Georgia parole review [Summer 2012]

GEORGIA PAROLE REVIEW

Albert Murray, Chairman; Terry Barnard, Vice Chairman; Member Robert Keller, Member James Donald, Member James Mills

Summer 2012

State Board of Pardons and Paroles

Parole Officers Get Recognition During Probation,

Parole and Community Supervision Week

Governor Nathan Deal commemorated the week of July 15th through the 21st as Probation, Parole, and Community Supervision Officers Week in Georgia. Parole officers in Georgia provide public safety through the supervision of nearly 24,000 parolees statewide.
Governor Deal signed a proclamation and met Georgia parole officers at the State Capitol on July 18th.
Parole Board Chairman Albert Murray stated that he's extremely proud of the men and women who wear the parole badge. "They are doing one of the most difficult jobs in law enforcement and performing extremely well. They are working long hours to assist parolees in their success," says Murray.

Georgia's parole officers are a "force for positive change," says Executive Director of Parole Michael Nail.
"Our parole officers work consistently to ensure the offenders under supervision in the community are complying with their supervision requirements," says Nail. "At the same time, these same officers must assist offenders with employment leads and housing and treatment options in order for many of them to be successful. It can be a difficult balance to strike," he added.
"Additionally, officer safety is always in the forefront of our minds when supervising offenders," says Nail.
The Parole Board employs approximately 285 parole officers. Caseloads per officer average 75-85 parolees.
(see photo caption page 4)

Board Elects Albert Murray as Chairman
Terry Barnard as Vice Chairman

Chairman's Message

At the May Board meeting, the five members elected Albert Murray as the chairman for the fiscal year July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. Murray succeeds Member James Donald who served two terms as chairman. Terry Barnard was elected as the Board's new vice chairman. Donald will continue to serve on the Board through his current term ending December 2015.

Murray and Barnard both joined the Board in May 2010, as was reflected by Barnard during the meeting.

"I'd like to say two years ago, May, Governor Perdue, I think did a very historical thing in placing two board members on the Board at one time. I don't know if that's been done, historically. Placing Mr. Murray and myself here may have set the course for new direction under your [Chairman Donald's] leadership. I have been privileged and honored to have done that and having gotten to know Mr. Murray," stated Barnard.

"It's certainly been my honor to serve as vice chairman working with you Mr. Chairman [Donald]. I am honored to be nominated and to be selected as the next chairman. I take the role very seriously and will represent the Board to the best of my ability. I certainly look forward to working with you in transition," stated Murray. "Thank you again for the vote of trust and confidence."

Donald said his experience as chairman has been humbling and said the Board looks forward to Murray's leadership. "We're excited as we anticipate your leadership of this board," stated Donald.

Board Member Robert Keller nominated Barnard as vice chairman.

Barnard added, "I am

deeply privileged and hon-

ored in the first place to

even be able to sit here as a member of this board and secondly to have me to

New Board Chairman Albert Murray and outgoing Chair General James Donald

serve as vice chairman is just awesome."

Parole Board Chairman
Albert R. Murray
It is with great honor that I accept this leadership role and I am humbled by the Board's vote of confidence.
The agency and Georgia has certainly benefited by the leadership and direction of General Donald the past two years. We will continue to partner with the Department of Corrections and Georgia law enforcement to protect the public.
Holding criminal offenders accountable will remain a top priority while providing meaningful opportunities for change to those offenders who demonstrate worthiness. Being sensitive to the special needs of crime victims will also remain on top of the priority list. The Board will also continue to work closely with the Governor's Office and legislature on ways to improve the criminal justice system in Georgia.

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Board Offers Victim/Offender Dialogue

Parole Board Member and former chairman James Donald says a new program offered by the Board in conjunction with the Department of Corrections will give victims an opportunity to face their offender and possibly reconcile some issues.
The Victim/Offender Dialogue program is scheduled to be implemented later in 2012 after training takes place this summer.
Victim/Offender Dialogue (VOD) provides victims of violent crimes a process through which to have an emotionally and physically safe opportunity to say some important things to the offender, and to ask some important questions of the offender, often questions only the offender can answer.

