Fiscal year 2018 annual report

Parole's role in public safety
ANNUAL REPORT FY 2018
Nathan Deal, Governor Terry E. Barnard, Chairman Brian Owens, Vice Chairman James W. Mills, Member Jacqueline Bunn, Esq., Member David J. Herring, Member

Inside
Mission, Vision, Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Organizational Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction / FY 2018 Highlights . . . . . . 4 Looking to the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Chairman's Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Five-Member Parole Board . . . . . . . 10 Executive Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Executive Director's Letter . . . . . . . . . . .18 Clemency & Parole Consideration . . . . . 20 Field Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Georgia Office of Victim Services . . . . . . 30 Budget & Fiscal Services . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Human Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Our Mission
To serve the citizens of Georgia by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims' rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change.
Our Values
We value Ethics, Integrity, Equity and Innovation.

Our Vision
To be the nation's leading paroling authority by: Making informed clemency decisions Preparing offenders for positive change through the imposition of
practical and constructive release conditions Protecting the public by holding accountable those offenders who
violate the conditions of release Ensuring crime victims have a voice in the criminal justice process Fostering positive relationships with all stakeholders Striving to be a continuously learning organization

The Agency is guided by the 4 Es
Engaging Stakeholders Educating the Community Encouraging Active Participation
Enhancing Operations
2 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Enhanced Operations Improve Public Safety

Organization

The Board

Terry E. Barnard, Chairman Brian Owens, Vice Chairman James W. Mills, Member Jacqueline Bunn, Esq., Member David J. Herring, Member

Legal Services La'Quandra Smith

Executive Director Christopher L. Barnett

Deputy Executive Director Rita Rocker

support operations Director
James Williams

Clemency Director
Rick Jacobs

Victim Services Director
Shalandra D. Robertson

Field Services Director
Felecia Holloway

Special Assistant to Board Thurman Henderson
Communications Steve Hayes
Budget & Fiscal Lisa Reid
Human Resources Eris McKennon
Gov. Relations Kim Patton-Johnson
Community Affairs Anita Cloud
Training, Inv. & Compliance Chris Kimner
Mental Health & EAP Erika Johnson

Deputy Director
Caryl Deems

Deputy Director
Scott Reaves

Office Manager
Janelle Edwards

Deputy Director
Keir Chapple

QA Program Director
Patricia Smith

Deputy Director
Jenna James

Deputy Director
Alan Smith

INVESTIGATIONS
PARDON ADMIN.

HE'S CONS

VICTIM SERVICE SPECIALIST I

PROGRAM MANAGER
Destiny Brown

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

GCIC INTERSTATE ADMIN. STAFF
SCANNING/ IMAGING

DOM'S VIOLATIONS/
SANCTION EXTRADITIONS

FY 2018 Annual Report 3

Highlights from FY 2018

Parole's role in public safety
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles again worked to engage and educate criminal justice partners and community stakeholders, including the public, throughout Fiscal Year 2018. The goal was to inform and involve as many Georgians as possible in the parole process, thereby achieving the best possible parole decisions. As a result, public safety is served.

Engaging and encouraging active participation in the parole process
In FY18, The Parole Board again showed its commitment to stakeholders by meeting with various organizations and groups allowing the Board Members access to all available information regarding parole eligible offenders.

Crime victims have access to the Parole Board Members
Board Members met with more than 500 crime victims and family members during the fiscal year discussing the parole status of offenders. The meetings allow for victim input prior to the parole decision process. Victims of crime in Georgia may send information to the Parole Board concerning offender parole cases. Victims registered with the Georgia Office of Victim Services, a division of the agency, are informed of status changes with the inmate. Information the Board receives, to include victim impact statements, is considered during the parole decision making process.
During the fiscal year, the Parole Board conducted two events allowing crime victims to meet personally with parole staff and a Board Member to discuss cases and provide the Board with information. Information received by the Board from victims at these meetings is included in the parole case files and available for review by the Board Members when the parole eligible inmates are considered. These "Victims Visitors' Days" involved the Board Members and much of the agency's clemency staff relocating for the day to a Georgia community.

