heart disease risks.