Impact Georgia, Aug. 2013

August 2013 Newsletter

In This Issue
1 GDC Hosts Military Job Fair at Fort Gordon
Jay Sanders Appointed to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

GDC Hosts Military Job Fair at Fort Gordon

2 Second Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2013

Delivery of New Probation Vehicles
Lee Arrendale's New Rescue Program
3 Albany Probation Hosts First Offender Focused Job Fair
8th Annual GPAI Training Awards
4POST Instructor Training
Southwestern Judicial Circuit assists GSP
Calhoun SP F&CB Graduation and Family Day Have a great story idea? Send to Gwendolyn Hogan by August 26. Email: hogang00@dcor.state.ga.us

Military personnel and civilians signing in at the GA National Guard registration table at the US Army Mobile Field Force (riot control) demonstration Reserve Center

On July 30, the Department in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Defense and Georgia National Guard hosted a Military Job Fair at the US Army Reserve Center at Fort Gordon in Augusta.
Nearly 500 active duty military, reservists, guardsmen, veterans and civilians attended.
Participating organizations included

Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Agriculture, Department of Public Safety, Department of Labor, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Corrections Corporation of America, Columbia County Sheriff's Office, and the Albany and Gwinnett County Police Departments.
The Special Operations unit conducted demonstrations every thirty minutes to

include Cell Extraction, Mobile Field Force (riot control) and K9 handling.
Additionally, the Department offered onsite physical fitness tests to interested officer applicants, background checks, drug screens and on-site job offers.
At the end of the job fair, the Department had a total of 32 job offers!

Jay Sanders Appointed to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

On July 19, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Special Assistant to the Director

of Probation Operations, Jay Sanders, to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council effective August 1.
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, created in 1981 by the Georgia General Assembly, is legislatively charged with eleven areas of criminal justice coordination. Among those responsibilities is to serve as the statewide clearinghouse for criminal justice information and research; develop criminal justice legislative and executive policy proposals; and serve in an advisory capacity to the Governor on issues impacting the criminal justice system.
Sanders began his career with the Department in 1992 as a Probation Officer. He has held positions as Regional Training Coordinator, Hearing Officer and Public

Safety Training Instructor during his time with the Department. In his current position, he manages special projects and coordinates the Department's Criminal Justice Reform and Justice Reinvestment initiatives.
Sanders is a POST Certified Master Instructor with certifications in firearms and defensive tactics. He received a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Pensacola Christian College and a Master's degree in Social Administration from Georgia Southwestern State University.
For more information on Sanders' appointment visit http://gov.georgia.gov/ press-releases/2013-07-23/deal-appoints24-boards.

Did You Know...Calhoun State Prison's Faith & Character Based program had 23 offenders graduate!

2 On July 23, the Department held the second Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2013 in Roberts Chapel at State Offices South at Tift College.
The Award recipients are as follows: CORRECTIONS
PO of the Quarter Matthew Lubelsky Valdosta PO
CO of the Quarter Cornellius Kemp Burruss CTC
Customer Service Champion Cheryl Wiggins Johnson SP

Second Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2013

Contributed by Michael Tolson, Specialist, Human Resources Unsung Hero Michelle Davis Business Processes

Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award Charles H. Smith & Staff Procurement Services

EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS Customer Service Champion Bethany Whetzel Legal Services
Unsung Hero Jeal Dorsey Personnel

L to R: Commissioner Brian Owens, Matthew Lubelsky (PO of the Quarter), Asst. Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier and Director of Probation Operations Mike Kraft

L to R: Asst. Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier, Cornellius Kemp, Commissioner Brian Owens and Director of Facilities Operations Randy Tillman

FAITHFUL SERVICE AWARDS

Unsung Hero Kristin Hosford Facilities Div. Director's Office
OPERATIONS, PLANNING & TRAINING Customer Service Champions Dawn Mock, Angela Smith Office of Information & Technology
Unsung Hero Warren Reid Planning & Strategic Management
ADMINISTRATION Customer Service Champion Jackson DeFore Financial Services

5 Years James Abraham Melanie Crew Jeannie Davis Deborah Haynes Cliff Hogan Francine Miesel Deondra Richardson Teri Stripling
10 Years David Colon Jodi Ford Mary Mundie
15 Years Garland Gillis Jimmy Taylor

L to R: Commissioner Brian Owens, Bethany Whetzel, General Counsel Rob Jones and Asst. Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier

L to R: Director of OIT Mike Nelson-Palmer, Commissioner Brian Owens, Angela Smith, Dawn Mock, Manager Mark Prater, Asst. Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier, Division Director Arnold Smith

20 Years William Burse Brenda Garnto Gregory Howard Cynthia Snow John Tighe
25 Years India Aycock

Scott Poitevint Roger Pope Rosalyn Shinholster Conley Willis
30 Years Michael Boulineau Nancy Van Etten

