Impact Georgia, Mar. 2011

March 2011 Newsletter
Governor Deal Awards Excellence in Customer Service

In this Issue:
Governor Deal Awards Excellence in Customer Service
Monroe County Relay For Life
Sentencing Reform
GDC Quarterly Awards
Graduates from Advanced Managment Training
American Red Cross forms partnership with Dept. of Corrections
Announcements
Georgia Prison Wardens' Association Annual Scholarship Applications Due April 1, 2011

Jeni Reynolds (in red and black) is pictured to the left of Governor Deal.

Jeni Reynolds, Secretary I at Appling PRC, received the Governor's Commendation for Excellence in Customer Service at the Winter Awards Ceremony on February 15th. Governor Deal recognized Jeni for her outstanding work and commitment to the Baxley community and the American Cancer

Society's Relay for Life Program. Since 2006, Jeni has served as the team captain for the Appling PRC and the Relay for Life team. Through her efforts, the team has raised in excess of $7,000.
Gail Taylor, Chairperson Baxley for Appling County American

Cancer Society states "Mrs. Jeni Reynolds is very outgoing, hardworking and she always gives 100% to the community. Jeni and her team are very important to the community and won the award for the Most Spirited Team this past year. Mrs. Reynolds and her team

Relay For Life Taking a Stand Against

always come with big smiles and an attitude that shows they want to make a difference."

Cancer

Stand up and join the fight against cancer! The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a lifechanging event which gives people in their community a chance to celebrate the lives of people battling cancer, who have battled cancer and loved ones lost.
Relays are overnight events and last up to 24 hours due to the fact that "Cancer never sleeps."
At Relays, teams of people take turns walking and running around local high schools, parks or fairgrounds to fight back against the disease. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event.
Relay For Life began in 1985, when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, walked and ran around a track for 24 hours in order to raise money for the American Cancer Society. After 1985, Relay has grown from a single man's journey into the

world's largest movement to end the disease.
Monroe County Relay For Life is scheduled for April 29, 2011 at Mary Persons High School. Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact Jahnna Hall at 478743-6391 or jahnna.hall@cancer. org . There is a $10 registration/ commitment fee per person that is due upon registration. Any amount you as a team or individual can raise is graciously accepted. Relay For Life recommends that each participant sets a personal goal of $100. The registration deadline is March 18, 2011.
For more information on Relay For Life or other fundraising events in your area, please visit www.relayforlife.org.

Donations made in 2009-2010, made the following possible in Monroe County:
2 cancer patients received Financial Assistance
6 cancer patients attended a Look Good...Feel Better session
2 cancer patients attended a Man to Man session
28 individuals called ACS needing cancer information
3 cancer patients were assisted with travel to and from their cancer treatments
3 cancer patients were helped by a patient advocate
1 cancer patient was helped by a dietitian on call

4 cancer patients and their caregiver stayed in Hope Lodge for FREE for a total of 92 nights

Monroe County

Event:

April 29, 2011

Start Time: Friday 6pm

End Time: Saturday Noon

Registration: $10

Deadline:

March 18, 2011

Contact: Jahnna Hall 478-743-6391 jahnna.hall@cancer.org
Website: www.relayforlife.org/monroega

Events
Wednesday, March 16 Incarcerated Veterans Resource Fair at Washington State Prison
Wednesday-Friday, March 16-18 GPA Mid-Winter Conference
Friday, March 18 Deadline to register for Relay For Life
Monday, March 21 GDC Roll-Up, "Day in Central Office"
Thursday, March 24 BCOT Graduation
Tuesday, March 29 Macon DRC Graduation
Georgia Department of Corrections will honor
Derrick D. Schofield Commissioner of
Tennessee Department of Correction March 25, 2011
1PM at Rutland Student Center

Did You Know?....75 percent of Georgia prison inmates are incarcerated because of an alcohol or drug addiction

Governor Deal Supports Sentencing Reform for Nonviolent Offenders

During Governor Deal's State

$1 billion a year on Corrections,

sentencing reform in hopes of placed in charge of conducting

of the State address held on

which is about $18,000 a year per

offering alternative sentences a thorough study of the state's

February 16, 2011, support

inmate.

for drug addicts and nonviolent criminal justice structure and re-

for alternative sentencing

offenders.

porting a series of conclusions to

for some drug addicts and

"We are hopeful that we can

lawmakers by November. Also, a

other nonviolent offenders was uncover new approaches to make

Options for sentencing reform 17-member joint legislative com-

stressed. This would include

Georgia communities safe, to

could include giving nonviolent mittee, including lawmakers from

the use of specialized courts,

increase offender accountability,

drug offenders more oppor-

both parties, has been placed in

such as drug courts, to handle to improve rehabilitation efforts

tunities for daytime reporting charge of developing legislation

those who could benefit from

and lower costs," said Deal.

centers and creating more

from recommendations and

rehabilitation rather than time

drug, DUI and mental health

will convey their findings to the

behind bars.

