John is originally from Gary, Indiana, where he graduated from West Side Leadership Academy under the Gifted and Talented program. He participated in the George Washington Carver Leadership/Summer Enrichment Program at Iowa State University and later earned his Bachelor's Degree there. He has lived in Clarke County since 2005 with his family. John serves on the Board of Directors for Georgia Conflict Center, Juvenile Offender Advocates, and the Boys and Girls Club of Athens.

John began his law enforcement career in 1998 as a dispatcher for the University of Georgia Police Department, later working for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in a similar role. He returned to Clarke County in 2005 and took a leadership position with the UGAPD before joining the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, where he has served in various roles including patrol officer and School Resource Officer. He became a POST-certified law enforcement officer and has received training certifications in law enforcement and training education.

John Q Williams is the current County Sheriff in Clarke County. He has been in office since 2021. 

Candidate website

The candidate's website says, "In the United States, over half of all firearm-related homicides of women aged 15 or older are committed by intimate partners, ex-intimate partners, or family members."

The candidate's website says, "Sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and gang violence doesn’t stop at the county line"

The candidate's website says, "Partner with all public safety agencies to address local problems as a unified front"

The candidate's website says, "Share critical data and intelligence information with our public safety and health parties"

Supports enhancing public safety through annual Law Enforcement Community Engagement Conferences, fostering partnerships, and sharing best practices among officers and community leaders from Georgia and beyond since 2022.

Supports enhancing public safety through annual Law Enforcement Community Engagement Conferences, fostering partnerships, and sharing best practices among officers and community leaders. 

The candidate's website says, "Increase joint training between the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, the University of Georgia Police Department, and the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department"

Wants to increase joint training efforts across the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff’s Department, Police Department, Fire Department, and the University of Georgia's Police Department. 

Plans to tackle gang and gun violence, ensure daily school safety, and fulfill the duty to protect all community members, actively addressing major issues without waiting for others' intervention, as Sheriff of Athens-Clarke County.

Plans to tackle gang and gun violence, ensure daily school safety, and fulfill the duty to protect all community members.

The candidate's website says, "Coordinate regional crime fighting initiatives with other counties as the top law enforcement official in Clarke County"

Aims to coordinate regional crime-fighting initiatives with other counties. 

The candidate's website says, "Continue to implement changes recommended by the Obama Administration’s “President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing”"

Wants to continue to implement changes recommended by the Obama Administration’s “President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing."

The candidate's website says, "Serve warrants and protective orders in a timely manner to ensure the safety of victims of crime or domestic violence."

Prioritizes serving warrants and protective orders in a timely manner. 

The candidate's website says, "Work with every area of the judicial system to protect victims of domestic violence and ensure that firearms stay out of the hands of domestic abusers."

Plans to "work with all areas of the judicial system to protect victims of domestic violence and ensure that firearms stay out of the hands of domestic abusers."

The candidate's website says, "Created Community Outreach Unit to improve community partnerships"

Created Community Outreach Unit to improve community partnerships in previous term. 

The candidate's website says, "Address the connections between poverty, drug addiction, isolation, and crime"

Wants to focus on addressing "the connections between poverty, drug addiction, isolation, and crime."

The candidate's website says, "Noteworthy incidents will be reported to the public as quickly as possible, along with any investigative findings"

Highlights the importance of transparently and speed in communicating with the public on his candidate website. 

The candidate's website says, "Many changes involve procedures related to public outreach, sensitivity training, and transparency."

Wants to make many changes involving "procedures related to public outreach, sensitivity training, and transparency."

The candidate's website says, "Require “Bias in Policing” training for all new hires."

Plans to require “Bias in Policing” training for all new hires.

- Supports enhancing public safety through annual Law Enforcement Community Engagement Conferences, fostering partnerships, and sharing best practices among officers and community leaders. 
- Wants to increase joint training efforts across the Athens-Clarke County Sheriff’s Department, Police Department, Fire Department, and the University of Georgia's Police Department. 
- Plans to tackle gang and gun violence, ensure daily school safety, and fulfill the duty to protect all community members.
- Aims to coordinate regional crime-fighting initiatives with other counties. 
- Wants to continue to implement changes recommended by the Obama Administration’s “President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing."
- Prioritizes serving warrants and protective orders in a timely manner. 
- Plans to "work with all areas of the judicial system to protect victims of domestic violence and ensure that firearms stay out of the hands of domestic abusers."
- Created Community Outreach Unit to improve community partnerships in previous term. 
- Wants to focus on addressing "the connections between poverty, drug addiction, isolation, and crime."
- Highlights the importance of transparently and speed in communicating with the public on his candidate website. 
- Wants to make many changes involving "procedures related to public outreach, sensitivity training, and transparency."
- Plans to require “Bias in Policing” training for all new hires.

