Department of Corrections News and Facts to Keep You Informed - December 2005 Page 1 Mission The Georgia Department of Corrections protects and serves the public as a professional organiza- tion by effectively managing offenders while helping to provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Georgia. Vision The Georgia Department of Corrections is the best corrections system in the nation at protect- ing the citizens from convicted offenders and at providing effective opportunities for offenders to achieve positive change. We are a leader and partner in making Georgia a safer, healthier, better educated, growing and best managed state. Core Goal A Safer, Healthier, Better Educated Growing, and Best Managed Georgia Core Organizational Principles Value Based: Stewards of the Public Trust Embrace Change: Change, Transformation is inevitable Business Acumen: Better Business Practice A Learning Organization: People are the Centerpiece Commissioner Christopher B. Epps of the Mississippi Department of Corrections and his Deputy Commissioner, Emmet Sparkman conducted a GDC Staff Assistance Visit (SAV) with Commissioner Donald at Georgia State Prison and Augusta State Medical Prison on November 30. We welcomed the opportunity to have a partnering agency come and share process improvements and best practices that could benefit critical operations in our prisons. volunteer to participant in the program. The dormitories are designed to provide an "environment for change" through the promotion of positive personal responsibility, integrity, accountability, and the building of one's faith. Facility staff utilize community volunteers in providing the experiences planned for dormitory residents. In addition to faith-building activities which are traditionally available in all facilities, our community partners may be involved in other program components such as: Character Building, Career Planning, Health/Fitness, Community Service, Family/Relationship, Coping Skills, and Education. Volunteer involvement starts the process of re-connecting the offender to community. Leading Change in our Faith and Character Based Dormitories It's been 16 months since Commissioner Donald launched his vision for integrating counseling, cognitive restructuring and Faith and Character Based training in designated prison dormitories across the state. With five dormitories and 411 inmates involved, this new initiative has proved very effective. Several inmates have re-associated themselves with their families. The first Faith and Character Based Graduate to complete Parole is now working as a peer consultant at an alternative school We are currently implementing an expansion of the dormitory program to other facilities in the state. Since its inception, we have witnessed a 90%-95% reduction in disciplinary reports in the Faith and Character Based dormitories. GDC's success is gaining attention in other states, like Indianapolis and Florida, which are using our approach as a "best practices" model for their systems. The inmate written and performed "Diamond in the Ruff" play has the potential of becoming a community-wide "at risk" youth intervention resource. (Sponsored by Valdosta State University) Have a Happy Holiday Season Faith and Character Based dormitories are ecumenical and are open to all offenders, including those individuals who have not expressed a specific faith affiliation but who demonstrate the desire to confront the habits and behaviors that contributed to a criminal lifestyle. Each designated housing unit within a prison allows community partners, in conjunction with prison staff, to work to affect an inner and outer change in the offenders who As we enjoy this special time of the year, I want to thank our partners in government and in the business community. We value all you have contributed to support our vision of "best practices" in Corrections. On behalf of the nearly 15,000 employees on our team, let me assure you and our fellow citizens in Georgia that public safety remains our top priority. Please remember the approximately 176 men and women from our staff and others deployed on active duty in "harms way" around the world. Continuation . . . COMMISSIONER: JAMES E. DONALD News and Facts to Keep You Informed - December 2005 Page 2 The Office of the Governor has partnered with the Department of Economic Development to create a new "brand". Georgia's brand is its promise to its stakeholders. That promise is: "Georgia, with its rich history and legacy of bold ideas, has the right resources, spirit and energy to rapidly transform dreams into reality." The new logo can be recognized as the above pictured peach. Visit our website at www.dcor.state.ga.us Commissioner: James E. Donald Public Affairs Director: Yolanda E. Thompson Managing Editor: Camille Y. Cunningham Please direct comments or questions to: Georgia Department of Corrections Office of Public Affairs 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. East Tower, Suite 864 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-9772 Fax: 404-656-6434 Email: GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us Re-entry Focus: Work is a Learned Behavior The Federal Bonding Program * offers fidelity bonding insurance for new GDC is continuing to build its re-entry initiatives and new partnerships with employers hires who may be denied commercial coverage. across the state. Our mission is focused on Working Against Recidivism (WAR) Bill equipping offenders with the tools to return to Prison Industries Enhancement (PIE) - the local community and become crime-free, law abiding and contributing citizens. We invite employers to partner with us - Data shows about 95% of offenders who enter prison will eventually be released to the community. Research has determined that offenders who have had training to prepare for their re-entry are more successful in maintaining a crime-free life after prison. For these ex-offenders there must be a path to employment and successful re-entry into society. The Georgia Department of Corrections is committed to work with Georgia businesses to provide job opportunities for ex-offenders who are returning to our communities. Bringing "best practices" like the PIE programs inside the razor wire will help GDC take advantage of the best models for transforming the way Georgia's inmate populations give back to citizens through employment initiatives that yield far-reaching rewards. Corporate Take 5 PIE programs bring private sector industry The Georgia Departments of Corrections and Labor are committed to work with Georgia businesses to provide job opportunities for ex-offenders who are returning to our communities. These Georgia citizens are looking for another chance to become productive, tax paying members of society. to the grounds of a prison, and offenders are paid by the private sector industry for their labor. PIE provides compensation to victims, offsets the cost of incarceration, and provides savings to offenders for their transition back into the community. Prison-based industries would allow the state to garner a portion of the earned wages so that offenders contribute As part of a coordinated response to re-entry, the Corporate "Take 5" program provides a bridge for ex-offenders to become an to the costs of their own incarceration, lessen the burden of taxpayers and reduce the escalating cost of crime. essential part of the work force. Partnerships Offender Wage Deductions: in this program will help ensure the smooth transition of these men and women while simultaneously providing employees with qualified, skilled workers. Under the PIE Certification program, deductions on offender wages are limited to room and board, taxes, (federal, state and FICA), family support and crime victim The goal of the program is to have Georgia compensation/assistance. Deductions cannot businesses sign up initially to "Take 5" exceed 80% of offender gross wages. returning ex-offenders as employees. We are confident that after observing their performance, the value of this employee group will grow. Deductions for crime victim compensation programs are mandatory under the program, although there is some flexibility in the percentage set. Deductions for taxes are manda- The Georgia Department of Labor tory under U.S. tax law. Deductions for room offers two employer friendly benefits for hiring and board, and family support are at the ex-offenders most in need of employment. discretion of the certified program. In addition, The Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) * makes up to $2,400 available to employers who hire exinmates and others who may have difficulty in obtaining employment. many states garner a set percentage of offender earnings and place the funds into a savings account for the offender upon their release from prison, which can then be used to pay for housing and other costs of getting re-established on the outside.