In This Issue 1 Third Annual Commissioner's CERT Challenge December 2012 Newsletter Third Annual Commissioner's CERT Challenge 2nd Place Winners Valdosta State Prison 3rd Place Winners Lee Arrendale State Prison 2Third Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2012 Field Training Officer "Ramp Up" 1st Place Winners K-9 Unit 3Voices of Hope Record 2nd CD Fall Senior Leadership Off-Site 4 Images Across the State Introducing Twitter Have a great story idea? The 3rd Annual Commissioner's CERT Challenge was held on Nov. 16 at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Training Center in Jackson. The teams competing in the finals were GDCP, K-9 Unit and Lee Arrendale, Autry, Calhoun, Central, Coastal, Georgia, Hays, Telfair, Valdosta and Ware State Prisons. Excellence in Marksmanship Award Deshawn Jones Lee Arrendale SP Excellence in Physical Fitness Standards Award Freddie Davis Georgia SP Event Team Winners were: CERT teams participated in firearm, obstacle, leadership and tug of war competitions. Individual Excellence Award recipients were presented to the following: Excellence in Policy & Procedures Award Rodney Smith Telfair SP Excellence in Team Leadership Award Lee SP Team Leadership Award Valdosta SP Team Marksmanship Award Ware SP Team Obstacle Course Hays SP Team Rope Challenge Award Ware SP 3rd Annual Commissioner's CERT Cup Challenge Winners were: First Place K-9 Unit Second Place Valdosta SP Third Place Lee Arrendale SP Please submit articles and photos to Gwendolyn Hogan by December 13th. Email: hogang00@dcor.state.ga.us 12ForLife students at the 3rd Annual Commissioner's CERT Challenge Tug of War participants Firearms participants Did You Know..Voices of Hope recorded their Second CD at Emory University! 2 On October 30th, the Department held the third Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2012 in Roberts Chapel at State Offices South at Tift College. Third Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2012 The Award recipients are as follows: CORRECTIONS PO of the Quarter Terrika Barnes Columbus Probation CO of the Quarter Christopher Palmer Wilfred McKenzie Daniel Sells Telfair State Prison L to R: Asst. Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier, Commissioner Brian Owens, Wilfred McKen- L to R: Asst. Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier, Commissioner Brian Owens, PO Terrika zie, Daniel Sells, Christopher Palmer and Asst. Commissioner Timothy C. Ward Barnes, CPO Stacy Rivera, Asst. Commissioner Timothy C. Ward and Director of Proba- tion Operations Stan Cooper Customer Service Champion Derek Allen Facilities Operations Unsung Hero Lori Rozier Sex Offender Unit Joy Chapman IT-Opns ADMINISTRATION Customer Service Champion Cindy Harris Admin Operations OPERATIONS, PLANNING & TRAINING Customer Service Champion Nagesh Aynavollu Jansusz Mlynarz Bridge Assessment Project Unsung Hero Myia Perrimon Mental Health Svcs-Opns Unsung Hero Debra Hinkle Donna Swearingen Business Processes EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS Customer Service Champion Tammy Edwards Personnel Unsung Hero Gwendolyn Hogan Public Affairs Office FAITHFUL SERVICE AWARDS 5 Years Linnequa Flournoy 10 Years Eddie Brooks Paul Kellum Erika Terrell 15 Years Tawanda Anderson Sonja Brown Daniel Sumner 20 Years Michael Nervo Murray Tatum William Turner Timothy C. Ward 25 Years Mary Booth Vanessa Ann Butts-Hawkins Marcia McIntyre Thomas Washington 30 Years Jamie Anderson Jan Humphrey Raymond Hunt Probation Field Training Officer "Ramp Up" Contributed by Gary Bell, Program Development Consultant Tony Karmazina, Dublin Jamie Powers, Alapaha Lakesittshia Gibbs, Tallapoosa Jennifer Torbett, Chattahooche Stacy Johnson, Clayton Devaki Gordon, Dougherty Audrey Dunbar, Gwinnett Clara Glenn, Augusta Jennifer Byrne, Northeastern Mark Kinservik, Cordele Keri Woolfolk, Macon Toni Burton, Blue Ridge Shari Gadson, Cobb FTO Basic Training Graduates On Sept. 10-28, ten Field Training Officers (FTO) enrolled and completed a special POST Instructor Training course. Graduates of the POST IT course: Jennifer Torbett, Chattahoochee Stacy Johnson, Clayton Shari Gadson, Cobb FTO POST IT Training Graduates Michael Fowler, Conasauga Devaki Gordon, Doughtery Audrey Dunbar, Gwinnett Erich Kenworthy, Rome Mike Griner, Southern Lakeittshia Gibbs, Tallapoosa Carlton Renfroe, Brunswick In addition, an FTO Basic course was held Oct. 8-12. Nineteen officers from various circuits across the state graduated. Graduates of the FTO Basic course: Justin Shope, Piedmont Tamecha Buck, Atlanta Mike Griner, Southern Erich Kenworthy, Rome Joe Callaghan, Tifton Michael Fowler, Conasauga Currently, there are 34 FTO positions filled across the state. These officers mentor newly hired probation officers for the first six months of their career. The goal is to have an FTO at each of the 49 circuits. "...FTO is the most important officer in any department, they direct and define the department's