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Dr. Betty Ann Cook joins Board
Board's new member was a teacher, remains a learner
oth as an educator and a
student Dr. Betty Ann Cook
relishes methodical study,
but by temperament she
thrives on challenge. It's a winning
combination that has propelled her
through leadership roles in academia
and government, including her new
position as Parole Board member.
After Gov. Miller appointed the
former director of the Governor's
Office of Highway Safety to the five-
member panel in January, she
immersed herself in the workings of
parole. But while the procedures are
new, the issues she is dealing with
are familiar and close to her heart.
Dr. Cook was a professor of sociolo-
gy, criminal justice, public policy,
urban planning, research, and-busi-
ness. "My ideology has always been
pragmatic." she says.
She says she studies people as
much as
processes and a recurring life theme has been recognizing role
"You must have success and failure to learn to adapt posi-
models and tively to life."
emulating
their most
- Dr. Cook
admirable
traits. "You can't take in all those
qualities," she says, "but you incor-
porate what you can to balance your
own personality."
Rfter graduating from Howard University and quickly becoming bored with graduate school in Texas, the disenchanted student packed her bags and bought a oneway ticket to Atlanta. Here she enrolled in graduate study at Atlanta University and worked at the Fairlie Voter Education Project. The executive director was John Lewis, now a U. S. Representative, and one of her most important teachers.
"From him I learned more about compassion and the importance of giving a voice to everyone," she says. "It helped balance the business-like approach I have toward social concerns." Inspired, she campaigned for and won a delegate position to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.
DR. BETTY ANN COOK was appointed to the Board in January.
SAVANNAH PAROLE OFFICER DEMETRA BUSH checks on an electronically monitored parolee. In addition to 1400 standard units in use statewide, parole officers may use drive-by units to quickly confirm a parolee's presence at approved appointments, such as counseling.
Soon after receiving her master's
degree from Atlanta University, Dr.
Cook received a Ford Foundation
teaching fellowship and taught in the
criminal justice program at Morris
Brown College (part of the Atlanta
University Center) for two years.
She left to pursue her
" .. .1 identify
doctorate at with the con-
Emory University and then in 1978 joined
cerns of neighborhoods and communities. "
the faculty of the Atlanta
- Dr. Cook
University
Graduate School of Social Work.
After a semester Dr. Cook became
chair of Academic Research, a posi-
tion she held for 10 years. She spe-
cialized as much as she could in
gerontology and women's concerns
as a tribute to two other role models:
a steadfast, hard-working aunt from
whom she learned diligence, and her
mother, who taught her to remain
open to people and new experiences.
Dr. Cook's interests in social work, urban studies, energy issues, and women's econom-
ic concerns merged in her next posi-
tion as director of Institutional
Research and Planning for Morris
Brown College. She subsequently
received sev-
eral major "-You can't win
grants from sources such
by yourseIf- "
as the Department of
_ Dr. Cook
the Interior,
and her innovative work in the ener-
gy field eventually led her to the
position of deputy commissioner of
the Department of Natural
Resources.
It was there that she worked
closely with then-Commissioner Joe
Tanner, whom she admired because
he could "conceptualize and pull
people together to accomplish things
others thought impossible." From
that observation came her renewed
commitment to her personal operat-
ing credo -"you can't win by your-
self"- which led to success in her
next position as the Highway Safety
director and which provides the
framework for how she views
her current role in the criminal jus-
tice system.
COOK, continued on page 4
SAFE
In A New Land
Agency bridges communication gap between law enforcement and immigrants
H' I ow do we define an intema, ' tional city? Most picture a desI i tination spot for foreign tourists or a mecca for international trade; few think of internationalism spawned by refugees. Bosnians escaping war, Vietnamese ex-political prisoners, and Laotians fleeing persecution are just some of the people whose lives have been altered by extreme political or social conditions and who must begin life anew. Nevertheless, their adopted countries can seem indifferent or even incensed by their presence. And, sadly, those to whom they should turn for help may be perceived as foes.
