Impact Georgia, Oct. 2010

October 2010 Newsletter

Local Dignitaries Dig Closer To Private Prison

The Department of Corrections partnered with The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) to open a new 1,500bed prison in 2012. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monday, August 30, 2010 in Milledgeville, Georgia where the facility will be located.

Attendees included Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens, Governor Sonny Perdue, Senator Johnny Grant, and GEO President Wayne Calabrese. Local dignitaries including Commissioner Brian Owens, Governor Sonny Perdue, Senator Johnny Grant, and GEO President Wayne Calabrese all grabbed shovels and broke ground for what will be the Riverbend Correctional Facility.

Under the agreement, GEO will finance, develop and operate the $80.0 million facility, which will house medium security state inmates. This partnership provides additional bed capacity to the Department without having to foot the $80 million price of building and operating the facility and add-

Officials are the first to break ground for the private prison to be built in Milledgeville, Ga.

ing additional employees to the state of Georgia's payroll.
GEO is a world leader in the delivery of correctional, detention and residential treatment services

to federal, state and local government agencies. The corporation manages and/or owns 63 correctional and residential treatment facilities worldwide. The facility in Milledgeville will bring approxi-

mately 300 permanent job positions, including 176 correctional officer positions. Those hired to work at the prison will not be state employees.

In this Issue:
Private Prison Opens in Milledgeville Commissioner's Inaugural Pistol Challenge Interagency Partnership Leads To Arrests Ga. Probation Association Conference Alternative Work Schedule Success Stories Montgomery State Prison Hosts Event Lee Arrendale Transitional Center
Upcoming Events:
October 7 - Governor's Commendations
October 11 - Columbus Day - Observed Monday, October 11.
October 12 - Fourth Annual Governor's Customer Service Awards
October 19 - GDC Quarterly Awards
October 26 - Rome Day Reporting Center Graduation State Offices South Campus Orientation
October 27 - State Offices South Campus Orientation
October 28 - Basic Probation Officer Training Graduation (BPOT)

Commissioner Hosts Staff Shooting Competition

Department's Law Enforcement
Partnerships Yield 21 Arrests

The Commissioner's Inaugural Pistol Shooting Competition took place at the Department's newly built Firearms Training Complex in Jackson, Georgia on September 10, 2010.

"This competition is a fun way to test the skills of our field officers," said Commissioner Brian Owens. "We make sure all of our officers are trained to expect the unexpected," added Owens

The competition consisted of three catergories: Individual, Facilities vs. Probation, and a Poker Shoot round, firing a single shot. First, second, and third place winners for each event were presented with trophies, while Probation Operations snagged the Commissioner's Cup after edging out the Facilities team members.

GDC employees participate in event at the new Firearms Training Complex in Jackson, Georgia

A federal nine-month undercover investigation dubbed "Operation Thunderbolt," yielded the arrests of 21 state probation violaters around the Glynn County area on August 10, 2010. Brunswick Probation Officer, Georg Trexler, and Specialized Probation Supervision (SPS) Officer, Tom Moree, assisted federal agents, along with the Glynn County Police Department and the Glynn County-Brunswick Narcotics Enforcement Team (GBNET) with the arrests of the offenders.

"We continuosly seek opportunities to work with other law enforcement agencies," said Brunswick Judicial Circuit Chief Probation Officer, Jimmy Pitts. "It allows us to uphold our mission of protecting the public most efficiently," added Pitts.

Probation Officers arrest offender on a probation violation Brunswick Probation Office

All participants were GDC employees that have been professionally and ethically trained in weapons usage.

Probation Operations Director, Stan Cooper, celebrates Probation Operations win

The investigation warranted at total of 66 arrests. Offenses ranged from federal firearms violations to state drug sales and/or possession.

Chief Probation Officer, Jimmy Pitts

Probation Officer III, Georg Trexler

SPS Officer, Tom Moree

Did You Know?.... More than 10,000 of GDC's 12,834 employees participate in an alternative work schedule. (As of 7/1/2010)

Ga. Probation Association Honors Staff During Conference

The Georgia Probation Association (GPA) Conference was held on August 18-20, 2010. During the training several topics were covered, including Health and Wellness, Education, Drug Court, and Stress. Presentations were given by Assistant Commissioner and Chief of Staff, Derrick Schofield, Executive Director of Parole, Michael Nail, Director of Probation Operations, Stan Cooper and Commissioner Brian Owens.