future," said LT. Bill Harvey at the Summer 1998 NAFTO. Voices of Hope Record Second CD 3 to ministry through song. The choir and the department would like to thank the following for their continued support: Emily Saliers, Indigo Girls member Barbara Day Miller Candler Community of Students, Staff and Faculty George Nikas Stanley Taylor Georgia Prison Ministries Project The Care and Counseling Center of Georgia The album will be available in the next six months. All proceeds go to enhance the Ministry at Lee Arrendale State Prison. Calendar Events Thursday, December 6 Board of Corrections Meeting Human Resources Off-Site Tuesday, December 11 Headquarters Holiday Breakfast Clayton DRC Graduation Ceremony LASP Choir with Rep. Jay Neal, Rev. Clinkscales & McClenton, Warden Kathy Seabolt, Commissioner Brian Owens, Chaplain Bishop, Board member Rose Williams and Carl Franklin and DW Benton The Lee Arrendale State Prison Choir, Voices of Hope, began recording their second CD Nov. 20 at Cannon Chapel on the campus of Emory University. Deputy Warden for Security Brooks Benton, Rev. Anthony Clinkscales and Rev. Arthur McClenton performed on the album by providing vocals and instrumental solos. The choir, under the direction of Chaplain Susan Bishop, is a select group of singers chosen from the population at LASP. They are chosen based on their musicianship, conduct and commitment Chaplain Bishop and LASP choir at the Cannon Chapel Fall Senior Leadership Off-Site in Reidsville Contributed by Patricia Sweatman, Operations Center Manager Thursday, December 13 Special Council on Justic Reform Meeting Board of Public Safety Meeting Monday-Tuesday, December 24-25 HOLIDAY Senior Staff on tour On Nov. 13-14, senior leadership attended the Fall 2012 Senior Leader Off-Site. The off-site is intended for continuing coordination, education, and professional development for GDC's senior leadership. Commissioner Brian Owens wanted senior staff to "experience the heart of our prison operations" and "to see, feel, and smell the day-to-day operations and missions of the Correctional Officers and other employees". Therefore, the location of the off-site was set in Reidsville at Georgia, Rogers and Smith State Prisons. Senior leaders viewed the Agency's unique capabilities through personal ob- Senior Leadership Fall 2012 Off-site group photo servation of the roles and missions of these facilities. Additionally, they discussed opportunities to enhance capabilities and improve on people, processes, and infrastructure. Special guests included Board of Public Safety Chairman Ellis Wood, Tattnall County Agent Reid Torrence, Board of Corrections members Chairman Tommy Rouse, Vice Chairman John Mayes, Wayne Dasher, Carl and Jackie Franklin, Carlton Powell and Justin Wiedeman. During the off-site, Certificates of Appreciation Awards were presented to the following: Georgia SP - Deputy Warden Wendall Senior staff during off-site Fowler, Unit Manager Janet Brewton and Counselor Kimberly Pough Smith SP - Correctional Officer Edward Moore, Correctional Officer Joyce Carver, and Maintenance Engineer Phillip Glenn Joe Kennedy Farm - Administration Assistant Karen Outler, Farm & Livestock Manager Eddie Cohen and Farm Manager Don Conner Rogers SP - Food Service Supervisor Jettie M. Calhoun, Correctional Officer Emmitt Donahue and Correctional Officer Shirley Ford youtube.com/user/ GACorrections facebook.com/georgiacorrections GA_Corrections 4 Smith State Prison helps two local families Images Across The State - Giving Thanks Thanksgiving at Ware State Prison On Nov. 20, Smith SP staff teamed up with The Brother Hood of Hope Lifers Group to feed two local families in Tattnall County for Thanksgiving. "This has become a yearly tradition here at Smith State Prison," said Warden Stanley Williams. "And we expect to do more and more each year forward." On Nov. 21, Ware State Prison staff smoked and fried turkeys to take home for their families for Thanksgiving. In a show of community support, the staff of Coastal State Prison held a food drive during the month of November. Donations far exceeded those of last year, enabling Coastal to significantly impact the amount of available food at Garden City Feed the Hungry. Coastal State Prison supports community this Thanksgiving Johnson State Prison staff celebrated Thanksgiving on Nov. 14. During the luncheon, staff participated in a drawing for a Walmart gift card to raise money for charitable contributions. Johnson State Prison celebrates Thanksgiving INTRODUCING Twitter to the Department of Corrections! Please follow us at GA_CORRECTIONS MISSION The Department of Corrections creates a safer Georgia by effectively managing offenders and providing opportunities for positive change VISION To be recognized as the best corrections organization in the nation. BRIAN OWENS Commissioner PUBLIC AFFAIRS Joan Heath Director Gwendolyn Hogan Managing Editor Dabney Weems Public Relations & Information Specialist