Impact Georgia, Dec. 2008

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((( IMPACT GE RGIA News and Facts to Keep You Informed December 2008
ESCAPED INMATE CAPTURED BY LAVONIA POLICE
In next month's issue:
Look for `Voices of Hope' from Metro State Prison. Learn about their efforts to give back.
The Department's new Fitness Stardards apply for all newly hired POST certified employees starting January 1, 2009.

Johnny Mack Brown was captured by Lavonia Police on November 15, 2008

The Department announced the recapture of inmate Johnny Mack Brown who escaped from Hays State Prison Oct. 13. Brown was captured in a wooded area in Franklin County by Lavonia City Police. Corrections, GBI, Federal Task Force, Highway Patrol and local law enforcement officials recently concentrated search efforts in areas surrounding rural Franklin County.
Brown was serving a life sentence, plus seventy years for armed robbery when he

escaped. Because of his violent history, he was placed on the U.S. Marshals' 15 Most Wanted list, with a $25,000 reward offered for his recapture.
"I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Lavonia Police Department and all police personnel who participated in the recapture," stated Corrections Commissioner James E. Donald. "This affirms our commitment to our non-negotiable mission of public safety," added Donald.

CUSTOMER SERVICE CHAMPION

Upcoming Events: Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies Dec. 2 - Gainesville DRC Dec. 5 - Metro Atlanta DRC Dec. 12 - Augusta DRC Dec. 25-26 - Holidays
Upcoming Customer Service Training Classes Dec. 9 and Dec. 10

The Georgia Department of Correc-

Each GDC employee is an integral

tions has an opportunity to improve

part of the GDC Customer Service

customer service in our Agency by im- Team. The input and collaboration

proving our business processes. This of each GDC employee functioning

means processes and procedures that as a "customer service provider" will

are faster, friendlier and easier.

enable our agency to more efficiently

and effectively accomplish it's mis-

As the Customer Service Champion sion.

for our Agency, my vision is a custom-

er service team that is highly effective Together we can work towards the

in developing and implementing cus- Georgia Department of Corrections

tomer service programs that will result being the state agency that has cus-

in enhancing the overall effectiveness tomer service process improvement

Cathy Smith

of our Agency.

programs that are regarded as the

GDC Customer Service Champion

best in state government.

((( Did You Know? A 1% reduction in recidivism results in a savings to the taxpayers of

approximately $7 million per year

GDC HONORS ITS OLDEST VETERAN

In recognition of Veteran's Day, GDC held a Veteran's Ceremony on November 10th, honoring all of the Department's service men and women. Dr. Eugene D. Whatley was recognized as the oldest veteran in the Department.

Serving as Educational Supervisor and Educational Principal at Metro State Prison and also in Milledgeville, he is credited for putting programs in place for educational and vocational training at many GDC facilities.

Pictured left to right: Mrs. Carolyn Whatley, Dr. Eugene Whatley, and Assistant Commissioner Brian Owens

Dr. Whatley currently serves as Dr. Whatley joined the Armed

the Central/Southeast Educational Forces immediately after gradu-

Supervisor for the Department in ating from college, and was

Wrightsville, GA. He began his stationed at Ft. Lewis in Seattle,

employment with GDC in 1981

Washington and at Camp Drake

as an Educational Supervisor at in Japan. He served two years in

Georgia Diagnostic and Classifica- Korea.

tion Prison in Jackson, Georgia.

GDC REASSIGNS SEVERAL CHAPLAINS
Doug Simmons was previously the Director of Chaplaincy Services/Central Office. He will now serve as the Chaplain at Autry State Prison in Pelham, Georgia.
Toriarn Weldon was previously the Faith & Character Based Coordinator and will be the new Asstistant DRC Coordinator for the Metro Atlanta Day Reporting Center.
Charles Talbot was previously the State Volunteer Coordinator and he'll be starting his new position as Chaplain at Phillips State Prison in Buford, Georgia.
Danny Horne will be the new Director of Chaplaincy Services in Central Office. His prior position was Chaplain for Phillips State Prison.

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GCI PRESENTS "PEDDLING FOR LIFE AND GAS CONSERVATION AWARD"

Dave Hess on his bicycle

Georgia Correctional Industries (GCI) presented the Peddling for Life and Gas Conservation Award to Dave Hess, Senior Regional Manager at the Decatur office. The award was given as a salute to Dave for bicycling to and from work. Hess has been a GCI employee for more than 13 years.
Initially, Dave began bicycling when he decided to be more conscientious about his health. An annual physical showed that his cholesterol was slightly over 200 points before he started bicycling.

