((( IMPACT GE RGIA ((( News and Facts to Keep You Informed January 2009 GDC IMPLEMENTS BANKING CONSOLIDATION INITIATIVE The Georgia Department of Corrections is converting to both a single Offender Trust Account and single State Probation Office account, which will be managed centrally. This consolidation process will be implemented in partnership with Bank of America, and will allow the Department to close approximately 150 locally managed accounts. Currently, facilities receive and deposit money orders from offender family members for use in GDC commissaries, while Probation Offices collect and deposit fines, fees and court ordered restitution for subsequent disbursement. Under the new consolidation program, each of these accounts will generate more accurate and timely deposit of funds. Consolidated accounts will allow for banking lockbox services and the use of payment service providers, such as Western Union, offering more customer-friendly methods of fund remittance. Visit www.dcor.state.ga.us and click on the Consolidated Banking Process banner for more information. NEW FITNESS STANDARDS FOR POST CERTIFIED STAFF Starting January 1, 2009, the Department will issue a new fitness standard for new hires trying to receive a POST certification. The new fitness standard requires male staff to complete eight push-ups in one minute and 12 sit-ups in one minute. Females will be required to do four push-ups in one minute and eight sit-ups in one minute. All staff will be required to complete a 16-minute one mile walk/run. In July 2009, current staff will be given the opportunity to participate in voluntary testing in the three areas. Staff will be given information packets on areas they need to strengthen. Beginning January 1, 2010, current POST certified staff will be required to complete all three areas of the fitness standard. Current staff will have until the end of 2010 to complete the new fitness standard. The Department cares about the safety of its employees, and these new standards will ensure our staff will be able to respond to emergencies throughout our correctional communities. We want to carry on the Governor's vision by creating a healthier, safer and well educated staff. For more information there will be a tri-fold available in January on our website, www.dcor. state.ga.us. GDC TRAINS OVER 9,000 EMPLOYEES IN THE ART OF EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE Cathy Smith GDC Customer Service Champion As the close of 2008 approaches, so does the GDC "Art of Exceptional Customer Service" initial training rollout. Currently, more than 9,000 employees have been trained in the "Art of Excep- tional Customer Service." The Customer Service training that we have all received has created an awareness in our agency that is already proving to have tremen- dous impact. According to recent survey results conducted by Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Stud- ies, Public Performance & Management Group, GDC is being recognized as an agency whose service is impeccable in the areas of being courteous, helpful and knowledgeable. Let's continue to experience this success by seizing every opportunity to provide exceptional customer service. The training initiative is just the tip of the iceberg, there are many more exciting customer service projects to come. Without the support of all of our teammates this could not have been done. We are near completion as it relates to the training rollout. A special thank you to all of the training instructors, Wardens, Superintendents and Chief Probation Officers who worked tirelessly to get their staff trained. DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR GDC RELOCATION The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) will be offering a one-time special provision to Central Office staff relocating in conjunction with the Department's move to the Tift College campus in Forsyth, Georgia. The provision will allow those qualifying employees who currently own a home to use the PEN HomeOwn Program (Public Protectors, Educators and Nurses) to assist with their relocation. Eligible borrowers may borrow $7500 at 0% interest to use toward the down payment, closing costs and other loan related expenses while contributing only 1% of the sales price to the purchase. The Program will be offered July 2010 through January 2011 to existing eligible employees. Those employees may purchase a home in Monroe, Bibb, Crawford, Upson, Lamar, Butts, Jones or Jasper County. GDC OPENS THREE NEW DAY REPORTING CENTERS The Department recently celebrated the opening of three new Day Reporting Centers in Atlanta, Gainesville, and Augusta. ((( ((( Page 1 In next month's issue: Look for `Voices of Hope' from Metro State Prison. Learn about their efforts to give back. The latest PeopleSoft software GDC College Students Honored Upcoming Events: 1/12 - Legislative Session Begins 1/13 - Smith SP Fast Track Ribbon Cutting 1/21 - Walker RSAT Ribbon Cutting 1/27 - Rouse DRC Ribbon Cutting Jan. 1 - New Year's Day - Holiday Jan. 19 - MLK - Holiday Did You Know? In 2008, 2,129 applicants enrolled in BCOT to become Correctional Officers. After training, 1,643 graduated to become GDC Correctional Officers. METRO ATLANTA DRC GAINESVILLE DRC AUGUSTA DRC Commissioner James E. Donald Public Affairs: Joan Heath, Director Sharmelle Brooks Kristen Stancil Contact: 404-656-9772 GDCinfo@dcor.state.ga.us www.dcor.state.ga.us ((( ((( IMPACT GE RGIA News and Facts to Keep