February 2009 Newsletter GOVERNOR PERDUE APPOINTS OWENS AS NEW DOC COMMISSIONER On Tuesday, January 6th, the Board of Cor- In 1999, Owens led the Department of Corrections' Office rections unanimously approved the Governor's of Planning and Analysis before accepting the position of recommendation of Brian Owens as new Correc- Executive Assistant to former Commissioner Jim Wethering- tions Commissioner. Owens was subsequently ton in 2002. Owens has held his most recent position sworn in January 8th by Governor Perdue at serving as Assistant Commissioner under James E. the Capitol. "Brian has served the agency in Donald since 2005. a number of leadership roles over the past decade and is ready to take on this new "I'm honored and humbled to hold this posi- challenge," said Governor Perdue. tion," said Commissioner Owens. "I look forward to serving in this role and continuing In this issue: Owens began his career in criminal justice as a Parole Officer, and served as Assistant Chief Parole Officer and Chief Parole Officer in Fulton County. to focus on the mission of protecting and serving the citizens of Georgia." Newly Appointed: Commissioner Owens Mr. James E. Donald Asst. Commissioner Schofield MR. DONALD APPOINTED TO STATE BOARD OF PARDONS AND PAROLE Timothy Ward, Facilities Director Sheila Oubre, Warden Governor Sonny Perdue announced the appointment of Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner James E. Donald to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. He will replace Garfield Hammonds, Jr., whose term expired December 31, 2008. Hammonds was originally appointed to the Board by Governor Zell Miller and was re-appointed by Governor Roy Barnes in December 2001. Donald's appointment is effective today, January 5 and expires on December 31, 2015. "Commissioner Donald's experience in the state's prison system makes him an excellent addition to the Board of Pardons and Paroles," said Governor Perdue. "He has demonstrated strong leadership skills during his tenure at DOC and I am confident that he will continue his commitment to public service in his new role." Mr. Donald served as the DOC Commissioner from December 2003 to January 8, 2009. Lavonia Police Department Metro State Prison's "Voices of Hope" choir National Georgraphic series Ribbon cutting ceremonies DERRICK SCHOFIELD NAMED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens announced the appointment of Derrick Schofield as the Department's new Assistant Commissioner. Mr. Schofield, who previously served as the Director of Facility Operations, will assume this new position effective immediately. ing as second-in-command of the Department. Mr. Schofield assumes responsibility for the overall administration and operation of the agency in the Commissioner's absence or as directed by the Commissioner. "Mr. Schofield has prepared himself extremely well to assume his new responsibilities. I have every confidence he will excel in his role, as he has in all others," said Commissioner Owens. In his duties as Assistant Commissioner, Schofield will serve as the Commissioner's appointed deputy, function- Schofield joined Corrections in 1992 as a program manager at Lee Arrendale State Prison. He most recently served as Director of Facility Operations, with the responsibility to ensure the safe and secure operation of more than 100 prisons and centers. TIMOTHY WARD APPOINTED FACILITIES DIRECTOR Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens announced the appointment of Timothy Ward to serve as the new Facilities Director. Ward will oversee the Department's state prisons, probation detention centers, transitional centers and boot camp. In his new role, Ward will be responsible for more than 12,000 employees who serve in facility operations of the Corrections Division. Ward assumed his new position effective Monday, January 12, 2009. Prior to his new position, he was appointed as the Warden at Rogers State Prison in 2005 and has served as Warden at Phillips State Prison since 2007. Upcoming Events: Feb. 3 - GDC Statewide HR Administrators Workshop @ GPSTC Feb. 3 - Annual Fire Marshal "Deputization" Ceremony @ Capitol Bldg Feb. 10 - Quarterly GDC / MCG Leadership Meeting in Atlanta Feb. 12 - Valdosta State Prison Faith & Character-Based Dormitory "Family Day" Feb. 26 - Macon State Prison Faith & Character-Based Dormitory "Family Day" NEW WARDEN NAMED AT PHILLIPS STATE PRISON Sheila Oubre was recently promoted to Warden at Phillips State Prison in Buford, Georgia. Oubre has served as Deputy Warden of Security at Phillips since 2007. eventually promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant and Unit Manager. Prior to