Now, his cholesterol has dropped to 177 points. Compared to other traditional forms of exercise, bicycling yields interesting scenery, allows him to travel longer distances, and is an enjoyable activity.
Dave bicycles not only to improve his health, but to reduce fuel consumption. In June 2008, he began bicycling to and from work four days a week. His daily commute is 15 miles round trip. Dave's weekly goal is 100 miles per week and he attains 60 percent of this just traveling to work.

QUENCIE JONES RETIRES
Quencie Jones retired after being with the State for 22 years, 8 of which were with the Department of Corrections. She served as the Benefits Unit Supervisor in Personnel.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Pictured left to right: Cindy Schweiger (Personnel Division Director, Quencie Jones, and Commissioner James E. Donald

GDC REACHED MILESTONE WITH CDL PROGRAM

Georgia Department of Corrections announced a milestone in its Commercial Driver's License Program. Dujuan Mitchell, a graduate of the first CDL class, repaid the total cost of his training upon securing employment while a resident of the Macon Transitional Center. "We are very proud of Mr. Mitchell and his commitment to the program and his transition back into society," said Commissioner James E. Donald.
In partnership with Middle Georgia Technical College, the CDL pilot program began in Feb-

ruary 2008, and is currently being offered at both Pre-Release Centers and Transitional Centers. These facilities are designed to better prepare offenders for their transition back into communities. Participation in the CDL program is voluntary, however repayment of the $1500 training cost is mandatory for each participant.
Students must complete 175 hours of onthe-road or on-the-range driving and three classroom courses.

MEN'S STATE PRISON'S WARDEN READS TO LOCAL CHILDREN

Warden Alexis Chase of Men's State Prison has "adopted" Creekside Kindergarten in her local community. She reads books to the children on a regular basis, and the inmates in her Activity Therapy Department build wooden toys and other crafts for the children, to go

along with the books Warden Chase reads. The class was able to join the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter "Send Your Name to the Moon" project thanks to the assistance of Warden Chase.

CREEKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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COLUMBUS DAY REPORTING CENTER RIBBON CUTTING
Pictured left to right: Judge John D. Allen, Dr. J. Aleem Hud, Commissioner James E. Donald, Mayor Jim Wetherington, Rev. J.H. Flakes, Judge Frank J. Jordon Jr., Pastor J.H. Flakes III, Judge Kenneth B. Followill, and Lawrence Stewart, Superintendent of Columbus Transitional Center
"Swift, Certain, Proportionate Sanctions..."

Photo taken by Joe Paull
Commissioner James E. Donald helped cut the ribbon at Columbus Day Reporting Center in Columbus on November 14th. Day Reporting Centers are "non-resident" drug and mental health treatment and restitution centers. Additional Centers are scheduled to open in Gainesville, Atlanta, Northwest Georgia, Savannah, Albany, Thomasville, Marietta and Dekalb County.

Day Report Centers, as the name implies, are non-residential facilities targeting primarily property crime offenders in cases where drug dependency is the true underlying factor. Once assessed for their crime producing deficits, offenders are mandated to participate in a number of intervention strategies to include intensive drug treatment, vocational and educational training and criminal thinking programming. After a short period of orientation, they are then required to work a job in the community. Offenders report every day for up to nine months, and are drug tested frequently and surveillance officers check on them at night.

Officers specially trained in supervising offenders with mental illness will provide the important link between the courts and the community. Offenders completing a Day Report Center program are far less likely to recidivate than offenders who spent several years in prison, and the cost to the taxpayer is about a fourth the cost of incarceration ... offenders in Day Report Centers cost taxpayers $10 per day per offender as opposed to $40 to $80 per day in other correctional facilities.
There are three phases:

Phase 1

- 30 to 45 days detoxification and cognitive restructuring - Offenders are drug tested every other day - Family members and faith based community involvement

Phase 2

-2 to 6 months, focus on maintaining sobriety AA/NA & GED -Mandatory employment -Surveillance Officer monitors

Phase 3 (Aftercare) - 6 months continued sobriety and drug testing
Day Reporting Centers have proven results. For those who graduate, a Georgia State University study revealed the 3-year reconviction rate is 7 percent versus a 26 28 percent reconviction rate for Diversion Centers and State Prisons.

Commissioner James E. Donald PUBLIC AFFAIRS: Joan Heath, Director Kristen Stancil Sharmelle Brooks CONTACT: 404-656-9772 GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us