FY18 Victims Visitors' Days
On October 17, 2017, more than 160 victims attended the Victims Visitors' Day, in Cordele,
Georgia. In DeKalb County in April of 2018, the Board conducted its first two-day event,
and the largest Victims Visitors' Day ever, hosting more than 350 victims.
Through June 30, 2018, the Parole Board has conducted 29 of these events across Georgia, meeting with nearly 4,000 crime
victims and family members.
4 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Stakeholder partnerships
Partnerships were formed with various law enforcement organizations during the fiscal year. Parole leadership participated in various training meetings and conferences to include: the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Public safety is enhanced as law enforcement agencies and organizations partner with the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Offenders are engaged and informed about the parole process
In FY18, the Parole Board continued engagement of incarcerated offenders to assist offenders in achieving success after parole and to contribute to public safety. By meeting with inmates, the Board is able to add more information about the offender to the comprehensive parole case file. Information obtained in these engagements enables the Board to have a complete profile of the offender, another important element of scientific, informed, data driven parole decisions.
The Board works closely with and supports the reentry efforts of the Department of Corrections by participating in offender population meetings and the agency's Family Day, where offender families are able to meet with staff from both agencies.
In addition, parole staff attended inmate graduations throughout the fiscal year, showing support for the achievements of offenders, an important area the Board reviews when considering parole. The Parole Board proudly partners with the Department of Corrections by attending and celebrating as many of these graduations as possible. At each event, the Board encourages those graduates to continue to use their time wisely, take advantage of the opportunities presented and prepare themselves for reentry. During the fiscal year, the Parole Board took opportunities to notify graduates of their parole release at the graduation sending a powerful message to the inmate population about the importance of program completions.

Reentry video highlights parole success
"A Parole Success and a Recipe for Returning Offenders" was released at the November 2017 monthly Parole Board meeting. Carey Parrott received a pardon from the Board as a result of his successful reentry following years in prison and completion of his sentences. In the video, Parrott explains his successes and recommendations for other returning citizens.

FY 2018 Annual Report 5

Cordele hosts Parole Board's monthly meeting

In a move to make the Parole Board more accessible to all Georgians, the October 2017 monthly Parole Board meeting was moved from Atlanta to Cordele. The Board's monthly meetings are conducted to review and update policy and to receive operational updates. Parole cases are not discussed and parole decisions are not made at the monthly meetings.

Historical board member presentation

At the June 2018 monthly Parole Board meeting, the 75th anniversary of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles was commemorated. Relatives of the first three Parole Board Members attended and were recognized with board resolutions. In addition, the Board has included profiles of all previous Parole Board Members on its website; www.pap.georgia.gov.
6 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Board Member re-appointment
Governor Nathan Deal re-appointed Parole Board Member Terry Barnard to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The appointment, Mr. Barnard's second full term, was made in December of 2017.
Notifications regarding parole
As part of the Board's effort to ensure quality parole decisions, the Board continued efforts to solicit case information as required by state law and also continued providing notification of parole considerations not required by statute. The Board's "Secondary Solicitation of Information" is sent to the prosecuting district attorney's office and the judge regarding an offender convicted of a serious felony. The notification is made six months prior to the offender's statutorily mandated parole eligibility date. The additional communication affords the Board the opportunity to receive the current views and any additional information from the district attorney and the judge. More than 3,000 such notifications were sent in FY18 representing offenders who became parole eligible according to the sentence they received in court.
The Board also sent 391 statutory 90-day notifications regarding pending paroles for offenders convicted of a "serious violent felony," referred to commonly as the "seven deadly sins." This notification gives prosecutors an additional opportunity to convey to the Board any information necessary before the offender is released. This notification covers the offenses known as the "seven deadly sins" which are murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy and aggravated sexual battery (O.C.G.A. 17-10-6.1). The notification is sent a minimum of 90-days in advance of a clemency release for those offenses.