Because many refugees and other immigrants suffered at the hands of police or other government "protectors" in their native lands, they are often too frightened to report crimes or behavior that exploits them in their new homeland. They may not even realize they're being victimized.
Agency promotes personal communication
The mission of one Atlanta organization is to overcome that problem by improving communication between new Americans and law enforcement agencies. The Bridging the Gap Project(BTG) is a collaboration of five agencies, including the Multicultural Crime Task Force, under the umbrella of the non-profit Sullivan Center, Inc. It is a partner agency of the Immigration and Refugee Services of America and has recently signed an affiliation agreement with the U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
BTG's Director Gail Hoffman explains that the "bridge" comprises a network of services, such as translation and cultural conflict resolution and law enforcement training, as well as products, such as multi-language booklets and videos, designed to overcome cultural barriers. One of the most powerful aids in building trust with police is the bilingual community meeting where law enforcement personnel meet personally with immigrants to answer questions about their safety.
Mostly men attend the community meetings, according to Hoffman, although once several Vietnamese women came to what turned out to be a particularly important gathering. She says the women were silent until one timidly spoke up about a man who was molesting Vietnamese women as they walked the path from their apartment to a nearby grocery store.
"Because the sexual connotations are so negative in their culture, they were afraid to report it," Hoffman says. "You could tell the law enforcement representatives were touched by their appeal. They told the women
2 GEORGIA PAROLE REVIEW
that they would put an end to it, and they did."
Centers serve immigrant neighborboods
In the five-county Atlanta metropolitan area Bridging the Gap has opened four community centers to serve targeted apartment complexes where there are large immigrant clusters. Although intended for Latinos, Koreans, Haitians,Vietnamese, Laotians, and Chinese, the centers are open to all who need assistance. Regular meetings and activities address the needs of residents in each location.
Within the centers are telephone lines where callers may give or receive information about non-emergency crimes in Vietnamese, Chinese, Lao, Haitian-Creole, Khmer, or Spanish. "We'll pass that information on to the appropriate authorities so we can build intelligence," says Hoffman. "We're hoping to get information on gangs, which can really terrorize a vulnerable immigrant population."
Project depends on citizen support, volunteerism
The Bridging the Gap Project receives grants for certain operating expenses but they must be matched by an ever-rising percentage of private funds yearly. With 23 staff members (who combined speak 16 languages) the agency stretches to respond to the growing needs of Atlanta's immigrant and criminal justice communities. Their passionate dedication has already been recognized: Director Hoffman was judged the 1996 Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year, an honor bestowed by the Georgia Crime Prevention Association.
Dedicated work comes from the community too. Parole Officer Louis Tsang is one of many volunteers who provide on-call translation services. Recently he completed BTG's course "Survival Vietnamese for Law Enforcement." Parole employee Jack Holliday gives technical assistance on gang activity. Such contributions, multiplied by hundreds, is the lifeblood of the organization. Hoffman encourages all law enforcement personnel to reach out to refugees or immigrants in their hometowns either with an organization such as Bridging the Gap, or independently.
"Sometimes it's hard for Americans to realize the reign of fear that immigrants bring with them and may live under even in our culture, which seems so open and democratic," she says. "Just recognizing a face in the law enforcement community can be tremendously reassuring to a person who is bewildered by a new society." I
SMYRNA POLICE OFFICER HALEY ALLISON arrives at a Cobb County apartment complex to attend a Bridging the Gap community meeting with the mostly Latino residents. Although the speaker for the evening is from Immigration and Naturalization Services, Allison and fellow officer, R.L.
Harvey, are regulars at BTG meetings. Their steady attendance demonstrates to often wary immigrants that police are concerned about their safety. Here Officer Allison transcends the language barrier by allowing children to inspect a police car while their parents assemble for the meeting.