On February 23, 2011 lawmakers

courts in the state, Deal stated. House and Senate.

moved one step closer toward

Seventy-five percent of Georgia overhauling the tough criminal

The proposal has been backed State officials contend that the

prison inmates are incarcer-

sentencing laws that has left the

by all three state branches of

legislation and subsequent com-

ated because of an alcohol or

state with overcrowded prisons

government and both political mittee proposal will not soften

drug addiction. Currently, the and high annual taxes.

parties. Through this proposal the punishment for crimes. The

system in place is not helping

they will aim to cut the state's proposed laws will, however,

reduce the number of drug and The GA House Judiciary Non-

incarceration rate.

reduce offenders' addictions and

nonviolent offenders. Georgia Civil Committee voted 5-1 to

not allow people to treat prison as

has the fifth-largest prison

adopt a proposal that would study

An 11-member council has been a revolving door.

population in the country and

First Quarterly Awards Ceremony at State Ofces South at Tift College

February 1, 2011 marked the first Quartery Awards at State Offices South at Tift College campus.
Selected individuals received Customer Service Champion Awards, Unsung Hero Awards and Officer of the Quarter Awards. Faithful Service Awards were also presented to dedicated employees with service ranging between five and 30 years.
Congratulations to the following Corrections Division employees:

Donna Young, MH Director at ASMP, received Customer Service Champion Award
John Billups, GDC Call Center; Justin Anderson, MH Counselor Valdosta SP and Angela Alexander, OIT all received Unsung Hero Awards
Congratulations to the following Administration employees:
Dianne Porter, Central Purchasing, received Customer Service

Kerry Anderson, Central Personnel, received Unsung Hero Award
Congratulations to the following employees who received a Faithful Service Award:
5 year: Sheila Bracewell, Daynna Gregory, Dennis Croft, Christopher Minshew, Katie Keuper, Linda Poole, Bruce Carter
10 year: Kelli Floyd, Denise Forrester, Ada Young, Robert McClendon, Jessica Maher

Unsung Hero: John Billups (Operations, Planning & Training Division)

Keith Kitchens of Burruss CTC received CO of the Quarter
Scott Edwards of Gainesville PO received PO of the Quarter
Glen Appling of the Call Center received Customer Service Champion Award

Champion Award
Wanda Faye Borer, Dorothy J. Farmer, James Mathis Bowen, Donnie Jackson of Property Audits & Records Management and Elaine Rea of Business Operations all received Unsung Hero Awards

15 year: Gary Darrisaw, Linda Trigger, Andrew Clack, Angela Stephens, Johnny Holland
20 year: Charlette Beard, Mark Morris, Lynn McCoy, Jerrie Baughman, James Payne
25 year: Warren Reid, Peggy

Lindy Clark, Hearing Officer, received Unsung Hero Award

Congratulations to the following Chapman, Annette Anderson, Executive Operations employees: David Pinkston, Steve Smith

Congratulations to the following Operations, Planning and Training Division employees:

Julie Harnage, Central Personnel, received Customer Service Champion Award

30 year: Cathy Sumner, Calvin Brown, John Cook, Deryl Canady, James Swanson, Marilyn Benton

Unsung Hero: James Mathis Bowen, Elaine Rea, Wanda Faye Borer and Dorothy Farmer (Administration Division)

26 Graduate from Advanced Management

American Red Cross and Georgia

Training
GDC graduated twenty-six (26) managers from the Advanced Management Training (AMT) class held at State Offices South at Tift College in the Georgia Corrections Academy on February 11, 2011.
It is the Department of Correction's goal to continue to be a learning organization. AMT is a new program that was developed with the GDC Training Section and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) in 2010. This course is intended to prepare staff to be effective, efficient, credible, respectful and fair in varied leadership and management roles.

The speaker for the occasion was Assistant Commissioner, Fred Head, who challenged graduates and supporting managers of the graduates to continue supporting staff in training and education for professional development of a growing agency.

He reminded graduates that the time has passed when experience alone was sufficient for advancement in the agency. He challenged them to supplement their good work record with academic achievement and relevant training.

This 40-hour (one week) course is designed for first line managers or the equivalent.

Class pictured with GDC Coordinator, Delphine Reese and CVIOG instructional team Sherri Lawless and Eric Robinson

Department of Corrections

Red Cross and Employees at Wilcox State Prison
On February 21, 2011, an American Red Cross Donor Recruitment Representative by the name of Vincent Fitzgerald attended the Commissioner's Staff Meeting to discuss a partnership with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
An agreement has been reached and the GDC has begun working with The Red Cross to help organize Blood Drives at the State

Offices South at Tift College. According to Vincent Fitzgerald, the first Blood Drive will take place on April 7, 2011.
A donation center will be located at Vinzant Hall within the Gymnasium. GDC employees will have the opportunity to donate from 9AM to 7PM that day.
The Department's goal is set at 100 units. Let us follow the example set by Wilcox State Prison as they surpassed their goal by 17 units and collected 50 units for The Red Cross on February 23, 2011.
The Red Cross has advised that all donors should get a good night's sleep, eat a well-balanced meal and drink lots of fluids 48 hours before donating.

Commissioner Brian Owens
Public Affairs: Director, Joan Heath; Manager, Peggy Chapman; Managing Editor, Gwendolyn Hogan; Public Information Specialist, Kristen Stancil; Contributor, Delphine Reese; Contributor, Cathy Smith Contact: 478-992-5247 * www.dcor.state.ga.us