Delivery of New Probation Vehicles Lee Arrendale's New Rescue Program

Contributed by Cliff Hartley, Manager, Field Services

Contributed by Kathy Seabolt, Warden

Chief Probation Officers with new vehicles for their circuit
On July 23, Probation Operations delivered 15 of 109 new vehicles to Chief Probation Officers from across the state.
The Department purchased 79 Dodge Chargers and 30 GMC Tahoes to replace aging vehicles within their fleet. Dependability of vehicles became necessary because of Probation Operations' increased emphasis on offender field supervision.
All vehicles are equipped with indentifying "Probation Field Team" decals,

Commissioner Owens speaking with Chief Probation Officers
communication consoles, mobile radios, lighting packages and rear seat prisoner partitions to ensure the safety of transported offenders.
These vehicles will be deployed statewide to all 49 Probation Circuits, where they will immediately be put into service-providing safe and dependable transportation to our field probation teams, as they manage offenders within Georgia's communities.
In the following weeks, all vehicles will be delivered.

Habersham County Animal Shelter delivers rescued Offenders meeting the new rescued dogs dogs to Lee Arrendale State Prison

The beginning of July, Lee Arrendale State Prison received a group of dogs from the Habersham County Animal Shelter to begin a new program.
The program is the beginning of a new partnership between Lee Arrendale State Prison and Habersham County Animal Shelter.
Rescued animals are brought in through the Habersham County Animal Shelter to be trained and socialized one-on-one with an offender for six to eight weeks. After training, dogs are

placed into an adoption program where they are guaranteed a shelter-free experience.
Participating offenders can receive Veterinary Technician Certification through Middle Georgia Technical College.
The program is set to have an official Grand Opening in September.

Albany First Offender-Focused Job Fair
Contributed by Jack Robers, Albany TC Superintendent

3 Sherriff Commends Officers
Contributed by Pamela Gould, CPO Augusta

Calendar Events
Tuesday, August 6 Metro ATL DRC Graduation

On July 18, the Albany-Dougherty County hosted its first offender-focused job fair.
Around 200 parolees, probationers and offenders attended.
Their preparation and positive attitudes exceeded the expectations of the participating employers.
One employer stated they needed more applications forms because they were pleasantly surprised to see such a "talented pool of potential employees."
All employers agreed to return for

the next job fair and others are expected to join after witnessing such a successful event.
Agencies who participated included, Department of Labor, Goodwill, Vocational Rehabilitative Services and Albany Second Chance.
Chief Parole Officer Leslie Lamb said, "I can't say enough about the high quality of work and effort that was put into this event by all involved."
The next offender-focused job fair is scheduled to be held in six months.

On July 25, Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree presented appreciation certificates to two Augusta Probation Officers, Surveillance Officer Christopher Smith and CIP Officer Mary Moyer.
They were recognized for their quick actions and response to a near fatal hit and run incident on June 6. The officers witnessed the accident, followed the perpetrator and apprehended him a few miles from the scene.
Sheriff Roundtree commended the officers for their bravery and swift response. He acknowledged the partnership shared by our agencies and encouraged us to continue to assist one another for the good of the community.

8th Annual GPAI Training Awards
Contributed by Robert Kiedinger, Program Director, Risk Reduction Services The keynote speaker for the event was

Thursday, August 15 BCOT Graduation
Monday, August 19 GDC Roll-Up
"Day in Central Office"
Wednesday-Friday, August 21-23 GPA Summer
Training Conference

L to R: Dir of Risk Reduction Services Sherri Bloodworth, DWCT Whitworth Women's Facil- L to R: Dir of Probation Opns Mike Kraft, Statewide DRC Coord. Rosalyn Davis, FOM Scot Mullis,

ity Mark Martin, Whitworth Counselor Richard Frady, Whitworth CO David Longworth, Dep Dir of RRS Sherri Bloodworth, Tifton DRC Counselor Sarah Madison, Tifton DRC Administrator

Dir of OPTD Vanessa O'Donnell and Dir of Reentry Services Stacy Rivera

Kay Simpson, Tifton DRC PO Bryan Sain, Dep Dir of OPTD Vanessa O'Donnell and Dir of RS

Stacy Rivera

On July 11, the eighth Annual GPAI (Georgia Programs Assessment Inventory) Training & Awards event was held at Roberts Chapel at State Offices South.
Approximately 175 employees attended from various facilities and probation sites across the state.
Training revolved around new information in the field of evidence-based practices as it relates to corrections and the awards honored those sites and individuals who best exemplified the pursuit of reducing recidivism in Georgia.

