Impact Georgia, Apr. 2008

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

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News and Facts to Keep You Informed - April 2008

"Faster. Fr iendlier. 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.

Georgia Department of Corrections Celebrates the Forsythia Festival
Commissioner Donald led ov er a dozen GDOC employ ees on the 5K Fun Run held on the grounds of GPSTC, despite freezing temperatures and snow showers during the town of Forsyth's Forsythia Festival.
After the run a guided tour was held f or VIPs on the historic grounds of the Tif t College Campus. Architect Tony Aeck, of Lord, Aeck, Sergeant Architectural Firm, led dignitaries through the campus, and highlighted what each building's new purpose will be in the f uture.
Site work includes new roads, repaving existing parking and adding new parking areas, renovations to 3 Dormitories (Sewell, Monroe, Hubbard) and the Dining Facility (Rutland), Roberts Auditorium (assembly), Hardin Library (Classrooms), Fine Arts building (Academy offices) and Vinzant Hall (classrooms, tactical training).

Core Goal

The City of Forsyth is investing in the site by upgrading utilities to include a new underground electrical
distribution system and a new water main to serv e our buildings. We are also installing new sanitary sewer lines, site drainage upgrades to meet current codes, and a telecommunications underground backbone system.

A Safer, Healthier, Better Educated Growing, and Best Managed Georgia

After the tour, the f estival on the square prov ided Arts and Crafts, Classic car show, Kids corner, liv e entertainment, and of course great f ood.

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Continuation . . .

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UPCOM ING EVENTS
April 10, 2008
10:00 a.m.--11:30 a.m. Scott State Prison will host an Open House f or their Georgia
Braille Program.
April 17, 2008 10:00 a.m.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Phillips State Prison for the
NOBTS PEC.
April 24, 2008
10:00 a.m. Metro State Prison will graduate a class of guide dog train-
ees.
Visit our website at www.dcor.state.ga.us
Commissioner: James E. Donald Public Affairs Director: Susan Phillips Acting Managing Editor: Nancy F. Phillips Photographers/contributors: Paul Czachow ski Mallie McCord Susan Phillips
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: GDCinf o@dcor.state.ga.us

News and Facts to Keep You Informed - April 2008
GPA Annual Midwinter Conference "Probation is Important"
The Georgia Probation Association held its annual midwinter conference on March 19-21, 2008 at Helen, Georgia. State, County, Municipal and Priv ate Probation Officers f rom around the state met f or two days and participated in training sessions on subjects such as Community Policing, Methamphetamine Update, Re-entry Planning through IT and Personal Saf ety. Commissioner Donald deliv ered a "State of the Department" briefing to the participants, along with Assistant Commissioner Brian Owens. Updates were also prov ided by Corrections Div ision Director Arnie DePetro, Corrections Div ision Deputy Director Michael Nail and Probation Operations Director Stan Cooper. We had a very successful conf erence with ov er 160 members in attendance including two Wardens, Tony Howerton and Tim Ward.
Rome Day Reporting Center Celebrates Largest Commencement Yet
On March 25, 2008, The Rome Day Reporting Center celebrated its 6th Commencement of Participants to successf ully complete the Center's 9-12 month program including the DRC's first group of Night Program graduates.
Thirty-six participants received diplomas f or program completion and 6 participants receiv ed their GED certificates. The 36 participants had to complete a combined total of 2880 hours of community serv ice, 1728 AA/NA meetings, 3960 class room hours and ov er 2000 drug tests in order to receiv e their diplomas for program completion.
Since the Rome DRC opened in January 2005, 162 participants hav e successfully completed the program and 39 GED certif icates hav e been awarded. Speakers f or the ceremony included two graduating participants who shared their recov ery story and their reflection of their participation in the program.
Representativ e Katie Dempsey commended the participants f or their hard work, dedication and the positiv e changes they hav e made in their liv es, encouraging them to continue to set a positive, drug f ree example for others in the community.
The Commencement ceremony was held at the North Rome Church of God. An active f aith-based community partner for the DRC, North Rome Church of God play s an active and v ital role in the day to day operations of the Rome DRC by providing GED scholarships, bus passes, maintaining a clothes closet and holding Mentoring classes f or participants as part of the program curriculum. The church also held a reception for participants and their f amilies in the Family Lif e Center to recognize and honor the participants f or their hard work and success.