Impact Georgia, Aug. 2008

Faster. Friendlier. Easier

News and Facts to Keep You Informed
GDC HOLDS CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY CEREMONIES
GDC staff and dignitaries from across the state attended several Change of Responsibility ceremonies last month. The new wardens were appointed on July 1st and later presented their badge from Commissioner James E. Donald. "I know each facility is in good hands and I look forward to hearing good things from all of them," said Donald. Also during each ceremony, the outgoing warden selected two GDC employees as recipients of the Commissioner's Coin.

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.

Warden Belinda Davis at Dooly State Prison
7/2/2008

Warden Kathy Seabolt at Metro State Prison
7/7/2008

Warden Bruce Chatman at Bostick State Prison
7/8/2008

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.

Warden James Lanier at Walker State Prison
7/9/2008

Warden Hugh Smith at Dodge State Prison
7/15/2008

Warden Billy Brown at Montgomery State Prison
7/15/2008

Warden Dale Herndon at Hays State Prison
7/17/2008

Warden Tamala Brown at Wayne State Prison
7/29/2008

Did You Know?...
GDC has a total of 40 Wardens---37 wardens are appointed to state prisons and 3 to private prisons

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
August 2008

Faster. Friendlier. Easier

Upcoming Events
American Correctional Association Conference August 8-12 Corporate Advisory Board Meeting 8/13 Canton CPO COR 8/26 GPA Conference August 13-15
Commissioner: James E. Donald Public Affairs Director: Joan Heath Managing Editor: Sharmelle Brooks Photographers/Contributors: Paul Czachowski Mallie McCord Kristen Stancil
Please direct comments or questions to: Office of Public Affairs 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive East Tower, Suite 864 Atlanta, Georgia 30334 Phone: 404-656-9772 Fax: 404-656-6434 Email: GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us

News and Facts to Keep You Informed
PREA IS AT THE TOP OF GDC'S LIST
The Georgia Department of Corrections recently gave public comment to the National Prison Rape Elimination Commission's draft standards for adult prisons. The Department's contribution to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) will help finalize standards with the goal of eliminating prison sexual abuse and improving prison safety.
Many of the proposed standards are already current operational practices within the agency. GDC is leading the way in best practices with a comprehensive PREA policy, facility Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART), and training and education for both staff and inmates. For more information, contact Angela Grant at 404-651-6042.
GDC'S GED PASS RATE ABOVE STATE AVERAGE
Increasing public safety by reducing recidivism is a primary goal of the Georgia Department of Corrections. One effective way Corrections is reaching that goal is by providing Academic Education at each of its facilities. The Correctional Association for the United States Department of Education concluded "inmates who participated in education programs while incarcerated showed lower rates of recidivism after three years"--a 29% reduction--and their "wages were higher."
GDC Academic Education includes Literacy/Remedial Reading classes, Adult Basic Education, GED Preparation and GED Examinations. On a typical day, 7,000 offenders are enrolled.
The current Corrections GED pass rate is 72%. The most recent nationally reported data in 2006 indicated that the national average was 68% and the state average 63%. Offenders with a GED or high school diploma are eligible to enroll in GDC Vocational Education.

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS GDC'S PRIORITY
Customer Service is in the air at GDC and with that in mind, it's time to register for CS Training. Class dates for Central Office staff at the Capitol Education Center are Aug 12-13 or Aug 26-27 with additional dates to come. The class title is Customer Service Training (Management Level) however; it is open to all Central Office employees. Go to: http://captiva.dcor.state.ga.us - Click GDC Training Registration - Change TO (date): August 30 - Location: Any - Unit Description: Employee Development Unit - Course Description: Customer Service - Click "Show Available Class Times" (Bottom of page)
The Governor's Office of Customer Service is hosting its annual CS Summit on October 8th. We want GDC to be the most recognized state agency for our outstanding customer service so please submit your nominations today. Nominations are due to the Office of Public Affairs by August 25th, but please see your supervisor or Division management for more details.
Visit https://teamgeorgia.wufoo.com/forms/nominate for the nomination form

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

Page 2