The victim-centered approach requires that the request for VOD be initiated by the victims and demands that the preparation and dialogue process remain rooted in addressing the needs of those victims.
VOD is not about forgiveness or

reconciliation unless that is what the victims want it to be about.
VOD requires thorough and lengthy preparation by a trained facilitator. This helps both the victim and the offender acknowledge and express some of the many painful feelings, in-
cluding grief, shame, anger and outrage.

The primary objective is for the victim to feel heard, and for the offender to fully understand the effects of what he or she has done.

Inmates, corrections and parole staff take part in training for Victim/Offender Dialogue

A total of eight staff will be trained to conduct the meetings between victims and offenders.

Crime Victims Receive National Recognition

National Crime Victims' Rights Week was celebrated in the traditional manner at State Offices South, Tift College, in Forsyth on April 16, 2012.
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles held a Victims Visitors' Day in conjunction with the event, allowing victims of crime to meet with Board staff and many with one of the five board members.
Parole Board Vice Chairman Terry Barnard says the victims make an impact when they meet with him.
"This is an opportunity for a victim to come and face-to-face,

voice their point of view about the offender," Barnard explained in an interview with the Macon Telegraph.

As part of the ceremony, a crime victim gave testimony about the impact of the violent crime she had suffered.

Over 50 offender cases were reviewed by staff at the request of the victims of those crimes.

The day started with a ceremony held in Roberts Chapel at Tift College where the Department of Corrections' headquarters are located.

Events included a state agency roundtable discus-

Board Vice Chairman Terry Barnard, left, and Hearing Examiner Scott Reaves, listen as

sion about victim services victims describe the impact of the crime.

that are offered in Georgia.

PAROLE REVIEW
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SUMMER 2012
Virtual Parole/Probation Office Pilot Successful!

Since March 2012, the Albany Parole and Probation Offices have been conducting a pilot, "virtual office" project. The virtual office concept seeks to reduce the office footprint while maximizing the amount of time parole and probation officers spend conducting community supervision in the field.
The pilot pairs a parole officer and a probation field officer together in four two-officer teams. Each team is assigned a state vehicle. Over the course of the project, parole and probation officers have seen their efficiencies and productivity increase as they become more familiar with each other and their respective caseloads. The officers have found that it helps as one officer drives, the other navigates and

enters the field contact data in

and local law enforcement have

the parole and probation case

noticed our increased officer

management systems via the

presence in the community."

parole officer's

laptop. All

parole laptops

are equipped

with an inter-

net air card.

Plans are be-

ing made to

also introduce

wireless car

printers in-

stalled in the

trunks to further increase efficiencies.

Probation Officer Kim Chevers and Parole Officer Phil Burrell and their virtual office

Parole Officer Phil Burrell says it allows him to do more of what is important to our core mission. "It allows more opportunities to meet with parol-

Field Division Director Jay

ees, make contacts with potential

Lacienski notes: "Both Probation employers and law enforce-

Director Stan Cooper and I are

ment," says Burrell.

very pleased with this initiative

to date. The offender population

Keller speaks at Judge's Conference

latest policy changes for the Parole Board.

Among his comments was an update on the Board's recent changes to the Pardon Administration Unit.

Keller in-

Parole Board Member Robert Keller, a longtime district at- formed the

torney in Clayton County, is surrounded by Superior Court Judges at their annual summer training conference in Athens.

judges that improvements have

now reduced

Parole Board Member Robert

dramatically the time ex-

Keller spoke at the Superior

offenders are waiting on a deci-

Court Judges summer training

sion by the Board regarding their

conference in Athens in July.

pardon application.

