Impact Georgia, Apr. 2006

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

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News and Facts to Keep You Informed - April 2006

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

Media coverage and pictures: 13 WMAZ and The Houston Home Journal
PERRY VOLUNTEER OUTREACH GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
The Georgia Department of Corrections, the Perry Volunteer Outreach Group and the City of Perry hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for Grace Village Project, a new faith-based transitional housing initiative for women, on Tuesday, March 14, 2006.

Commissioner James Donald presented a hand drawn replica of the legendary leader of the civil rights movement, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King, to Charles Steele Jr., SCLC President/CEO. Commissioner Donald was a guest speaker during a national Reentry & the Criminal Justice System symposium held at the King Center in Atlanta on April 4, 2006. The picture was drawn by inmate Marcus Sutton of Central State Prison.
HeartBound Ministries Appreciation Luncheon

The Perry Volunteer Outreach Group applied HeartBound Ministries sponsored an appre-

for and received a $500,000.00 Community ciation luncheon to recognize 47 state prison

Development Block Grant to build the housing complex. The group deeded the property to

chaplains of the Georgia Department of Corrections on Thursday, March 23rd. The

the City of Perry and has been working to

special recognition marks the approval of

finalize planning and building specifications. House Bill 1292, which makes it possible to

Corrections will provide an inmate construc- honor prison chaplains at all Corrections pris-

tion crew to help build the project, which

ons on the fourth Monday in March each year.

will be supervised by the Department's Engineering and Construction Services staff. Over 200 guests attended the "Prison
Chaplains Appreciation Day" luncheon. Prior

The initial phase of the project will consist of three buildings one dormitory, a maintenance unit and a residence for the program director. Grace Village will offer housing, counseling, job skills training and job placement for women who are homeless or just being released from state prisons.

to the luncheon, the Corrections chaplains met Governor Perdue for a photo at the State Capitol. This year's special guests included keynote speaker Warden Berle Cain, of Angola State Prison in Louisiana, and former state inmate Rev. James "Hollywood" Henderson, who has become a well-known national motivational speaker.

Statewide, Corrections employs six full-time chaplains and 41 part-time prison chaplains who meet the spiritual needs of 55,000 of inmates and nearly 15,000 staff on a daily basis. They are part of the department's clinical programming team and play an important role in the rehabilitation of offenders, bringing hope, faith and characterbased programs

Continuation . . .

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News and Facts to Keep You Informed - April 2006

SPECIAL KUDOS

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ON THE MOVE

A major fire at a paper company warehouse in Laurens County on March 18th required the response of the Department of Corrections Fire Services.
Six fire stations, 38 inmate firefighters, and six staff assisted with the extinguishment of the fire. Our inmate fire crews worked a rotational 104 man hours. Fire crews worked from approximately 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning until 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The responding fire crews were from the Dodge, Montgomery, Johnson, Telfair, Milan, and Wilcox State Prisons. A special thanks goes to Rick Huggins and Arnold Smith for their leadership.
Visit our website at www.dcor.state.ga.us
Commissioner: James E. Donald

Governor Perdue asked agency heads to explore the possibility of moving state government outside Atlanta for a few days as a part of his customer service campaign . The Department of Corrections spearheaded this initiative with Georgia Department of Corrections on the Move.
The idea is to provide a unique opportunity for Georgians and communities to access top state agency leaders and key staffs. On March 16 and 17, the Georgia Department of Corrections traveled to Milledgeville-Baldwin County community. Since citizens and communities often feel removed from the decision makers, we are envisioning that this process will help bridge the gap between Atlanta and the rest of the state. Future Sites for Georgia Department of Corrections on the Move:Tattnall County, Augusta and Savannah.

Inner view of the Governor's mansion.

GDC Executive staff listens to agency updates during the Management Team Meeting.

Asst. Commissioner Brian Owens addresses the audience during his Education Initiative update.

Employees on the steps of the Governor's mansion

General Peter Boylan of the Georgia Military College hosted the Georgia Department of Corrections on the Move meetings. Corrections employees also had the opportunity to tour the Milledgeville historic Governor's Mansion.

Public Affairs Director: Yolanda E. Thompson
Managing Editor: Camille Y. Cunningham
Photographer:
Paul Czachowski

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

Reaching Youth in the community . . .
Commissioner James Donald also had the opportunity to speak to nearly 300 freshmen at the Baldwin County High School about Make the Right Choice, Choose Freedom. The responses to Commissioner Donald's presence and remarks at the school were so favorable that he has been invited back to speak to other students at Baldwin County High School and John Milledge Academy.

Hinesville Courier, Daisy Jones

As a part of GDCs Make the Right Choice, Choose Freedom, Commissioner Donald partnered with "11 Black Men" of Hinesville-Liberty County to speak to an audience at Fort Stewart during the 11 Black Men of Liberty County's 12th annual scholarship banquet. These scholarships are offered to young men with challenges who participate in a youth program. Jermaine Mitchell, pictured left was awarded and named Transcender of the Year. Mitchell was selected out of 12 peers to receive the award because of his achievements, ppositive attitude, and grades.