Meet Our Sheriff
Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett
Henry County’s 29th Sheriff
Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett is the 29th and first African-American Sheriff to Henry County, Georgia. The inception of his tenure has presented challenges and growing pains. Yet, the many victories have strengthened the resolve of Sheriff Scandrett, his deputies and civilian staff. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office’s philosophy of one team, one mission ensures the implementation of his vision for unifying law enforcement with the community.
In the past three years, Sheriff Scandrett has accomplished much in a very little amount of time. Two of his favorite gems are the HCSO Restorative Center and the S3 – Setting Up Students for Success Initiative. The HCSO Restorative Center partners with Morehouse School of Medicine, WorkSource Georgia, the Atlanta Regional, Commission, and others to provide a curriculum that changes mindsets and provides job opportunities that inmates may not have otherwise, all to reduce recidivism in Henry County. The S3 Initiative is designed to empower and engage middle school students at a crucial time in their development where they are influenced the most. Sheriff Scandrett’s goal is to keep them on the right path by providing a positive influence and direct parents to resources to help them along the journey.
Unfortunately, the Henry County Jail has become a de facto housing facility for severe mentally ill patients (SMIP). Sheriff Scandrett is proactively taking steps to ensure that these inmates are receiving the attention and treatment they require by designating a Mental Health Unit within the jail until their cases are appropriately addressed or resolved by the courts.
Sheriff Scandrett joined the law enforcement profession in 1990 as a detention officer at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility until he became the second in command as Chief Deputy in 2014. As Chief Deputy, he successfully managed Georgia’s largest Triple Crown accredited adult pre-trial detention facility. He is certified in Basic Law Enforcement, Jail Management and Supervision, as well as Specialized Tactical and Operational Disciplines, including Special Weapons and Tactics Operations (SWAT), SWAT Command, SWAT Hostage Rescue and In-Custody Death Investigation, among others. He is a Georgia P.O.S.T. certified general instructor and an instructor in Taser, PPCT Defensive Tactics, Collapsible Baton and Impact Weapons.
He is a graduate of the Leadership DeKalb and Leadership Henry, respectively in 2014 and 2022. His peers elected him in 2016 as Vice-President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives – Georgia Chapter. He was the recipient of the auspicious City of Atlanta Phoenix Award in 2019 and a member of The 100 Men of South Metro Atlanta as well.
The Sheriff is a graduate from St. Leo University with a bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of the Mercer University Public Safety Leadership Institute and the U.S. Department of Justice F.B.I. Defensive Tactics Instructor School. A 31-year resident of Henry County, Sheriff Scandrett is married to Deidree, his high school sweetheart. Together, they have two sons, two daughters and one granddaughter.