Keller briefed the judges on the

Judge Jason Deal and Executive Director of Parole Michael Nail at the spring Georgia Probation Association Conference in March.
Front Cover: (l-r) Field Operations Director Jay Lacienski; Dalton ACPO Brandon Bell; SW Regional Director Darryl McGee; Warner Robins PO Lamario Harris; Gainesville CPO Matthew Ellis; Executive Director of Parole Michael Nail; Douglasville PO Kenneth Britten; Governor Nathan Deal; Marietta SPO Andrew Jerram; Parole Board Chairman Albert Murray; LaGrange PO Tammy Wood; Monroe PO Blake Sims; Jesup PO Pamela Thrift; Thomson PO Brad West; Adairsville SPO Casey Lutz; Dublin PO Violancia Harrell
Photo courtesy of Governor's Office/Alana Joyner

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Lifers Focus on Parole Board Members

Parole Board Members James Donald, James Mills and Terry Barnard spoke to Lifer's groups recently. The Board Members are favorite speakers for the inmates who, unless paroled, have been sentenced to spend their lives inside Georgia's prison system.

Donald spoke in March to the Lifer's group at Central State Prison.

James Donald at Central State and James Mills at Phillips State Prison
The inmates were allowed to ask questions and understandably wanted to know what they could do to make

themselves more likely to get paroled. Donald replied that with five different individual board members he couldn't speak for the entire board. He encouraged the men to continue their road to rehabilitation through program completion and staying free of disciplinary problems.
James Mills spoke to life sentenced inmates at Phillips State Prison. Mills encouraged the men to not allow incarceration to keep them from improving themselves.
Barnard spoke at Central State. He says while these offenders are entitled by law to parole reviews, he and the other board members carefully consider, as in all cases, all of the information before making a decision.

Community Partners essential to success!

munity partners working with the State Board of Pardons and Paroles offering offenders assistance as they rejoin their communities.

Hope Minis-

try is a faith-

(left to right) Hope Ministry Coordinator Sharon Watkins, Rome Housing Authority (RHA) Security Director Melvin Scott, RHA Director Sandra Hudson, Board Member James Donald and Rome Chief Parole Officer Phillip Shepherd

based program associated with the Rome Hous-

HOPE Ministry of Rome, Georgia, is one of many of the com-

ing Authority and is designed to assist parolees and probationers in promoting lifestyle changes.

The program offers assistance with adult education, job placement, housing and transportation. The program has been in existence for over ten years.
The program's board is comprised of various community leaders from different churches and local and state agencies.
"It has been a tremendous asset to our parolee population by providing housing to several of our parolees in recent months," stated Rome Parole Chief Phillip Shepherd.
Board Member James Donald was the keynote speaker at a meeting earlier this year.

PAROLE REVIEW
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SUMMER 2012
Criminal Justice Reform takes hold in Georgia

Governor Nathan Deal signed the Criminal Justice Reform legislation on May 2, 2012, at a ceremony at the State Capitol.
Looking on were the five members of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The legislation took effect July 1 and establishes alternatives to incarceration for low-level, nonviolent drug and property offenders and reserves expensive prison beds for the most dangerous offenders.
The legislation aims to treat nonviolent offenders who have substance abuse or mental health issues with programming such as Drug Court which will emphasize treatment and accountability. The legislation outlined a number of areas where low-level offenders may be diverted from

The Georgia Parole Board and Governor Nathan Deal discuss Criminal Justice Reform following the bill signing ceremony on May 2, 2012.

the prison system as a means of lowering the current one billion dollar plus prison budget.

The special council on Criminal Justice Reform will continue its work.

Mapping the way for Criminal Justice Reform in Georgia

The first step to Criminal Justice Reform in Georgia was taken with passage of legislation during the 2012 session. The legislation outlined a number of areas where non-violent, low-level offenders may be diverted from the prison system as a means of lowering the current one billion dollar plus prison budget. Original legislation that included codifying some parole responsibilities was changed because the Parole Board already has the authority to take action administratively and there was no need to put the language into law.
A March roundtable discussion sponsored by the American Bar Association included Parole

Board Member, Board Chairman at the time, James Donald, and Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens.

