Impact Georgia, Feb. 2013

In This Issue
1 Commissioner's Message
2Turner RSAT Holds First Graduation

10 Step Framework Presentation at APPA

Whitworth Opens Doors to Female Offenders

3Images Across the State-Probation Officer Sentencing Specialists

The 2013 Legislative Session is in full swing and Governor Nathan Deal looks to continue his efforts with Criminal Justice Reform.

4First Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2013

Great strides were made during the 2012 session, and we look forward to what this year will bring.
Two of the great successes from last year's session were the implementa-

David Taylor Completes Executive Training

Commissioner's Message

tion of electronic submission of records and a cap on the sentence at Probation Detention Centers.
Submitting offender recorders electronically has been a great benefit to the Department. This has cut down on our operating costs and time in jail for offenders waiting to enter the system. It has made the logistics of an offender to enter prison more simple and less costly.
We also saw a cap placed on the sentence time spent in a Probation Detention Center. Offenders were being sentenced to these facilities for two to three years. They were not designed for that length of stay. With a cap of 180 days, the waiting list at local jails dropped from 700 in July to about 200 as of January 2013.
Additionally, we are working on a presentence assessment tool to provide to judges, early in the pre-sentence process, with offenders' needs, risks and likelihood of recidivism. This will assist the judges with their assessment to more accurately sentence offenders.
As you can see, we took great steps

and made significant process in 2012 towards reserving bed space for our more violent offenders and providing alternative sentencing options for the less violent offenders.
Through Governor Deal's lead on Criminal Justice Reform, the Department of Corrections is able to be national trendsetters in criminal justice.
I encourage you to review the Department's fact sheets on our Budget and Justice Reinvestment. They offer much more information on these topics.

Have a great story idea?

Please submit articles and photos to Gwendolyn Hogan by February 21st. Email: hogang00@dcor.state.ga.us
Did You Know..

2

Turner RSAT Holds First Graduation
Contributed by Gwendolyn Meriweather, Superintendent

NFL veteran Roger Jackson encourages the graduates and thanks DOC staff for helping get his life back on track.

Turner RSAT first graduation held at the facility on Jan. 17

Turner Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Center held its first graduation ceremony on Jan. 17. The 36 offenders graduated from a six month substance abuse program taught by Spectrum staff.

He spoke about how his life took a dramatic turn when he served six years in the state's prison system.
Jackson said it was not until he was assigned to a six month treatment program that his life began to change.

staff and Spectrum staff and thanked them for helping him to get his life back on track and advocated that treatment programs work. He encouraged the graduating class by telling them, "This program saved my life."

The graduation ceremony featured former NFL veteran Roger Jackson.

Jackson also acknowledged Superin- Remarks were also delivered by Su-

tendent Moses James, the facility's

perintendent Gwen Meriweather,

Deputy Director of Probation Operations Mark Morris and Spectrum State Director Dawn Collinge. Program Director Gloria Moreland and Spectrum Clinical supervisor presented the graduates their certificates of completion.
Turner RSAT was remissioned from a Pre-release Center in July.

10 Step Framework Presentation at APPA Whitworth Opens Doors to Female Offenders

Contributed by Jay Sanders, Asst. to the Director of Probation Operations

Whitworth Parole Revocation Center and Washington State Prison Annex have been remissioned to house female offenders. The offenders began arriving at Washington on Dec. 19 and Whitworth Jan. 22.

The Department found that by realigning their original missions, the facilities can be utilized to help reduce the number of female offenders currently awaiting placement while in county jails.

Offender in-take process

Jay Sanders, Marcia McIntyre (left) and Sandra Thomas deliver a presentation on the Department's "10 Step Framework" to attendees of the American Probation and Parole Association's Winter Training Session.

The American Probation and Parole Association invited the Probation Operations division to present its "10 Step Framework" program at the group's Winter Training Institute in Phoenix. Assistant to the Director Jay Sanders, Conasauga Judicial Circuit Chief Probation Officer Cory Beggs and Field Operations Managers Marcia McIntyre and Sandra Thomas spoke on behalf of the Department.

Representatives from around the country attended the presentation, asked thought provoking questions and were impressed with the strides that have been made in Georgia.
Female offenders arriving at Whitworth Femaile Facility

"We continue to work hard at achieving efficient ways of managing and supervising our offenders while keeping public safety our number one priority," said Commissioner Brian Owens. "The newly remissioned facility will continue to enhance our rehabilitation efforts for these female offenders."
In addition to new names, Whitworth Women's Facility and Washington Parole Center, the facilities have received renovations to accommodate the female offenders and gender specific training for staff.
Whitworth has an operating capacity of 436 and new Washington Parole Center has an operational capacity of 200.

