Impact Georgia, 2008 June

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Page 1

News and Facts to Keep You Informed - June 2008

"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 citi-
zens 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 posi-
tive change. We are a leader and partner in mak-
ing Georgia a safer, healthier, better educated,
growing and best managed state.

Georgia Department of Corrections 4th Annual Employee Awards Ceremony
The Georgia Department of Corrections 4th Annual Employee Awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 7th. Chairman Wayne Dasher, Commissioner Donald and Governor Sonny Perdue were on hand to present the awards. The awards were held in conjunction with DOC's Public Employee Recognition Week (PERW).
Governor Perdue praised Corrections employees for their hard work and dedication. Commissioner Donald and Chairman Dasher echoed his remarks with praises of their own. Employees and facilities were recognized in various categories such as Employee of the Year, Facility of the Year, Correctional Officer of the Year, and Probation Officer of the Year.
GDC Employees Enjoy 4th Annual Picnic at Grant Park

Core Goal
A Safer, Healthier,

Corrections held their 4th An-
nual Employee Picnic at
Grant Park on Wednesday, May 7th. The picnic was held

Better

at Grant Park and provided

Educated Growing, and Best Managed Georgia

an opportunity for employees to participate in team building exercises and enjoy games

like bingo, basketball and

volleyball. Employees en-

Core Organizational
Principles
Value Based:

joyed hotdogs and hamburgers under the pavilion while mingling with staff members from other Divisions.

Stewards of the Public

Trust

DOC staff had the opportunity

Embrace Change:

to showcase their various talents in a talent show. The

Change, Transformation is talent show is always a big hit

inevitable

at the picnic. The picnic pro-

Business Acumen:

vided an additional opportunity for Corrections staff to be

Better Business Practice recognized for their out-

standing accomplishments.
A Learning Organization:

People are the Centerpiece

Continuation . . .

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News and Facts to Keep You Informed - June 2008

SAVE THE DATE

Georgia Department of Corrections Hosts Semi-Annual Family Day

Commissioner James E. Donald and senior Corrections officials met in Milledgeville on Wednesday, May 14, with family members, significant others and friends of inmates incarcerated in the Georgia prison system. The half-day event began at 9:00 am and was held at the Chapel of All Faiths in Milledgeville. The Chapel of All Faiths is located at Central State Hospital at Broad & Swint Avenue.

Georgia Prison Wardens Association Summer Conference June 1-4, 2008

"We have an obligation to be good stewards of the publics' trust, and it is important that inmates' families and friends have opportunities to meet face-to-face with our senior leadership team," said Commissioner Donald. "Hopefully, this access will give them a clearer understanding of the state services and initiatives we offer and an opportunity to provide direct feedback."
Family Day is our continuing effort to provide customer service to the many families of offenders in the GDC system. We realize that family members are our customers and our goal is to provide the best customer service in accordance with the Governor's vision to serve faster, friendlier and easier.

First CDL Inmate Class Graduates

June 4, 2008--1:00 pm Team Building Event GDC goes to the Braves Game
Visit our website at www.dcor.state.ga.us
Commissioner: James E. Donald
Public Affairs Director:
Joan Heath
Acting Managing Editor:
Nancy F. Phillips
Photographers/contributors:
Paul Czachowski Mallie McCord Joan Heath
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

On Wednesday, May 28th, inmates participating in the CDL training class graduated from Middle Georgia Technical College. Commissioner Donald and DDC Commissioner Greg Dozier were on hand to present the certificates to the graduates.
As part of a vocational training contract with the Georgia Department of Corrections, Middle Georgia Technical College helped to provide a Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) class at the 7 Pre-Release Centers (PRC) recently opened by the Georgia Department of Corrections. PreRelease Centers are designed to help better prepare inmates for their transition back into the community.
The CDL initiative is voluntary and requires that the trained offender agree to repay the cost of training. The CDL pilot began February 13, 2008 at Long PRC in Ludiwici, Georgia. The goal of the CDL course is to train as many qualified offenders as possible for careers in the Trucking Industry.
Georgia Impact Albany State Degree Program
Albany Technical college formed a partnership with Albany State University and the GDC in 2006 to provide a two-year college degree in Criminal Justice with little or no direct expense and guaranteed transferability to Albany State University. Officer Brent Houston, from Pelham Pre-Release Center, is the first GDC employee to complete the two-year degree and transfer under that agreement. Officer Houston begins classes at Albany State this fall with no loss of credit in transfer. He was recognized for this accomplishment in a special luncheon in April attended by both college presidents and OPTD Director Arnold Smith.