They joined state and local law enforcement, members of the judiciary and staff from Georgia State University's College of Law to discuss criminal justice reform and its future in Georgia.

Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens and Parole Board Member James Donald (forefront left) participate in the roundtable discussion sponsored by the American Bar Association and Georgia State College of Law.

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Parole Officers Spotlighted

Tsang among state's Top 25 Asian Americans
Assistant Chief Parole Officer (ACPO) Louis Tsang is one of Georgia's 25 Most Influential Asian Americans as listed by the Georgia Asian Times (GAT), an Atlanta based publication.
Tsang, who is the ACPO at South Metro, was honored at a July 12th event.
According to the GAT article, it is the seventh edition of the listing of individuals who made an

impact in arts, business, government, politics, social work, education and the judiciary.
The nominations are made by Asian journalists who are active in their community according to GAT.
Tsang, who is very active in the Georgia Chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), also participated in the 2012 Georgia Asian Pacific Americans Legislative Day at the State Capitol earlier this year.

Assistant Chief Parole Officer Louis Tsang

Robinson Invests in Youth Program
Senior Parole Officer Shari Robinson
Earlier this summer, Atlanta Police Department (APD) Truancy Officers, the Atlanta Community Impact Program (ACIP) team, and the Atlanta Public School's Attendance Improvement Pro-

gram staff hosted summer camp sessions for sixth and seventh grade students. Senior Parole Officer Shari Robinson, working with the ACIP, participated and enjoyed working with the youth.
"This program helped the students develop leadership skills, helped them learn how to make positive decisions, and provided them with the opportunity for positive interaction with law enforcement officers," stated Robinson. "The students received daily curriculum that focused on interpersonal communication, hygiene, leadership and conflict resolution," she added.
In addition to the educational classes taught, the students also took field trips to the Georgia Dome, Coca-Cola Headquarters, Centennial Olympic Park, Atlanta Zoo, Martin Luther King, Jr., Center, Lake Allatoona, and various City of Atlanta government agencies.
Robinson says the students expressed their appreciation for the

opportunity to be involved in the program. Each student was provided with school supplies to help them during this upcoming school year. "The students developed a greater appreciation for consistent school attendance and stated that they will use what they learned in the program to be an example to their peers. I enjoyed my time with the students and was impressed by how much they developed over the two week period," added Robinson.
Youth Program

PAROLE REVIEW
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Parole Board Members are community leaders

Donald Supports Military Families

A subject near and dear to his heart, military families, was behind Board Member James Donald's trip to the National Infantry Museum in Columbus in late April.

Donald, a retired

U.S. Army Major

General, helped

push legislation

Board Member James Donald, Governor Nathan

signed by Governor Deal and Col. Robert Choppa, U.S. Army (upper

Nathan Deal that

right Donald introduces Governor Deal)

will allow children of military families to more easily transfer school credits from other states to Georgia. The interstate compact bill means many children of military families won't have to retake many subjects in Georgia they may have already

completed in another state.
"We want to make sure that we make it possible for them to take the kind of courses they need to keep on track, and that they get credit for those courses as they move in

and out of the school systems in the state of Georgia," said Deal.
"I served 33 1/2 years and moved my family 16 times during that period of time and I suspect today's soldiers are moving even more frequently," added Donald. "It means that if someone is sitting in Afghanistan in a fighting position, he is not distracted by the fact that his son may not graduate because the program he was taking in Texas is different than the program here in Georgia."

Murray gives career advice and talks up Parole!

Board Chairman Albert Murray (right) with Dept. of Corrections Deputy Commissioner Tim Ward and Diane Easter, Federal Bureau of Prisons, at a student career panel discussion at Clark Atlanta University.