Dr. Patricia Van Voorhis, Professor Emeritus from the University of Cincinnati, reported the results of the recently completed Faith & Character Based Dorm sites study. The study compared those who completed the FCBD program and a matched sample of inmates. Results indicated that the recidivism rate was about ten points lower than the matched sample, showing that FCBD programs reduce recidivism.
Site Awardees for the highest scores included: Tifton Day Reporting Center for all sites; LaGrange TC for Transitional

Centers; Walker State Prison for Specialty Program Prison; Whitworth Parole Revocation Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
Individual Leadership awards included: Rome Chief Probation Officer (CPO) Chad Dabbs; Rome DRC Center Administrator Ken Ward; Smith TC Superintendent Cliff Kennedy; Arrendale SP Warden Kathy Seabolt; Johnson SP Warden Jose Morales; and Autry SP Counselor Claudette Bullard.

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P.O.S.T. Instructor Training

P.O.S.T. Instructor Training is an 80hour course that is offered several times a year to those wishing to become an instructor to assist with training GDC staff.
The course is broken down into three primary course requirements. The first is passing a written examination, after learning such information as Instructor Liability, Adult Learning, Communication Skills, Effective Presentation Skills, Classroom Management, Instructional System Design, Constructing Effective Performance Objectives, Lesson Planning, Testing and Evaluation, Practical Exercises, Teaching Methods, and Managing Training Aids.
The second is the creation of an approved original narrative lesson plan. This requirement is met when the proper performance objectives are given, and when the lesson plan is written in the proper format.
The third requirement is the 50 minute presentation of the lesson plan. After

Contributed by Robert Mallory, Master Instructor, Training & Development
the presentation, the student is then evaluated to determine whether or not he/she has met the requirements according to P.O.S.T. guidelines.

While considered by most students to be a "hard course," the main challenge to each participant is the work--both inside and outside of the classroom-- that goes into the preparation and delivery of the lesson plan.

Those who pace themselves and manage their time wisely are generally very successful in the program. The Department's Training Section is striving to teach this course to our utmost abilities in order to provide the best training experience possible, so in turn we will produce the best instructors.
Congratulations to the most recent graduating class (May 2013):
James Roberts, Phillips SP; Craig Ogilvie, McDonough PO; Tracey Pirosch, Leadership Development Unit; Blake Sims, Phillips TC (Parole); Ryan

L to R: James Roberts, Phillips SP; Craig Ogilvie, McDonough PO; Tracey Pirosch, Leadership Development Unit at SOSTC; Blake Sims, Phillips TC (Parole); Ryan Fletcher, Investigations Unit at SOSTC; Darrin Myers, Rutledge SP; Angel Perrine, Macon PO; Mark Zamnuik, GCA Macon SP

Fletcher, Investigations Unit; Darrin Myers, Rutledge SP; Angel Perrine, Macon PO; and Mark Zamnuik, GCA Macon SP.

If you are interested in P.O.S.T Instructor Training ask your supervisor for more information.

Southwestern Judicial Circuit assists GSP Calhoun SP F&CB Graduation and Family Day

Contributed by Americus Chief Probation Officer William Christopher Hall

Contributed by Administrative Assistant Rachel Wiggins

GDC officers at one of the five road blocks

Officers involved in the road blocks

On June 28 from 6pm to 11:30pm, at four heavy traffic areas in Sumter

Probation Officers Chief Probation and one in Terrell.

Officer Chris Hall, Probation Officer

(PO) III Terra Cochran, Specialized A total of 57 offenders were charged

Probation Supervision (SPS) Officer with numerous violations with 25 were

Victor Dydell, SPS Officer Jeff Paulk, incarcerated in the local jail.

PO Kevin Devane, PO Tyler Denham,

PO Chad Norton, Surveillance Officer Other agencies involved included the

Jerome Smith and SO Steve Preskitt, Americus Police Department, Sumter

of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit County Sheriffs Office, Department of

assisted the Georgia State Patrol in a Natural Resources, Americus Parole

concentrated patrol in Sumter and Ter- Office and Georgia Bureau of Investi-

rell counties. Road blocks were set up gation.

Fun and games at FBC Graduation
On June 26, Calhoun State Prion held it's semi-annual Faith and Character Based (F&CB) Graduation and Family Day.
The event gave the 23 graduates an opportunity to reflect on the changes they had made in their lives while surrounded by their supportive loved ones.
Newly-transferred Warden Jose Morales and special guest Lisa Haughey

both spoke at the ceremony, providing words of support and hope for the graduating men. Games, entertainment, food, and informational activities followed the graduation ceremony.
The F&CB program has a 12% recidivism rate for its graduates as opposed to the 26.56% rate of those in general population.

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
Contributors Rachad Hollis, Public Relations & Information Specialist
Elizabeth Pierotti, Summer Intern