Impact Georgia, 2007 May

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

News and Facts to Keep You Informed - May 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.

Corrections Division Team, Inmate Firefighter Crews...
Working to Help Protect Ware County as Wildfire Spreads
GDC's Fire Services Crews will continue protecting structures at the Georgia Forestry Commission, District 8 complex south of Waycross on US Highway 1, where inmate firefighter crews are working. A total of 17 GDC Fire Services and Corrections Division personnel and 69 state inmate firefighters have been involved in protecting residential and commercial structures from impending fire during the past 24 in Ware County this week.
Our team is fully operational and working in shifts around the clock to support our agency partners in Ware County and the surounding area. This is an extraordinary mission because our inmate firefighter crews volunteer to serve in firefighter operations. Homeland Security assignments such as this one give all of the inmates an opportunity to give back to the citizens of Georgia in a very meaningful way.
State inmate firefighters/rake crews totals include 37 inmate firefighters from State Prison Facilities and 32 inmates who are part of Fire Services Rake Crews from the Probation Detention Centers. Ware State Prison has served as the base facility for the prison system's operation in Waycross.
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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

Leading a Significant Life Through Giving

An extraordinary leader in business and philanthropy, S. Truett Cathy, founder and chairman of Chik-fil-A Inc. delivered a powerfully inspirational message as the keynote speaker at the Chaplains Appreciation Luncheon on April 24.

Commissioner James E. Donald and Pardons and Paroles Board Chairman Garland Hunt welcome

Surrounded by more than 200 guests, Mr. Cathy reminded the audience that faith is the key to living a "significant" life.

Truett Cathy

"My hope is that every one of you will become the people that

God wants you to become that you discover the path to

significance." He explained that the "significant person" places emphasis on a more spiritual view of life

generosity, empowering others, service and building up others.

The appreciation luncheon was hosted by Heartbound Ministries to recognize the leadership role of state prison chaplains.

Choirs from the Augusta Transition Center and the Atlanta Transition center provided musical selections that stirred the audience. Each inmate received a signed copy of Truett Cathy's new book, The Generosity Factor, which he co-authored with Ken Blanchard.

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Page 2

News and Facts to Keep You Informed - May 2007
Ware County Wildfire continued ...

Corrections staff and the inmate crews are working directly with local law enforcement and personnel from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Forestry Commission and the National Forestry Commission. There were no reported injuries or emergency redeployments of GDC staff or inmates over the past 24-hours.

Governor Sonny Perdue visited Ware County, Saturday, April 21 to tour areas affected by the wildfire.

Corrections' fire services program helps provide a professional level of fire safety in the state prison system. Corrections also operates and maintains inmate rake teams, which are specially trained to suppress forest fires in the north Georgia mountains and in other regions across the state. There are nearly 200 state inmates involved in the fire services program. They are required to successfully complete 240 hours of training before becoming certified as firefighters. They receive 40 hours of training each month in fire-related subjects. Prior to responding to an emergency call, each inmate must satisfactorily complete 60 hours of basic firefighter training in subjects specified by the Georgia Fire

Pictured from left to right: Tommy Rouse, Chairman, Ware County Board of Commissioners, Vickie Starling, Warden Tillman's Secretary, Ware State Prison, Governor Sonny Perdue

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

Heroism Award Winners, Bacon PDC. Left to Right: Sergeant Tony Taylor, COII Carl Petty, Superintendent Daniel D. Stone, COII Mark Bowen (Tommy Rouse Diversion Center), Sergeant Wade Chancey

Corrections teammates recently proved that our non-negotiable mission of public safety includes citizens outside the prison wire. On January 25, five GDC employees were traveling together for a hunting trip. While in Opp, Alabama, these employees witnessed a severe automobile accident in which a young woman became trapped in a burning
car. Dan Stone, Wade Chancey, Tony Taylor and Carl Petty used fire extinguishers to suppress the fire and prevent it from spreading to the victim. As this group of employees worked to suppress the fire, Mark Bowen climbed inside the vehicle, and provided emergency aid to the trapped victim until Paramedics arrived. Officer Bowen stayed with the victim until she was extracted from the vehicle with the Jaws of Life equipment.

Bacon PDC and Rouse DC staff were recently honored for their heroic contributions: Superintendent Daniel D. Stone, Sergeant Wade Chancey, Sergeant Tony Taylor and Correctional Officer II Carl Petty (Bacon PDC) and Correctional Officer II Mark Bowen (Rouse DC).

According to the Assistant Chief of Police, "had these men not have exercised the efforts that they did in controlling the fire, the possibility of the victim receiving burn injuries or dying as a result of the fire was probable". These officers took substantial risk and placed their lives in jeopardy.