You Informed January 2009 Page 2 PULASKI STATE PRISON'S HORSE RESCUE FARM REHABILITATES HORSES AND INMATES Pulaski State Prison is Georgia's first prison program for equine rehabilitation. The facility has entered into an agreement with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to care for horses impounded by DOA this year. The female inmates spend six hours each weekday providing care to the horses, while learning skills to help them achieve certification as veterinary technicians through Middle Georgia College. Warden Tom Chapman would like to be able to expand the rehabilitation project to include up to 100 horses. No state funds are used to run this valuable program. PRISON INDUSTRIES ENHANCEMENT (PIE) PARTNERSHIP WITH BONE SAFETY SIGNS, INC. The Georgia Department of Corrections is preparing to launch its first Prison Industries Enhancement, or "PIE" program, in partnership with Bone Safety Signs of Marietta, Georgia. The principle focus of this program is to fight recidivism by teaching skills to men and women who are incarcerated, thereby helping to prepare them for re-entry into society. Bone Safety Signs will utilize inmates at Georgia State Prison in Reidsville, Georgia and Smith State Prison in Glennville, Georgia to manufacture signs, four days per week, 8-10 hours per day. Many of the inmates who will participate in the program have already been performing similar duties in the existing factories. tory amount of 10% of gross earnings will be held as savings The Prison Industries Enhancement Program was created by Congress in 1979 and approved by the Georgia General Assembly in 2005. It provides an opportunity for private companies, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Corrections, to produce their products "inside the wire" at any of our state prisons. It is specifically designed to ensure there is no displacement of "free world" jobs, does not occur in occupations where there is a surplus of labor, and does not impair existing contracts for services. The Georgia Department of Labor has certified that this criterion has been met in the communities surrounding Georgia State Prison and Smith State Prison. Inmates will be paid based on a prevailing wage plan, beginning at no less than minimum wage. The inmates must use those wages to pay victim funds, restitution and fines, room and board, and child support if ordered. Additionally, to help ensure they have resources once released, a manda- Bone Safety Signs has been producing "safety" products for twenty-eight years. They are one of the leading manufacturers of temporary traffic control devices in the United States. ACHIEVING A "STRESS-FREE" HOLIDAY SEASON If you begin to feel overwhelmed due to the hustle and bustle of the season, Employee Support Services is here for you. This unit, commonly referred to as EAP,* is here to guide you and assist you in times of stress and personal need. With this thought in mind, the end of the year brings stress of all kinds to light. A few but not all may include stress of the holidays, resolutions, overspending, personal and professional expectations. In order to arm yourself with tools to protect your mental health and relieve some of that stress, you may want to review some of the following articles that are posted both on Captiva, as well as, our GDC Public website under "Employee Support," then select "Personal Stress/Coping/Positive Thinking:" - 25 Ways to Beat Holiday Stress - Holiday Stress - Holiday Stress Hot Spots - National Stress-Free Family Holiday Month - Overcoming Stress: Seven Ways To Manage Stress In the New Year - Make a Mental Wellness New Year's Resolution Wishing you a "stress free" holiday season and a Happy New Year! * - EAP consists of Statewide EAP Coordinator (404-463-6623) and local EAP coordinators (at least one in each correctional facility and probation circuit). NEW ACCOUNTABILITY TOOL IN PLACE FOR PROBATION MANAGEMENT During December, GDC introduced the SCRIBE Accountability Module, an enhanced case management tool for probation officers, and a performance management tool for chiefs. This mangement tool is designed to be used in COMSTAT format for reporting on status of supervision in individual circuits. "As we continue to work toward changing offender behavior to reduce recidivism, leveraging technology is a key to aiding in the supervision of offenders in our community and promoting public safety," said Assistant Commissioner Brian Owens. The SCRIBE Accountability Module will begin initial operating capability in January 2009 with full operating capability expected to occur April 1, 2009. JOHNSON STATE PRISON INMATES CREATE HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS FOR ELDERLY Inmates housed in the Faith-Based dormitory of Johnson State Prison created original holiday greeting cards for the residents of Wrightsville Manor and Greenwood Retirement Village. The cards were made with colored paper, crayons and glue. Johnson State Prison employees brought the cards to the retirement home and presented them to the residents. Warden Anthony Washington, Deputy Warden Jackie Morgan, Chaplain Forrest Lester and Counselor Benjamin Allen all made this project possible. Operation Push to Pedal is another project the prison has created. Old bikes are refurbished for the children in the community. Staff members donated 34 bikes as well as the funds to buy paint and other supplies. The bikes were given to Johnson County DFACS as Christmas gifts.