Brunswick Police Department with the Commissioner's Coin and a Resolution from the Board of Corrections for upholding our

by the Georgia Probation Association. The Lee Broome Memorial Award was created to honor the memory of Southeastern

The GPA Awards Ceremony was held on Friday, August 20, 2010 to honor outstanding staff with awards and scholarships to continue their education. The Annual Scholarship was presented to Aura Russell, Corrections Division Confidential Secretary. The Impact Award was presented to Kelly Durrence, Surveillance Officer of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit for stopping an assault. Commissioner Owens presented Officer Durrence and Police Officer Shawn Ferguson of the

Georgia Probation Association Board members attend conference

mission of public safety. Deputy Director of Probation Operations, Lisa Lance, was presented with the Lee Broome Memorial Award, the most prestigious award given

Probation District Director, Lee Broome. Lee Broome was an early pioneer and architect of the current Georgia Probation System and the Georgia Proba-

tion Association. Mr. Broome was a model for excellence in the probation profession because of his dedication, perceptiveness, and management skills.
Lance began her career with Corrections in 1984 as a Probation Officer for the Western Judicial Circuit. She rose through the ranks holding nearly every field position until she became Chief Probation Officer in 2002. In 2008, she was promoted to Field Operations Manager where she oversaw several circuits. In 2009, she was promoted to Deputy Director of Probation Operations.
In the photo to the left, Board Members are as follows in the front row (Left to Right): Barbara Neville, Susan Phillips, Elwin Smith, Charles "Bo" Payton (President), Nancy Jackson, Peggy Elliott, and Lisa Ashburn. Back Row (Left to Right): C.W. Smith, Scot Mullis, Mike Kraft, Mike Sutton, Mike Walraven, and Drew Chestnutt.

Deputy Director of Probation Operations, Lisa Lance, presented with Lee Broome Memorial Award

Employee Alternative Work Schedule Success Stories

"The alternative work schedule allowed me to spend more time with my mother during her illness. This program has truly been a blessing for me."

"Working the compressed work week schedule gives
me a great work/life balance. I beat traffic and
have time for family activities during the week."

"Teleworking boosts my morale and increases my
work performance. It makes me happy to save on fuel costs and help the environment."

- Diane Hanson, Men's State Prison

- Steve Jones, Engineering and Construction Services

- Tammy McGowan, Rogers State Prison

Employees give testimonies on how alternative schedules help them

Montgomery State Prison Hosts Inaugural Pistol Tournament

On Friday, August 27, 2010, the staff of Montgomery State Prison held its Inaugural Pistol Tournament. This tournament consisted of local law enforcement agencies, including the Georgia State Patrol, and retired POST certified staff. The tournament was based on two categories: an individual event and a three-person team event. There were a total of sixteen teams that participated and thirty-one individual flight categories in each event. The winner of this event in

Montgomery State Prison Correctional Officers Jeremy McGraham, Joey Thigpen, and Brandon Keene are pictured with their trophies

the team category in the first flight was the Jeff Davis County Sheriff Department, Smith State Prison in second place, and Rogers State Prison in third place. The second flight team winners were Montgomery State Prison in first place, Montgomery State Prison in second place, and Long State Prison in third place. The third flight team winners were Montgomery State Prison in first place, the City of Mt. Vernon Police Department in second place, and Coffee Cor-

rectional Facility in third place. Seventy-three people participated in this event with more than 100 visitors in attendance. Vistors included Senator Tommie Williams, Board of Corrections member Wayne Dasher, Toombs County Sheriff Alvie Kight, Montgomery County Sheriff Clarence Sanders, Wardens, and local representatives.

Habitat For Humanity Awards Arrendale Transitional Center

Left to right: Arrendale Transitional Center Superintendent, Tim Mauldin and Former Habitat for Humanity President, Dan Nee

Habitat for Humanity of Northeast Georgia presented a plaque to Superintendent Tim Mauldin of Lee Arrendale Transitional Center in appreciation for the hours the residents at the center contribute to the nonprofit organization.
"We are pleased that Habitat for Humanity has given our center an opportunity to participate in such a rewarding project," said Superintendent Tim Mauldin. "Volunteering has contributed to the overall rehabilitation of the residents as they put their time

and efforts into improving their communities," added Mauldin.
The transitional center residents have helped the nonprofit organization with several projects, including construction, landscaping, cleaning donations, and repairing and restoring furniture.
The Lee Arrendale Transitional Center sends up to 10 residents several days a week to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. Residents can choose to participate in the program.

Commissioner Brian Owens Public Affairs: Director - Joan Heath; Managing Editor - Sharmelle Brooks; Contributor - Kristen Stancil; Contributor - Peggy Chapman Contact: 404-656-9772; www.dcor.state.ga.us