Public Safety

The candidate's website says, "Increase the number of inmate programs in the jail designed to prevent recidivism"

Wants to "increase the number of inmate programs in the jail designed to prevent recidivism. "

Said, "A 2018 audit of the Clarke County Sheriff’s Department revealed deep institutional problems including low morale, high turnover, low standards of training, and inefficient hiring practices... I have worked with my team to address many of these concerns, but we have more work to do and are determined to meet that challenge."

The candidate's website says, "Make items available to inmates for purchase and more affordable"

The candidate's website says, "Create opportunities for cross-training and job advancement for civilian staff"

The candidate's website says, "Introduce even more training programs to help advance the career paths of CCSO staff"

The candidate's website says, "Create more training, community interaction, educational, and conference travel opportunities for Sheriff’s Department staff and deputies."

The candidate's website says, "Implemented tablet program, where each incarcerated individual has access to an assigned tablet. This provides access to educational materials, job skills training, communications options, and even entertainment."

Plans to implement a tablet program for inmates as reform. Describes this program as being one where "each incarcerated individual has access to an assigned tablet. This provides access to educational materials, job skills training, communications options, and even entertainment."

The candidate's website says, "Creation and implementation of REQS, the first re-entry focused program for CCSO. Re-Entry Quality Services links incarcerated persons with needed resources after being released from jail, but also provides programming to build up skill sets during their detainment period."

Wants to focus on creating rehabilitative programs as "Re-Entry Quality Services links incarcerated persons with needed resources after being released from jail, but also provides programming to build up skill sets during their detainment period."

The candidate's website says, "Increase partnerships within the community in order to create high-quality work opportunities for well-adjusted inmates."

Aspires to "increase partnerships within the community to create high-quality work opportunities for well-adjusted inmates." Wants to "increase the number of inmate programs in the jail designed to prevent recidivism. "

The candidate's website says, "Improved mental health and overall medical services for jail residents with new Health services provider, Mediko"

According to his website, in his previous term, John "improved mental health and overall medical services for jail residents with new Health services provider, Mediko." 

The candidate's website says, "For too long, the Sheriff’s Department has allowed its low profile to act as a cover, as opposed to being accountable and transparent to the public that it serves."

Said, "For too long, the Sheriff’s Department has allowed its low profile to act as a cover, as opposed to being accountable and transparent to the public that it serves."

- Plans to implement a tablet program for inmates as reform. Describes this program as being one where "each incarcerated individual has access to an assigned tablet. This provides access to educational materials, job skills training, communications options, and even entertainment."
- Wants to focus on creating rehabilitative programs as "Re-Entry Quality Services links incarcerated persons with needed resources after being released from jail, but also provides programming to build up skill sets during their detainment period."
- Aspires to "increase partnerships within the community to create high-quality work opportunities for well-adjusted inmates." Wants to "increase the number of inmate programs in the jail designed to prevent recidivism. "
- According to his website, in his previous term, John "improved mental health and overall medical services for jail residents with new Health services provider, Mediko." 
- Said, "For too long, the Sheriff’s Department has allowed its low profile to act as a cover, as opposed to being accountable and transparent to the public that it serves."

Jail Management

The candidate's website says, "The Principles over Passion program is designed to lay the framework for those who are incarcerated to overcome personal trauma and provide coping skills they can use to be successful in many areas of life upon release... This program graduated its first group in March of 2023."

Said, "A “tough on crime” stance does not deter crime and often hardens low-level offenders... It’s time to be “smart on crime” by focusing on serious offenses and understanding the power of rehabilitation."

The candidate's website says, "Work with the District Attorney and judicial system to create more diversion paths for nonviolent, low-level, or youth offenders"

Wants to "work with the District Attorney and judicial system to create more diversion paths for nonviolent, low-level, or youth offenders."

- Said, "A “tough on crime” stance does not deter crime and often hardens low-level offenders... It’s time to be “smart on crime” by focusing on serious offenses and understanding the power of rehabilitation."
- Wants to "work with the District Attorney and judicial system to create more diversion paths for nonviolent, low-level, or youth offenders."

Criminal Justice

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John Q Williams

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.

Clarke County Sheriff

Election results

Candidates (1)