Impact Georgia, Aug. 2007

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

News and Facts to Keep You Informed - August 2007

GEORGIA CUSTOMER SERVICE
"Faster. Friendlier. Easier."
Mission
The Georgia Department of Corrections protects and serves the public as a professional organization 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 protecting 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.

Combating Recidivism Through Education
The 62nd Annual International Correctional Education Association Conference conducted July 6 -11 in downtown Atlanta was deemed one of the most successful as it offered what it stood for.... an opportunity to learn and transform through education. Dr. John McKee, (pictured above) celebrated by his peers as the associations 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, has worked tirelessly as a champion to transform the minds of those who have classified themselves as losers into winners. During the 60's and 70's, McKee experimented with the Individually Prescribed Instruction (IPI) method at Draper Correctional Institution (Alabama) and documented its success in correctional academia. Designed with a focus on basic skill deficiency and the anthropological social disparities, McKee is credited with pioneering the evolution of the correctional education movement. "The one thing I've discovered that accounts for all dropouts," McKee explained to educators, "is academic failure. WE are committed to academic success."
ducation is the center of gravity and we are gonna attack & use education as the ammunition to fight the recidivism rate. Commissioner James E. Donald Georgia ranks 47th in education and has the fifth largest prison population. Although statistically primed for failure Commissioner Donald thanked the crowd for not being on the sidelines and getting in the ring to reverse the numbers. "We are in a life or death battle to win," Donald committed. "By simplifying our process we can achieve success through work and education."

CORE GOALS
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
of our Organization

(Above) Senator Wm "Bill" Jackson speaks to a standing room only group of celebrants after his swearing in as representative for the 24th Senate District. (Right) A dapper Bill Jackson featured on an early campaign poster. Jackson has a legislative legacy dating to 1979.

LEADING CHANGE
Bill Jackson Elected to Represent
Georgia's 24th Senate District
It was not an area unfamiliar to William "Bill" Jackson. Standing behind the podium of Georgia's senate chamber, Jackson was sworn in for the fourth time in nearly as many decades, to represent the citizens of Georgia. This chapter of his legislative service honors him as Senator for the 24th District .
Jackson, who served as chairman of the Columbia County Board of Education and, most recently, as a member of the State Board of Corrections, has been appointed committee membership to Public Safety and Homeland Security, Natural Resources and Environment, Economic Development and as secretary of the Transportation Committee.

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DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

SPECIAL KUDOS

News and Facts to Keep You Informed - August 2007

HEROES

GGEEOORRGGIAIA GEORGIA GEORGIA GEORGIA

Each day inmates, striving to change their

lives, take Metro Atlanta's public transportation to jobs that will give them the tools to

ON THE MOVE

transition into society as contributors.

The principle of hard work and considera-

tion for your fellow man were illustrated

when three men from GDCs Atlanta Transi-

tional Center attempted to save a man

whose wheel chair rolled off the platform

and nearly into the path of an oncoming

MARTA train.

Vernon King, William Alexander and Vinson

Allen attempted to save the man, along

with another passerby, but the mans injuries were too severe. "We knew we needed to get him out of the way of the train first," Allen explained. "The train came at us so quickly the other guy had to press against the wall on the opposite side of the tracks to make sure he

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
In support of Governor Perdue's vision of moving state government out of Atlanta, GDC designed Georgia on the Move. The event is designed to help senior management teams move forward with initiatives that will increase levels of service to our customers-the citizens of Georgia.

avoided the train."

The men are employed through GDC's Georgia on the Move was held June 6-8 in Augusta. This two and a half day event included

Corporate Take 5 partner Southern Pan Construction Services.

public forums, presentations and activities that supported the Governor's vision to move state government closer to all Georgians. The citizens of Augusta came out to these events and met

Visit our website at www.dcor.state.ga.us

with state leadership and expressed their views on how to improve awareness in their community. Community involvement and partnerships will drive GDC's efforts to continue leading change and expanding how to use "best practices" to be the best managed state in the

Commissioner:

nation.

James E. Donald

Public Affairs Director: Yolanda E. Thompson

Managing Editor: Tracy J. Smith

Photographers/contributors:
Paul Czachowski Mallie McCord Tracy J. Smith Rachelle Willoughby
Please direct comments or questions to:

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

TEAM GEORGIA! READY TO SERVE!