becoming Deputy Warden of Security at Phillips, Oubre served as Superintendent of West Georgia Boot Camp in 2006. Warden Oubre joined the U.S. Army in 1984 and served with the Military Police for 10 years. She joined the Department of Corrections in 1994 as a Correctional Officer at Metro State Prison. Oubre was In assuming her position on January 16, she now oversees 1006 inmates and 326 staff members. COMMISSIONER HONORS LAVONIA POLICE DEPARTMENT Commissioner Owens honored three officers with the Lavonia Police Department for their work, which resulted in the recapture of escaped Hays State Prison inmate Johnny Mack Brown in November. Lt. Michael Schulman, Officer Casey Brouwer and Officer Scot Stowe received the Commissioner's coin. Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle, Lavonia Mayor Ralph Owens and Franklin County Representatives Michael Hardin and Alan Powell were on hand for the presentation. Did You Know? The Department's first Commissioner was Wiley L. Moore. He was the Commissioner from 1943-1945. Commissioner Owens is the 20th Commissioner of the Department. METRO STATE PRISON'S "VOICES OF HOPE" CHOIR RECORD ALBUM The choir at Metro State Prison, the "Voices of Hope," was recorded recently during a live performance at Emory University's Canon Chapel. The choir, led by Chaplain Susan Bishop, performed with special guest Emily Sailers of the Grammy-winning Indigo Girls. The CD is expected to be available for purchase this month, with proceeds going toward the Georgia Prison Ministries. To pre-order your copy, contact Dr. Chuck Mendenhall at the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia at 404-636-1457 x229, or Chaplain Bishop at 404-624-2200 x2339. "Voices of Hope" was formed in 1992, and there are currently 40 members in the large choir, and up to 25 members in a smaller group that performs for churches, seminaries, special events and conferences. Visit www.dcor.state.ga.us and click on "Featured Video Clips/WSB Feature-Voices of Hope" to see some of the performance. The "Voices of Hope" choir sing at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Metro Atlanta Day Reporting Center Dec. 5, 2008. GDC'S 6-WEEK NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SERIES PREMIERES IN FEBRUARY The Department of Corrections allowed National Geographic to go behind bars for its new reality series, "Hard Time". Film crews were given access to GDC facilities for one year. During that time, crews captured life for inmates, probationers and staff at Hays State Prison, GD&CP, Telfair State Prison, and the boot camp at Burruss Correctional Training Center. They also followed cadets as they entered the Training Academy. "Hard Time" premieres February 23rd at 9pm on the National Geographic channel. SMITH & WALKER STATE PRISON HOLD RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES The Smith State Prison Fast Track ribbon cutting took place on January 13. The new fast Track unit will hold an addidtional 256 inmates, bringing Smith State Prison's capacity to more than 1400 beds. Construction for the Fast Track units was completed Dec. 28, 2008. Commissioner Brian Owens Public Affairs: Joan Heath, Director Sharmelle Brooks Kristen Stancil Contact: 404-656-9772 GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us Walker State Prison held a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Northwest Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Center. Up to 200 probation detainees may be housed there. The prison's total capacity, including the treatment center, is 645. Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) programs are an alternative to prison for medium to high risk offenders with a history of substance. The primary goal is for the program participants to learn real-life ways to help them remain out of prison and live a life free of crime and drugs. The program has four phases: Assessment and Orientation, Active Treatment, Re-entry Planning, and Relapse Preventionexit planning. Commissioner Owens cuts the ribbon to Walker State Prison's new Northwest Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Center. Page 2 GDC OPENS ROUSE DAY REPORTING CENTER The Tommy Rouse Day Reporting Center (DRC) celebrated its opening on January 27. The Tommy Rouse DRC and Waycross Probation Office recently began operations in the former Tommy Rouse Diversion Center office. The Tommy Rouse DRC will be serving 100 offenders. The DRC uses several cognitive programs that target offenders with alcohol and substance abuse. Tommy M. Rouse, Harris Hodges, Stan Cooper, and Wayne Dasher are joined by others in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Tommy Rouse DRC.