Judge Gayle Crane to retire after 40 years of service in Jasper County

JASPER COUNTY, Mo. — A trailblazer in Jasper County's legal system is calling it a career.

A retirement reception was held on Friday for Judge Gayle Crane.

She's retiring as circuit court judge. Her last day will be December 31.

It's a job she's held since 2007 - when she became the first woman ever in Jasper County to hold the position.

She's also been a presiding judge and a presiding juvenile judge. Before that - she was a local attorney.

All those jobs combined equals 40 years of service - all in Jasper County.

She says one big career accomplishment is how they deal with juveniles.

Eighteen years ago - juveniles were being incarcerated for crimes. Since then - diversion programs have been created aimed at keeping kids out of the judicial system.

"The more that kids are involved in the judicial system, usually the more that they re-offend and become deeper in the juvenile system -- and of course the goal is to get them graduated from school and to live a productive life and not end up in our criminal courts," said Hon. Gayle Crane, Missouri 29th Circuit Court Judge.

Crane says she's looking forward to spending more time with family and friends. She's also not ruling out being involved in the legal system in a smaller capacity in the future.

She'll be replaced by Joe Hensley, who was elected in August.

Dean Dankelson will become the presiding judge.