Impact Georgia, Aug. 2009

GDC HOSTS 16TH QUARTERLY AWARDS CEREMONY

August 2009 Newsletter

The Department held its 16th Quarterly Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, June 30th. Employees were recognized from the Corrections Division, Operations, Planning, and Training Division, Administrative Division, and Executive Operations. Probation Officer Alfred Dean of the Columbus Probation Office, and Correctional Officer Eddie Barlow of GD&CP, both received a Quarterly Officer Award for their outstanding service.
Selected individuals received Customer Service Champion Awards for delivering exceptional customer service, and others were presented with the Unsung Hero Award for going above and beyond the call of duty. Faithful Service Awards were presented to dedicated employees with service ranging between five and 30 years. Speakers included Commissioner Brian Owens, Larry Latimer (Director of Engineering and Construction Services), and Tom Sittnick (Director of the Office of Investigations and Compliance).
CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY CEREMONIES

In this Issue:
GDC Quarterly Awards Change of Responsibility Ceremonies Governor's Quarterly Awards Walker SP RSAT Graduation Warden's Association Conference Teen Work Program Rick Jacobs Luncheon Macon Judicial Circuit Command College Graduates

GDC staff and dignitaries celebrated the appointments of new Wardens at several facilities throughout the state during the month of July. The new Wardens are listed in the order of the photos above: Warden Clay Tatum - Calhoun State Prison, Warden Gregory McLaughlin Lee State Prison, Warden Steve Upton - Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Prison, Warden Donald Barrow - Telfair State Prison, Warden Alan Carter - Wilcox State Prison, Warden Dannie Thompson - Smith State Prison, Warden Don Jarriel - Georgia State Prison, and Warden David Frazier - Washington State Prison. We congratulate them in their new positions.
GOVERNOR HOLDS QUARTERLY CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS CEREMONY
Offering "helpful" service is exactly what teammates Warden Alexis Chase of Men's and Bostick State Prisons, Inspector Cheryl Ann Frazier of OIC, and Public Safety Training Instructor Shawn Wombles of OPTD, provide daily for our internal and external customers. They each received commendations at the Governor's Excellence in Customer Service Awards ceremony held Thursday, July 23rd in the Floyd Room of the Twin Towers. They were chosen for this award upon the consideration of nominations submitted from all state agencies which includes thousands of employees across our great state.

Upcoming Events:
August 6 - Corrections Leadership Institute Graduation in Forsyth at the Holiday Inn
August 6 - Georgia Programs Assessment Inventory (GPAI) Annual Training in Warner Robins
August 12-14 - Georgia Probation Association Summer Conference
August 18 - Corporate Advisory Board Meeting
August 19 - Professional Management Program (PMP) Graduation
August 20 - Probation Change of Responsibility (Macon Probation Office - CPO Stacy Rivera)

WALKER STATE PRISON HOLDS FIRST RSAT GRADUATION CEREMONY
Twenty-four probationers were recognized for completing the Northwest Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program at its first graduation ceremony on Thursday, July 9th. The Center opened in January and houses a maximum of 200 probationers. Each week the program receives between 12 and 15 detainees who volunteer or are court-ordered to attend the drug program.

Did You Know?
This year, more than 700 teens in First Lady Perdue's
Teen Work Program were placed in internship positions
around the state.

GEORGIA PRISON WARDENS' ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE
The Georgia Prison Wardens' Association held a Convention and Training Conference June 7 - 10. One hundred and three Wardens and Superintendents attended the conference. The organization is a collaborative network of professional Wardens and Superintendents from state, county, and private prisons who share the mission to operate safe and secure facilities. For more information, visit www. gpwainfo.org.
Photo: Pictured are members of the Georgia Prison Wardens' Association.

GDC PARTICIPATES IN ANNUAL TEEN WORK PROGRAM
This is the fifth year that GDC has been involved with First Lady Mary Perdue's Program for Teen Workers. Participants learn basic job skills and interview techniques. The Department hosted seven Teen Workers, and on Thursday, July 23rd, Commissioner Owens presented each one with a certificate for completing the 8-week program. We congratulate each of them in completing the program and encourage them to further their education. The Teen Workers are listed below along with their Division:

Commissioner Brian Owens
Public Affairs: Joan Heath, Director Sharmelle Brooks, Editor Kristen Stancil, Contributor
Contact: 404-656-9772 GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us

Chrishonda Billinger, OPT Division Marshelle Long, Corrections Division Jenita McCoy, Executive Operations Crystal Phillips, OPT Division

Michael Powell, OPT Division Salaadina Stepney, Executive Operations Reginald Stone, OPT Division

Commissioner Owens with five of the seven Teen Workers.

GDC STAFF HOSTS LUNCHEON FOR NEWLY APPOINTED WARDEN

To celebrate Rick Jacobs' new position as Warden of Macon State Prison, GDC staff gathered for a luncheon to celebrate his exemplary leadership skills.

He joined the Department as a Probation Officer in 1992. Since then, he has served as Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent and Warden. Most recently, Jacobs was Director of Special Operations where he managed the Canine Unit, Tactical Squads and Correctional Emergency Response Teams. Warden Jacobs will oversee 1769 inmates and 366 staff members at Macon State Prison.

The first photo is of Rick Jacobs speaking during the luncheon. The second photo is Rick Jacobs with his cake and Special Ops teammates.

MACON JUDICIAL CIRCUIT PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

The Macon Judicial Circuit, which includes a Probation Office and Day Reporting Center, participated in a collaborative community service work project on Saturday, June 27th with Project Safe Neighborhood, Crime Stoppers and Gang/Violent Task Force in Macon. This project consisted of cleaning graffiti from the Village Green Park Area, as well as cleaning the area grounds of trash and debris. All participants worked very hard to make this a success.

COMMAND COLLEGE GRADUATES (MAY 2009)

In the first photo is Chief Probation Officer Stacy Rivera, along with other participants cleaning up a neighborhood.

Jacquelyn Cuspert Alexander Crystal Allen
Peggy Chapman Marston Stan Cooper Merle L. Johnson Lee
Robert B. Humes Michael Vernon Kraft
Greta Smith Mary Ann Taylor Gregory Thomas

Page 2

CONGRATULATIONS!