Chairman Albert Murray with Conyers Parole Chief Colleen Manthe (left) and Program Manager Cynthia Sneed. Murray delivered comments about parole to the Conyers Rotary Club in April.
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Basic Parole Officer Training Course--Class 54

Award winners: Team Competition - Claudette Duggins, Kevin Loop, Shawn King, and Derek Boehringer
Firearms - 1st Place: Nicholas Mashburn, 2nd Place: Eliot Elliott, 3rd Place: Ferlando Giles
Performance Award - Eliot Elliott
Academic Award - Kevin Loop
Top Student - Eliot Elliott (*Photo on back cover)

Sixteen new parole officers graduated the eightweek training course in May and began jobs in DeKalb, Jefferson, Macon, Albany, Statesboro, Savannah, North Fulton, Jesup and Lafayette.
Parole Board Chairman Albert Murray told the new officers there would be a measure of increased public safety as a result of them being on duty. "We need your good instincts and teamwork," Murray added.
Parole officers are classified as Georgia Peace Officers and may arrest parolees who are failing compliance or facing new charges.
Front Row (l-r) Training Director Lisa Lance, Training Coordinator Lori Massengale, Claudette Duggins, Derrika Richardson, Tiffany McKinney, Yucca Simpson, Kendra Green, Training Specialist Vicky Rollins. Second Row (l-r) Training Coordinator Jim Sikes, Othello Vaughn, Amne Simons, Brenda Lepke, Derek Boehringer, Luis Alejo, Training, Investigations and Compliance Director Bert Flewellen, Third Row: (l-r) Ferlando Giles, Nicholas Mashburn, Joshua Marshall, Kevin Loop, Shawn King and Eliot Elliott

Parole Kicks-off Management Leadership Program

The Parole Training Unit hosted the first Management Skills and Leadership Development Program on May 14-18, 2012. Thirty parole professionals graduated. The program gives participants an understanding of the agency's values and philosophies. The program's goal is to facilitate the development of the

(l-r) Jan Moss, Michelle Morton, Monica Cotton, Debbie Timms, Karen Autrey and Clemency Director Melodee Stewart

participants' leadership skills, emphasizing their professional growth as they help the agency face the challenges ahead.
Class graduates: Lisa Brown, Elizabeth Langford, Sherry Givens, Shekevia Hawkins, Rita Rothwein, Jan Moss, Gregg Harris, Karen Autrey, Michelle Morton, Latisha Wilkins,

LaQuannta Flowers, Colleen Manthe, Andrew Wheeler, Jody Dillard, Laura Weaver, Monica Cotton, Daphane Evans-Huff, Brandon Bell, Maryann Dillard, Terry Proctor, Patrick Freightman, William Curry, Jarbas Carvalho, Gayla Howard, Napoleon Robinson, Keith Perry, Jerry Hardy, Dan Dollar, James Kopp and Craig Cazier.
PAROLE REVIEW
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SUMMER 2012
Quarterly Employee Recognition First Quarter 2012
Assistant Director of Clemency Thurman Henderson, Board Member James Donald, Clemency CONS Member Alytia Simpson, Hearing Examiner Scott Reaves, Parole Investigator Lorraine Poole, Board Members Robert Keller and James Mills, and Executive Director of Parole Michael Nail

CONS Development Team Recognition Priority Date Feature

Field Operations Director Jay Lacienski with Parole Officer Brad West, Chief Parole Officer Leslie Lamb, Administrative Assistant Suporia Jarman, and Board Members Donald, Keller and Mills, and Director Nail

Operations Director Scott Maurer and Victim Services Program Manager Elizabeth Langford with Board Members Donald, Keller and Mills, and Director Nail
PAROLE REVIEW
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SUMMER 2012

Board Member James Donald, Field Operations Director Jay Lacienski, Parole Officer Kevin Loop, Chief Parole Officer Felicia Holloway, Board Member Robert Keller, and Executive Director of Parole Michael Nail