JEFFERSON PAROLE OFFICER GARNETT TATE (above, left) checks on his parolee who emigrated from Cuba years ago. Tate has no parolees from recent immigrations and even in areas which attract large numbers of immigrants, such as Gainesville, few show up on caseloads. Dahlonega Parole Officer lV.:R. Berry notes, however, that children of these immigrants are forced into quick assimilation and adult responsibilities, like acting as family translator, and future crime statistics may reflect the stress encountered during these formative years.
The Board salutes agencies such as Bridging the Gap which provide critical, specialized services for the law enforcement community. For further information contact Gail Hoffman at:
The Bridging the Gap Project, Inc. 1615 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 120
Atlanta, Georgia 30309 Tel: 404-872-9400
MONICA tends to her herbs, an interest she developed in a prison class.
Rome parolee creates context for new start
W hen Monica got out of prison she moved to the only place . she could afford-a run-down
able to do anything with it." The neighbors scared her at first,
Monica says, mostly at night when she
duplex apartment with no appliances.
turned off her lights. "Part of that is just
After a year of scrubbing mildew from
because I was incarcerated for so long.
sweaty cinderblock walls, hanging wall-
When you're in prison you're locked in
paper, stitching curtains,
but you know everything
and relentlessly scouring old linoleum floors, her apartment looks bright and inviting, if still bare.
"When you're in prison you're locked in but you
else is locked out, so you feel safe. Out here, alone, I was terrified at first, particularly before I got a tele-
Meanwhile her neighbors know everything
phone.
pile garbage on the shared front porch and conduct
else is locked out,
"Little by little I saved and got a telephone, stove,
marathon drinking sessions. so you feel safe." refrigerator and by the end
Frequently furniture or bodies slam against their com-
of '96 I had all the basics."
- Monica She gleans her decorating
mon wall. "I've seen
ideas from studying old
worse," Monica says flatly.
house and garden magazines and watch-
Parolees generally have a difficult
ing television home improvement shows.
time locating affordable housing; most
Monica is the unofficial street mom
are at the bottom of the employment
for a group of neighborhood children.
scale with no savings for apartment or
They stop by to admire her latest deco-
utility deposits. Many return to their
rating schemes and to study with fascina-
families or board with friends, but oth-
tion the unfurling sprouts of her herb
ers, whether by nature or from the stress
garden, perilously close to the neighbors'
of prison, want the solitude and privacy
growing trash pile.
of their own place. Either way parolees
Because she displays such an opti-
are often thrown back into a bleak emo-
mistic attitude, it's difficult to believe
tional and visual environment that offers
that Monica has been diagnosed as HIV-
little encouragement for betterment. To
positive. Her nurturing attitude, whether
rise above it takes an extra measure of
for children or seedlings or a dank apart-
determination.
ment, affirms health and life. "I just don't
In a recently completed Parole Board
dwell on the diagnosis," she says, "even
video Rome Parole Officer Katrina
though I take a lot of medication. "
Green is shown visiting Monica, who
Glancing around the sparkling bright
leans on a broom as they talk.
room, Monica admits she's proud of
"There's nothing posed about that,"
what she's accomplished with so little
says Officer Green. "Generally I find her
money or encouragement. "I can't control
washing down the walls with disinfec-
what's out there, she says, waving her
tant, painting, or hanging wallpaper.
arm toward her neighboring apartment
When she moved into this place I was
and beyond, "but I can control this. I've
shocked; I couldn't imagine her being
learned I can create what I need." I
3 GEORGIA PAROLE REVIEW
BRUNSWICK PAROLE OFFICER ROBERT EADY talks to Glynn County Victim Assistance Director Bobbie Pickett about local cases. Because parole officers live in the areas they serve, they have personal as well as professional interest in improving services to victims. For example, the Valdosta parole office staff help coordinate the annual Victims Rights Week in that city and are working with other community and criminaljustice leaders to establish the Child Advocacy Center. (Officer Eady is now a field services officer in the Board's Atlanta headquarters.)