3 Images Across The State - Probation Officer Sentencing Specialists

Calendar Events
Thursday, February 7 Board of Corrections
Meeting

Thursday, February 14 Valentine's Day

POSS Officer Josh Parker-Rome Judicial Circuit (right) meeting with Floyd County Clerk of Court, Barbara Penson
POSS Jennifer Cannon of the Brunswick Office (right) with Superior Court Judge Roger B. Lane

Monday, February 25 Red Cross Blood Drive
at SOS Tift College
Wednesday-Thursday February 27-28 GPA Mid-Winter Conference

POSS Officer Xochamillica Calton of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit (right) & Superior Court Judge Walter Lovett

L to R: Luke Coleman, SPS/IPS Woodbine Probation Office; Sheriff of Camden County Jim Proctor; Georg Trexler, CPO Brunswick Judicial Circuit; Stacy Westberry, POIII Brunswick Probation Office; Jennifer Cannon, Drug Court/ MHPO/POSS Brunswick Probation Office;Denise Head, Secretary II, Woodbine Probation Office.

youtube.com/user/ GACorrections

POSS Officer Robert Parsons with Dublin Circuit Superior

POSS Officer Melissa Cole of the Towaliga Judicial Circuit reviewing E-filing

Court Judge Jon F. Helton and Dublin Circuit District Attorney with Butts County Clerk of the Towaliga Judicial Circuit

Craig Fraser

facebook.com/georgiacorrections GA_Corrections

4

First Quarterly Awards Ceremony of 2013

On Feb. 5, the Department held the first 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 Bridget Graham Northern Judicial Circuit

ADMINISTRATION Customer Service Champion Carla Woodham, Marcia Luckett, Della Grubbs, Janet Clark, Lauralene Williamson Business Management Unit
Unsung Hero Dave Hess Georgia Correctional Industries

CO of the Quarter Lisa Huff Whitworth Women's Facility
Customer Service Champion Miriam Dyson Interstate Compact
Unsung Hero Gloria Davis Burrus CTC
OPERATIONS, PLANNING & TRAINING Customer Service Champion Leslie Nan Winge Office of Information & Technology
Unsung Hero Madia West MHM

EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS Customer Service Champion Annette Anderson, Sheandra Calhoun, Diane Hanson, Chester Hofer, Kimberly Luzier, Shevondah Fields Ombudsman Unit
Unsung Hero Lyle Wilkes Apprehension Unit
FAITHFUL SERVICE AWARDS 5 Years Joseph Burnette, Alicia Martinez, Valeria Brown, Sherryl Johnson, Albert Smith, James Mathis, Richard Summers, Latoya Arnold, Danny Horne, Fredrick Mullis, Barry Wilborn
10 Years Sylvie Bogui Parks, Martavius Wesley,

Commissioner Brian Owens, Assistant Commissioner Timothy C. Ward and Gregory C Dozier with the Ombudsman's Unit

Marcia Williams, Jennifer Walker, Birdie Peoples, Christina Pittman Wanda Pierce, Teresa Watkins

Mark Wingate, Cheryl Frazier, Katrinka Glass, James Smith, Marionette Stancil

15 Years Robert Kiedinger, Barbara Burns, Nancy A. Jackson, Steffin Fest, Tony Neesmith, Clara Rowsey, Erich Williams
20 Years Douglas Bell, James Bowen, David Hightower, Ricky Jacobs, Jimmy Nichols, Glynn Pittman, Gregory Slocumb, Sandra Smith,

25 Years Stephanie Fogarty, Anthony George, Stuart Holt, Linda Craig, Marsha Phillips
30 Years Emory Burgamy, Oscar Crumbley, Beverly New, Delphine Reese, Princess Talley
35 Years William `Cliff' Hartley

David Taylor Completes Chief Executive Training

Chief Investigator David Taylor
Office of Investigations and Compliance Chief Investigator David Taylor attended the Chief Executive Training Class for newly appointed chiefs of police and heads of law enforcement

Contributed by Earnestine McCrary, Clerk II

agencies at the Dr. Curtis E. McClung Training Center in Duluth, GA. last Fall.
The 60-hour course, administered and provided by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), is required by state law for all newly appointed heads of law enforcement agencies.
Chief Taylor, who was appointed to his position on August 16, 2011, will also be required to attend 20 hours of management/executive level training each year.
The curriculum is designed to give newly appointed law enforcement administrators training on police management, as well as inform them of laws and policies affecting their departments. Topics covered in the course include: Managerial Liability and E.E.O.C.

Laws, Police Manpower Allocation & Staffing, Budget Administration, Political & Practical Realities, Office & Role of the Police Chief, Evolution of Ethics, Media Relations, Departmental Organization, Employee Selection Process, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Overview, Below 100 Initiative, Promotional Systems, United States Department of Justice Programs, Developing Policies, Leadership/Management Role of the Chief, Employee Performance & Employee Discipline, Legislative Process along with other timely topics.
"It is our mission to offer exceptional training that provides professional executive and leadership development which will prepare the newly appointed agency head for the difficult, but rewarding position they have accepted,"

said GACP President J. Frank Waits of the Vidalia Police Department.
Chief Taylor was among 49 law enforcement administrators attending the course.
The GACP provides this executive training course twice a year, along with several other training programs throughout the state. It is the largest professional association for law enforcement administrators in Georgia, and one of the largest in the country. The membership of over 1,700 includes executives representing municipal and county law enforcement agencies, college and university police departments, corporate and private security firms and numerous state and federal agencies.

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 & Rachad Hollis Contributors, Public Relations & Information Specialist