Ms. Ashley Griess will begin service as Chief Probation Officer in the First Judicial District on September 1, 2019. The First Judicial District includes Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Saline, and Thayer Counties. As Probation Chief, Griess will manage a staff of over 40 employees, which includes 25 probation officers in six office locations throughout the district. 

Griess has served as the Chief Deputy in District #1 since 2017. She joined the judicial branch in 2011 and has experience as a specialized officer in both the adult and juvenile justice systems. She is an experienced statewide trainer in a multitude of topics including Motivational Interviewing, Case Management, Advanced Coaching for Excellence, and Continuous Quality Improvement practices. She is a strong supporter of problem-solving courts and has established working relationships with stakeholders across the ten counties that make up the First District.

Griess earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, in Psychology.