DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS Page 1 News and Facts to Keep You Informed - May 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. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary College Program Comes to Phillips State Prison The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) College Program and Transitional Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony were held on Thursday, April 17th at Phillips State Prison. Commissioner Donald delivered remarks to the inaugural class reminding the students of the dedication and determination it will take to complete the program. DOC Board member Larry Wynn and Jim Lientz, Office of the Governor, were also on hand to deliver remarks. NOBTS was founded in 1917 and in 1995; the Seminary contacted Angola State Penitentiary about the possibility of establishing a degree program inside the prison system. To date, that program has awarded over 500 degrees. In 2006 Commissioner Donald envisioned a similar undergraduate degree program for Georgia inmates who met academic and behavioral qualifications. These inmates should have at least five years remaining on their sentences, and who volunteered for the four-year degree program. The NOBTS Phillips State Prison Program is a partnership that forges a new future for offenders in prison and beyond incarceration by providing prisoner opportunities to obtain AA and BA Degrees in Christian Ministry. The program aims to reduce violence inside the prisons, provide ministry within the prisons, assist in reentry preparation and reduce recidivism once they get home. Guide Dog Training Graduation at Metro State Prison Core Goal A Safer, Healthier, Better Educated Growing, and Best Managed Georgia Core Organizational Principles On April 24th, the 5th guide dog training class graduation took place at Metro State Prison. The program began in 2002 in partnership with the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Pardons and Parole and the Georgia Department of Labor. In the past five years, 44 inmates have graduated from the program. 35 of those inmates have been released and only one has returned to prison. 20 released inmates have obtained employment as veterinary assistants, while others work as office staff in clinics. 34 guide dogs have been trained, including the 10 recent graduates and 18 of the dogs have been matched with visually impaired recipients. 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 A graduate walks with her dog to accept her certificate Graduating Class of 2008 New Class of 2009 Page 2 Continuation . . . News and Facts to Keep You Informed - May 2008 SAVE THE DATE Chinese Delegation Visits Georgia Department of Corrections Public Employee Recognition Week (PERW) May 5-9, 2008 PERW Kickoff Event May 5th 9:30 am-11:00 am Floyd Room, 20th Floor, West Tower Capitol Tours May 5th 1:30 pm-2:15 pm Capitol-North Entrance Who Knows the Nose & Fun Facts Contest May 5th 6:00 am-4:00 pm May 6th 6:00 am-1:00 pm 7th Floor Lobby Area Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader May 6th 12:00 pm-2:00 pm 8th Floor Boardroom Picnic in the Park Talent Show May 7th 12:00 pm-4:00 pm Grant Park Pavilion Area Employee Appreciation Day & Business Casual Dress Day May 8th All day All Work Units Team Jersey Day May 8th All Day All Work Units 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 Czachowski 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: GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us Last year, GDC partnered with Carl Vinson Institute of Government and hosted a delegation of China prison officials. The week long program was well received touted as a huge success. As a result, we hosted a second delegation this April 14th through 18th. Twenty four delegates from the Chinese Sichuan Province visited the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, Al Burruss Training Center, Monroe County jail, Central, Baldwin, and Metro State Prisons. On their last day, they toured the State Capitol, CNN/Olympic Park and the Coca Cola Museum. Accompanying them on the entire tour were Lt. Hopkins and Officer Barlow from GDCP. Their visit was again a huge success and we hope for a better understanding of Correctional issues between our two countries. Pictured Above: Lt. Hopkins, Vice Director General Jinhe Jiang, Commissioner James Donald, Officer Barlow Senior Management Attends Customer Service Off-Site DOC senior management participated in a Customer Service Off-site on Tuesday, April 22-Wednesday, April 23 at Timber Ridge Conference Center. Staff participated in customer service training and discussions on how to improve customer service throughout the Department. Guest speakers included Department Of Driver Services Commissioner Greg Dozier who spoke to the group about the changes within DDS. Commissioner Dozier described how improvements, such as the addition of several call centers, made a difference in how DDS responded to their customers. Other speakers include Linda Hensel from the Governor's Office of Customer Service. Ms. Hensel addressed the staff on the topic of treating customers the way you would like to be treated by presenting different scenarios on how to deal with different types of customers. Staff participated in various group exercises and learned about the challenges that each Division faces in interacting with customers. DOC not only has external customers, which include inmate families, other agency employees, and the general public, but staff also learned how to treat internal customers as well. Internal customers include other DOC employees. Commissioner Donald's vision of training every DOC employee begins at the top. Corrections will now be implementing training to all levels of staff in order to make DOC faster, friendlier and easier.