Some of the best solutions to community concerns begin long before a case reaches the courtroom. They begin with a conversation.

That belief is at the heart of Assistant Solicitor-General Keith Collins’ new role as Community Prosecutor for the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office. In his new position, ASG Collins will help strengthen the connection between the Solicitor-General’s Office and residents, neighborhood organizations, businesses, schools, faith leaders, advocacy groups and other community partners throughout DeKalb County.

“I’ve always believed that some of the best solutions begin with a conversation,” Collins said. “That’s what drew me to the Community Prosecutor role. It gives me the opportunity to engage with residents before problems escalate, to listen, build partnerships, and help make the Solicitor-General’s Office more accessible, responsive, and connected to the people we serve.”

Collins has served with the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office for approximately two years and has worked in several areas of prosecution, including traffic court, the trial line, the Special Victims Unit and, most recently, the Quality of Life Unit.

Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling said Collins’ experience inside the office, coupled with his existing involvement throughout DeKalb County, made him a natural choice for the position.

“Keith is already deeply engaged in the DeKalb County community, and his passion for community engagement, focus on results and commitment to long-term solutions make him a natural fit for this role,” Coleman-Stribling said. “Public safety cannot be effective without the engagement of the community. We have to listen to residents, understand their concerns and work together toward solutions. I believe Keith will help us strengthen those relationships and create an even greater sense of trust and partnership between our office and the people we serve.”

Taking Prosecution Beyond the Courtroom

The Community Prosecutor serves as a bridge between the Solicitor-General’s Office and the community, helping residents better understand the office and its role while also creating another avenue for the office to hear directly about issues affecting neighborhoods.

Collins will attend community meetings, meet with homeowner associations and neighborhood organizations, engage businesses, schools, faith communities and advocacy groups, and work with public safety agencies and other county partners.

For Collins, the work complements rather than replaces the traditional role of a prosecutor.

“While prosecutors are often associated with the courtroom, my work also happens in the community, building relationships, listening to concerns and partnering with residents, neighborhood associations, businesses, schools and public safety agencies to address issues and support matters that have a significant impact on the people we serve,” Collins said.

His courtroom experience has also shaped how he approaches those conversations. “Each assignment offered a different perspective, but they all reinforced the same lesson: every case has a story, and every neighborhood has one too,” Collins said. Those experiences, he said, have taught him the importance of listening carefully, explaining the justice process clearly and setting realistic expectations.

Connecting Community Concerns with Solutions

Collins’ most recent assignment in the office’s Quality of Life Unit provides a natural foundation for his new role.

The Quality of Life Unit works with DeKalb County regulatory agencies and community partners to address residential and commercial issues involving code violations, blight, nuisance properties and other conditions that can negatively affect neighborhoods.

Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General Terry Grandison, who leads the Quality of Life Unit, said having a prosecutor actively engaged with residents can help the office better understand what communities are experiencing.

“A lot of the issues that affect quality of life in a neighborhood don’t begin in a courtroom. They begin with something a resident sees, experiences or has been trying to address,” Grandison said. “Having Keith out in the community gives us another opportunity to hear those concerns early, connect residents with the right resources and work together toward solutions.”

Grandison said Collins’ experience gives him an important perspective as he takes on the new role. Collaboration with the Quality of Life Unit and other divisions throughout the Solicitor-General’s Office will be central to the work of the Community Prosecutor.

Building Trust Before There Is a Crisis

One of Collins’ priorities during his first year is establishing lasting relationships throughout DeKalb County and helping residents become familiar with the Solicitor-General’s Office.

“I want every community to know they have a direct connection to our office,” Collins said. “If, by the end of my first year, residents see this position as a trusted resource that listens, communicates, and follows through, I’ll consider that a successful foundation.”

Collins knows building that trust requires consistency. “Trust doesn’t begin when a prosecutor walks into a courtroom,” he said. “It begins when a resident believes someone is willing to listen.” And as he steps into the position, Collins said he wants residents to understand that the Community Prosecutor’s role extends well beyond handling individual cases. He said, he knows people often encounter the justice system after a problem has already reached a courtroom. In this role, he’ll help residents see the Solicitor’s Office as a proactive partner that is invested in preventing problems and strengthening neighborhoods.

For Collins, the mission is also personal.

He said, “whether I’m in a courtroom, worshipping with my church family, serving in leadership roles within the legal profession, or simply spending time in the community, I genuinely enjoy getting to know people, hearing their stories, and learning what matters most to them.”

As he begins his new assignment, Collins said residents can expect him to approach the work with integrity, fairness, and compassion while remaining focused on accountability under the law.

“I’m grateful to Solicitor-General Donna Coleman-Stribling for entrusting me with this opportunity, and I look forward to working alongside the people of DeKalb County to build safer communities together,” Collins said.

Contact the Community Prosecutor

Residents, neighborhood associations, homeowners associations, businesses, schools, faith organizations and community groups interested in connecting with the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s Office Community Prosecutor may contact:

Keith A. Collins
Community Prosecutor
DeKalb County Government | Solicitor-General’s Office
556 N. McDonough Street, Suite 500
Decatur, Georgia 30030 Email: kacollins2@dekalbcountyga.gov