A Message from Commissioner Brian Owens The 2012 Legislative Session has ended and the Criminal Justice Reform Bill has passed. As state employees and citizens of Georgia, I believe it is important to understand the actions taken to turn the recommendations created by the Special Council into House Bill 1176 and the steps taken to gain approval during the 2012 Session. The process began in June 2011, when the Special Council was advised on the nature and complexities of the criminal justice system and was asked to determine the goals that must be met to reform the existing system. Once established, the Council was divided into three work groups. These groups focused on the following: 1. Admissions and Sentencing Reform In November 2011, the Council supplied the Governor and lawmakers with the recommendations to review for the upcoming Legislative Session. In February 2012 during the Legislative Session, these recommendations were incorporated into House Bill 1176. HB 1176 is a broad ranging bill encompassing everything from sentencing reform to community supervision. Highlighs of HB 1176: Cap Probation Detention Center sentence at 180 days Require Systematic Performance Measurement and Auditing of Departmental supervision, programming and treatment Since the Joint Committee is comprised of both Senators and Representatives, HB 1176 was not bound by Cross-Over Day. Cross-Over Day is Day 30 of the legislative session and is the day bills must pass from one house to the other in hope of becoming legislation. On March 27, 2012, HB 1176 was approved by the Senate by a 51-0 vote. On March 30, 2012, HB 1176 was approved by the House with a 162-0 vote. The passing of this bill will provide changes to the Georgia criminal justice system that will in turn save taxpayers millions of dollars projected in future prison spending Georgia has shown our citizens we can be tough on crime, but now we need to prove that we can be smart on crime. Georgia can begin achieving this starting as soon as fiscal year 2013 with the implementation of HB 1176. Throughout the changes within our criminal justice system, the 13-member Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform will remain in place with the sole purpose of continuously reviewing and developing new ways to safeguard Georgians, save tax dollars and lower our recidivism rate. Increase Thresholds for most Theft offenses to $1,000 Establish degrees of Burglary and Forgery with corresponding penalty structures Distinguish Possession of Controlled Substances offenses by weight of corresponding penalty structures Implement Evidence-based Practices Expand Accountability Courts Establish Prison Diversion Pilot Projects in two judicial circuits 2. Length of Stay in Prison and Parole Release Processes 3. Community Supervision Require the use of Graduated Community Sanctions by Probation and Parole Officers Did You Know..House Bill 1176 was approved by the House by a 162-0 vote and by the Senate by a 51-0 vote! Georgia DOC Vision & Mission Statements VISION The Georgia Department of Corrections is the best corrections system in the nation at protecting citizens from convicted offenders and at providing effective opportunities for offenders to achieve positive change. We are a leader and partner in making Georgia a safer, healthier, better educated, growing, and best managed state. MISSION The Georgia Department of Corrections protects and serves the public as a professional organization by effectively managing offenders while helping to provide a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Georgia. GPA Mid-Winter Conference Contributed by Admin. Ops. Manager Nancy Jackson Tom and Maureen Bishop accept a crystal memorial for their daughter, Tiffany, from GPA President Scot Mullis and Rome CPO Chad Dabbs Commissioner Owens, PO III Hooks and Director of Probation Operations Cooper Commissioner Owens, Atlanta Circuit Coordinating Chief Rittweger and Director of Probation Operations Cooper Commissioner Owens, PO II Martin and Director of Probation Operations Cooper Commissioner Owens, PO II Brock and Director of Probation Operations Cooper Commissioner Owens, CPO Pitts and Director of Probation Operations Cooper The Georgia Probation Association held their MidWinter Conference March 14th through 16th in Helen, Georgia. Over 250 people attended this year's GPA Conference, which turned out to be the largest ever in Mid-Winter Conference history! The theme for this year's conference was, "We are Stronger Together". An appropriate theme since there were more than 40 employees from Parole in attendance. Guest Speakers included the Honorable Judge Jason Deal of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit, Director of Parole Michael Nail, Deputy Director of Probation Mark Morris, Research Evaluation and Assesment Unit Manager Robert Kiedinger, and Developmental Consultant Gary Bell. Topics discussed included Accountability Courts, Criminal Justice Reform, Dynamic Risk Assessment, Texas Christian University Drug Screen, and Radio Communications Rollout. During the conference, Commissioner Owens and Director of Probation Operations Cooper presented five GDC employees with Commissioner's Coins. Brunswick Circuit CPO Jimmy Pitts was recognized for his 34 years of outstanding leadership and service to the Department and GPA. Atlanta Circuit Coordinating Chief Pam Rittweger was recognzied for her outstanding leadership to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit and the great strides she took in improving the largest judicial circuit in Georgia. Macon Circuit PO III Nakesha Hooks was recognized for her leadership and commitment to the Agency as a PO III and in her developmental assignment as the New BPOT Coordinator. PO II Tina Brock of the Clarkesville Probation Office, was recognized for her contributions to her community with coordinating and spearheading activities with local law enforcement in order to enhance public safety and for her role as Adjunct Instructor for the PO Safety Training. LaFayette Probation Office PO II Brett Martin was recognized for his efforts in recapturing two escapees from