Project's goal is more victim input
Since April victims have had more input into the parole decision process because their comments are now routinely solicited for inclusion in pre-parole reports. In a pilot program in DeKalb, Fulton, Douglas, Paulding, and Haralson counties, parole staff investigating the circumstances of an inmate's crime by letter invite victims of the most serious crimes to telephone the investigator for an interview. The interview is typically conducted by phone but may be in person.
"This is just one more step in building our services to victims," says Victim Services Director Silas Moore. "For several years the Board
has encouraged parole staff to con-
outlining the Board's services for
tact victims for their comments; this
victims. Victims will learn when and
new policy shows the
how to contact the
commitment of the Board " ...this new policy Board and what infor-
to get that information
shows the com-
mation they can expect
uniformly. " The investigator may
forgo sending an invitation if, during the investi-
mitment of the Board to get that information
from the agency, such as notification about parole decisions.
"Although this
gation, the parole officer [victim input]
determines that the victim has already contacted the
uniformly."
investigative procedure is for victims of serious crimes only, the Board
Board's victim services
- Silas Moore recognizes that a vic-
office. In that case the victim's view would already have been obtained.
Director tim of any crime feels Victim Services violated and angry, "
Moore says. "Any vic-
With the invitation letter victims
tim may write to us about a case and
also receive a victim impact state-
ask for and receive notification of
ment form and an information sheet
any planned parole." I
COOK, from page 1
American Association, Research
Atlanta, and Georgians for Children.
Dr. Cook has developed her pri-
She has been honored as one of
mary goals as a new Board member.
Atlanta's "Most Devoted Women."
High on the list is attending to the
Another goal is to improve and
needs of victims. One of her first appointments as a Board member was to
"I'm not only open
expand the Board's relations with other criminal justice organizations.
speak at a MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) meeting.
"I'm a very community-
to critique: I expect it. Life is an
Mostly she wants to demonstrate to the public that their safety is the Parole Board's
oriented person and I iden- ongoing re-
foremost concern.
tify with the concerns of neighborhoods and com-
assessment. "
By all accounts Dr. Cook can be called a
munities," she says. Her
_ Dr. Cook scholar. Shes has pub-
civic involvement is
lished extensively in the
reflected by her leadership roles
areas of institutional effectiveness,
with TEAM GA, the Coalition of
strategic planning, and women's
100 Black Women, the National
issues. She has received fellowships
Council of Social Work, the Latin
from the Danforth, Ford, and
Rockefeller Foundations, to name a few, and as a Fulbright International Scholar she studied in India. But she still considers herself practical.
"Even with our very tough sentencing laws, offenders will eventually be released," she says. "They need a parole period for transition. As an educator, I know that changing behavior is a long, protracted business. You must have success and failure to learn to adapt positively to life."
Also as an educator she knows the public will scrutinize and evaluate her work on the Parole Board. She welcomes it. "I'm not only open to critique: I expect it," she says. "Life is an ongoing reassessment. I never want to think I have all the answers." I
4 GEORGIA PAROLE REVIEW
GEORGIA PAROLE REVIEW is published by the
State Board of Pardons and Paroles Fourth Floor, East Tower
Floyd Veterans Memorial Building 2 M.L. King, Jr., Drive, S.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Walter Ray Chairman
Jim Wetherington Vice Chairman
Bobby Whitworth Member
Garfield Hammonds, Jr. Member
Dr. Betty Ann Cook Member
Charles J. Topetzes Director of Parole
Scheree Lipscomb Director of Public Information
Marsha Bailey Editor
Copyright 1997 by State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Permission is granted to reproduce text from GEORGIA PAROLE REVIEW provided attribution is given, with the exception that this permission does not extend to any material copyrighted by others. Photographs may not be reproduced except by permission. The editor welcomes suggestions and comments.