Impact Georgia, Sept. 2009

METRO STATE PRISON HOLDS CD RELEASE EVENT FOR "VOICES OF HOPE"

September 2009 Newsletter

On August 26, Metro State Prison held a CD release event for its "Voices of Hope" choir. Guest speakers included Commissioner Owens and General James E. Donald. The "Voices of Hope" choir sang several selections off of their self-titled CD during the event. This is the first time any choir of any prison in the Department has made a CD. To purchase the CD, visit the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia's website at www.cccgeorgia.org. Each CD is $15 and all proceeds will support the women's ministries, as well as the Children's Center at Metro State Prison. The "Voices of Hope" began in 1992 and has approximately 35 members.
DEPARTMENT HOLDS GEORGIA PROGRAM ASSESSMENT INVENTORY TRAINING

In this Issue:
Metro State Prison's Choir GPAI Annual Training Scott State Prison Change of Responsibility - Warden Change of Responsibility - CPO CLI Graduation Professional Management Program Employee Recognition

On August 6, the Georgia Program Assessment Inventory (GPAI) Annual Training was held at Middle Georgia Technical College (MGTC) in Warner Robins, Ga. GPAI is an assessment tool developed by the University of Cincinnati to measure the effectiveness of offender programs. It is based on best practices for implementing the principles of effective intervention, otherwise known as "What Works." The GPAI project began about five years ago and has expanded to include approximately 60 sites in both Probation and Facilities.
Twelve awards were presented to facilities and individuals. Award recipients were Macon Transitional Center, Western Pre-Release Center, Pulaski State Prison, Central State Prison, Tifton Day Reporting Center, Athens Day Reporting Center, Turner Pre-Release Center, Wilkes Pre-Release Center, Counselor LeThicia Davis of Hays State Prison, CPO Ricky Bryan of the Tifton DRC, Superintendent Debra Slaughter of the LaGrange TC, and Former Central State Prison Warden Cynthia Nelson.
SCOTT STATE PRISON: WORDS FROM DEPUTY WARDEN JOHN JEANES
Frank Scott State Prison is going off the net. The inmates are at their new prisons. The staff have assumed their new duties at their new institutions. The programs with equipment have been relocated. The furniture has gone on to serve at new sites.
The dorms are eerily quiet. Gone is the loud roar of the wall fans. The constant loud sounds of the inmates is no more. Where 160 beds once stood, is now barren. The only sound is the echos of your own boots. The static sound of the officers communicating with their radios has been silenced. We have struck our colors and folded the flags with reverence one last time. Turn off the lights.
" Do not cry that it is gone, smile that it ever was"
The staff of Frank Scott State Prison want to thank the many people who have assisted in the transition into the quiet. With TEAM all is possible. Thanks again to ALL.

Upcoming Events:
September 7 - Labor Day Holiday
September 16 - GDC Quarterly Awards Ceremony
September 23 - Teambuilding Oakland Cemetery Tour
September 29 - Rome Day Reporting Center Commencement Ceremony

CENTRAL & MACON STATE PRISONS HOLD CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY CEREMONIES
GDC staff and dignitaries celebrated the appointments of new Wardens at Central and Macon State Prisons on August 21st. Warden William Terry was appointed to Central State Prison and Warden Rick Jacobs was appointed to Macon State Prison. We congratulate both of them in their new positions. The first two photos are of Warden William Terry's ceremony; the second two are of Warden Rick Jacobs ceremony.

Did You Know?
The Macon Judicial Circuit is responsible for the supervision for approximately 5,578 felony
offenders.

MACON PROBATION OFFICE HOLDS CHANGE OF RESPONSIBILITY CEREMONY
The Department held a Change of Responsibility Ceremony for Stacy Rivera, who has been appointed Chief Probation Officer of the Macon Judicial Circuit. The Macon Judicial Circuit is comprised of Bibb, Peach, and Crawford Counties.
CPO Rivera began her career with the Department in 2000 as a Probation Officer and has progressed up through the ranks. We congratulate her on her new position.
CORRECTIONS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE GRADUATES 22
Georgia Department of Corrections held its 20th Corrections Leadership Institute graduation on August 6. The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) issued 22 certificates to participants for completing the Leadership Development program. The CLI course is designed to prepare middle and senior leadership staff for increasing levels of responsibility with GDC. The focus is on the development of leadership skills for greater effectiveness. Participants from all areas of the state and all divisions were represented.

GDC EMPLOYEES GRADUATE FROM PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
The Georgia Department of Corrections, in conjunction with Columbus State University (CSU), held its fifth annual Professional Management Program (PMP) graduation on August 19. Eightyone employees graduated with the Certificate in Criminal Justice.
The GDC and CSU partnership provides college classes in Tifton, Savannah, Milledgeville, Atlanta and Cherokee County. Employees complete 30 semester hours of college credit that can be applied toward an Associate or Bachelors degree.
The Management Development Training Unit is responsible for the education initiative that supports Commissioner Brian Owens and GDC in promoting a learning organization. For information on education opportunities, please contact Delphine Reese, Statewide Education Initiative Coordinator, at 404-463-4605.

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
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EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION: CO OFFICER NELSON PITTMAN AND PO BYRON JOHNSON
Nelson Pittman
Nelson Pittman is a Correctional/Detail Officer at Ware State Prison. He has been with the Department since July 1988. In his current position, he works with inmates that are part of the mobile construction crew work release program. He and his mobile crew have renovated the Office Park Building and the Ballard School Building in Brunswick, Ga. When Officer Pittman started on these two projects, both properties were almost beyond repair but due to a great working relationship between Mr. Bob Plemons, the Glynn County staff, and Officer Pittman these two projects were successfully renovated. Glynn County Administrator, Charles T. Stewart, and the Glynn County Board of Commissioners Chairman, A. Jerome Clark, were so impressed with the work Officer Pittman has done, they wrote a letter to Commissioner Owens praising him.
Byron Johnson
On July 16, Probation Officer Byron Johnson of the Atlanta Probation Special Enforcement Team was honored by the Atlanta Police Department as "Officer of the Week" for outstanding accomplishments. They also presented him with a plaque from the Atlanta Police Department for outstanding support for "Answering the Call." In addition, he also received an Award of Excellence from the Atlanta Police Criminal Investigations Division Special Enforcement Section. Officer Johnson works with the Atlanta Police Department as well as other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
On July 31, 2009, Officer Johnson worked with a joint task force to conduct a crime sweep in the city of Atlanta. The task force made over 70 arrests, mostly of drug offenders, and confiscated many weapons. This is just one example of the work that Officer Johnson does every day to make the streets of Atlanta and the citizens of Georgia safer. Officer Johnson is courageous, loyal and committed. He believes in doing what's right and doing it well.