Walker State Prison. Rome Circuit CPO Chad Dabbs presented Tom and Maureen BIshop, Tiffany's parents, with a crystal memorial. In addition, Commissioner Owens and Director of Probation Operations Cooper presented Tiffany Bishop's parents with a Commissioner's Coin. On the last day of the conference, a Remembrance Ceremony was held in honor of PO Tiffany Bishop. GPA President Scot Mullis and Augusta Community Impact Program Holds its First Community Resource Fair Contributed by Administrative Assistant Sharon Davis Augusta Day Reporting Center and Community Participants Community Participants providing information to DRC participants On February 29th, the Au- community included Easter Motor Vehicles, Social Secu- We would like to give a spe- gusta Community Impact Pro- Seals of East Georgia, GAP rity Administration, Augusta cial thank you to Counselor gram held its First Community Ministries, Helping People Public Transit, NAMI, Child Roxanne Williams and CIP Resource Fair at the Augusta Start Over, Garden City Res- Support Recovery, Golden Officer Maegon Tyree for Day Reporting Center. cue Mission, Head of the Gi- Harvest Food Bank, and their time and dedication to ant Ministries Inc, Department United Way 211 provided in- this event. Stakeholders from the com- of Labor, Hope House, The formation to the participants. munity joined in to provide Counseling Group, Faith Out- We all, in the Augusta Circuit information to Probationers, reach Christian Life Center, Thank you to Probation Of- would call this event a huge Parolees, and Offenders re- The Goodwill Job Connection, ficers Deborah McDonald, success and look forward cently released and that are Evangelist Gerald T Williams, Bill Hatley and PO III Robby to the next Community Re- not under supervision. and Mercy Ministries. Hardaway for their assis- source Fair. tance during this event. Stakeholders from the In addition, the Department of Major Carolyn Liggins Receives Patriot Award Contributed by Special Operations/1st Sergeant and Georgia Army National Guard Major Paul Locke On March 7th, Tucker and Terry Haught, a husband and wife team of volunteers representing the Employer Support of The Guard and Reserve (ESGR) arrived at State Offices South at Tift College to present the Patriot Award to Major Carolyn Liggins. this country and state by carrying out my oath and obligation. She has supported me during my monthly weekend drills as well as my deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Major Liggins epitomizes true patriotism," said Special Operations/1st Sergeant and Georgia Army National Guard Major Paul "Major Liggins who has been Locke. my supervisor from July 2006 until January 2012 has con- sistently supported the mili- L to R: ESGR Volunteer Terry Haught, Program Manager BCOT Major Carolyn Liggins, Special Operations/1st Sergeant and Georgia Army National Guard Major Paul Locke and ESGR Volunteer Tucker Haught tary by allowing me to serve Wilcox State Prison Medical Department Raises Money for HeartWalk On February 14th, the Medical Department at Wilcox State Prison held a bake sale to raise money for the American Heart Association Heart Walk. Medical staff also sold tickets for a Valentine's Day basket filled with over $250 worth of donated gifts. The lucky winner of the basket was Officer Ken Lowery. Through these fundraisers, the Medical Department Contributed by Operations Analysis Tech Nikki Warren raised $1,000, which was donated to the American Heart Association. The donation will help fund projects like Pediatric heart and stroke research, will assist in the efforts of prevention and treatment of heart disease, and will help doctors provide life saving information to those in need. The Medical Staff would like to give a big THANK YOU to Warden Toole and to the Adminstrative and Security Staff. for all of the help and support given. L to R: Medical Administrator Terri Mullis with Officer Lowery Calendar of Events Thursday, April 12 Board of Public Safety Joint Board Meeting Monday, April 16 Georgia Law Enforcement Memorial Wall Ceremony Rome Probation Office Tuesday, April 17 Quarterly Awards Ceremony Monday, April 23 HOLIDAY Confederate Memorial Day Observed Tuesday & Wednesay, April 24 & 25 Senior Leadership Off-Site at State Offices South at Tift College Satruday, April 28 21st Annual Ride for Fallen Officers at Turner Field Stay Connected to GDC facebook.com/georgiacorrections youtube.com/user/ GACorrections State Offices South Welcomes the Tift College Alumnae Association On March 30th, State Offices South welcomed the Tift College Alumnae Association during their 2012 Tift Alumnae Weekend! The ladies of Tift College along with their families enjoyed a presentation from Campus Operations Superintendent Tim Williams, a video presentation of interviews of Dr. Cathryn Futral, Nell Bow- If you are interested in viewing en and Carey Allmon Russell the interviews, please visit the and a tour of Tift College. Department's Facebook page. Macon Transitional Center Hosts Mentors Project Program Contributed by Superintendent Terry Seltzer During the first of the year, residents at the Macon Transitional Center celebrated National Mentors Month by hosting a Mentors Project Program. Georgia Department of Labor TOPPSTEP Representative Ivey Webb served as the guest speaker of the event. Webb gave his personal testimony stating, "If I can do it, you can do it." Webb has been employed with the DOL for 33 years. Many of the residents participating in the Macon TC Mentor Project gave their testimonies and thanked staff and their mentors at the TC for helping them get on track with being successful in the Work Release Program. Many of the mentees have had a 360 degree turn around since being placed in the Transitional Center's Mentoring Project, and are now Mentors to other residents at the center. Residents during Mentors Project Program at the Macon Transitional Center Commissioner Brian Owens Public Affairs Director, Joan Heath; Managing Editor, Gwendolyn Hogan We welcome all submissions. Please submit articles and photos to: Gwendolyn Hogan by April 19th E-mail: hogang00@dcor.state.ga.us