Quarterly Employee Recognition Second Quarter 2012
Parole Officer Ronda Matheny, Chief Parole Officer Garnett Tate, Assistant Chief Parole Officer Andrew Wheeler and Parole Officer Valerie Brown-Stephens, with Director Lacienski, Board Members Donald and Keller, and Director Nail
Victim Services Director Shalandra Robertson, Clemency Director Melodee Stewart, Assistant Director of Victim Services Lisa Brown, Diane Wallace and Celestine Benjamin, Victim Services, with Board Members Donald and Keller, and Director Nail

Chief Parole Officers Roger Mayo and Tami Stubbs, Assistant Chief Parole Officer Terry Williams, Senior Parole Officers Julie McKneely and Lamario Harris, with Board Members Donald and Keller, Director Nail, and Training, Investigations and Compliance Director Bert Flewellen
Kenya Walker, CONS Team Member, Hearing Examiner Joe McAdoo and Parole Investigator Jack Mangus with Clemency Director Melodee Stewart, Board Members James Donald and Robert Keller, and Director Nail

PAROLE REVIEW
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State Board of Pardons and Paroles

Our Mission
To serve the citizens of Georgia as an integral component of the Criminal Justice System by making
informed release considerations and protecting the public through effective offender supervision.

Parole Review is published by the Public Affairs Office, Steve Hayes, Director,
404-657-9450 www.pap.state.ga.us

Our Vision
To be the most efficient and effective paroling agency in the nation.

Our Core Values
We value Ethics, Integrity, Fairness and Honesty.
PAROLE PROMOTIONS

Board Member James Mills, 54 BPOTC Top Student Eliot Elliott and Parole Board Chairman Albert Murray

Central Office and Operations Support Services promotions:
Katherine Turner promoted to Hearing Examiner, Clemency Division
Keith Perry promoted to Assistant Director of Information Technology
Lisa Reid appointed to Budget Director
Jackie Young promoted to Parole Investigator, Southwest Investigations Unit
Kowanna Bing promoted to Parole Investigator, Metro Investigations Unit
James Williams promoted to Northeast Regional Director, Field Operations
Wade Wheeler promoted to Senior Hearing Examiner, Clemency Division
Carrie Goldring promoted to Operations Manager, Clemency Division
Scott Greear promoted to Field Training Officer Program Coordinator
Sherry Hughes promoted to Assistant Regional Director, Northwest Region
Erin Anderson promoted to Housing Coordinator, Field Operations

Cynthia Sneed promoted to Program Manager, Field Operations
Tami Stubbs promoted to Program Manager, Field Operations
Amber Samples promoted to Senior Hearing Examiner, Clemency Division
Tiffany Clark promoted to Hearing Examiner, Clemency Division
Patricia Johnson promoted to Hearing Examiner, Clemency Division
Michael Evans promoted to Hearing Examiner, Clemency Division
Matt Nesbitt promoted to Hearing Examiner, Clemency Division
James Forrest promoted to Clerk 2, CONS Team, Clemency Division
Karen Warren promoted to Data Processor 2, CONS Team, Clemency Division
Master Chief Parole Officer promotions:
Patrick Holsey, DeKalb Office
James Bergman, Macon/Warner Robbins Office

Chief Parole Officer promotions:
Reginald Huley, Jonesboro Office
Terry Proctor, Dublin Office
Assistant Chief Parole Officer promotions:
Shekevia Hawkins, South Metro
Jimi Williams, DeKalb Office
Senior Parole Officer promotions:
Brandon Williams, Albany; Danielle Stokes, Columbus; Blair Eastman, Columbus; Thomas Green, Adairsville; Jay Ingrum, Macon; Akeia Keith, Conyers; Jamie Ross, Moultrie; Heather Strickland, Douglasville
Specialized Parole Officers promotions:
Taneshia Sims, South Metro; Adam Thompson, Carrollton; Patrick Price, Marietta; Jacques Brown, Griffin; Candace Dew, DeKalb; Craven Goodman, Jonesboro; Jimmy Morgan, Statesboro; Christopher Person, North Fulton; Shari Robinson, South Metro; Maurice White, North Fulton; Jeff Cutchens, Valdosta; Melvin Reid Jr., Savannah
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