Looking to the future to enhance public safety

As the State Board of Pardons and Paroles strives to be the number one paroling authority in the nation, it continuously reviews and evaluates its people, processes and technology looking for efficacy gains. The following are FY18 projects completed and, "works in progress," as the agency looks to the future and enhanced public safety.

Legal investigations module
A new investigations module was developed to allow for "real time" tracking of legal investigations regarding offender parole cases and it will result in a new computer software system that will enhance the entire investigative process. The new system will result in a more efficient movement of cases through the investigative process, resulting in more timely decision making by the Board.
Scan team enhancements
A new scanning process has been developed improving the management of the thousands of documents that are scanned into the agency's electronic case management system. As a result, all documents are now properly scanned eliminating the rescanning of documents. The process is more streamlined and increases productivity for document users eliminating manual processes and duplication of tasks.

Strategic plan updated
In FY 2018, the Board updated the agency strategic plan aligning goals and the vision with those of the Governor. The plan guides the agency's progress to benefit all Georgians. The strategic plan helps the agency to evaluate its performance and efficiency annually and ensures that the agency's goals are prioritized.

Parole Exits and Revocation Knowledge System (PERKS)
In FY 2018, the Board completed a review of its offender violations and revocation process in collaboration with the Robina Institute. As a result the agency is focusing on recommendations for improvements allowing for the best decision making involving offenders who violate parole conditions. The goal is to improve offender outcomes. Recommendations from the research are being worked into a new module through a partnership with Applied Research Services, Inc.

FY 2018 Annual Report 7

from the chairman

TO: The Honorable Nathan Deal, Governor Members of the General Assembly Citizens of the state of Georgia

Public safety served through an effective parole process

On behalf of our dedicated employees, I present to you the Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report. Thank you for taking an opportunity to learn more about the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
As you review the report, you will find that the parole decision making process incorporates scientific best practices, is data driven and evidence based. It is a process made public through multiple notifications that enables stakeholders, including the community, to contribute by providing information and input regarding an offender's case. All tentative release decisions are posted in advance to our website.
On average, more than 40% of the 50,000 plus inmate population serve out their entire prison sentence while incarcerated in the Georgia Department of Corrections. Of the remaining 60%, of those who are paroled, more than 70% continue to show positive

traits while under parole supervision and successfully complete parole.
We are committed to protecting victims' rights to include an interest in their healing which was evident again in FY18 as we conducted more one-on-one meetings with crime victims than in any previous year. More than 500 victims, including their family members, met with the Board. Victims have an integral position in the parole decision making process. Their information is important and considered by the Board prior to determining whether an offender will be released on parole. Please review the section on the Georgia Office of Victim Services which includes information about the many services offered to crime victims in this state.
Each year we review our procedures and as it benefits public safety, enhancements are made providing

for safer Georgia communities. This past year we reviewed the decision making process involving how parole violations are handled. Working closely with the Department of Community Supervision, violations of parole are addressed and appropriate action is taken in order to protect the public.
Throughout this report, we highlight the effectiveness of the Board's processes and how this agency serves the citizens of Georgia.
In closing, I reiterate that the State Board of Pardons and Paroles exists to benefit public safety. An effective parole decision making process delivers informed, data driven decisions resulting in successful parole completions.
Thank you

8 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Terry E. Barnard, Chairman
State Board of Pardons and Paroles

FY 2018 Annual Report 9

the five member parole board

The Georgia Constitution provides that Parole Board Members are to be appointed by the Governor to seven year staggered terms, subject to confirmation by the State Senate. Board Members are full-time state employees from various professions including criminal justice and private business.
In 1943, the Board was established through a constitutional amendment and consisted of three members. In 1973, as the prison population rose to 9,000, the Constitution was amended to increase the Board to five members. Today, as the inmate population exceeds 50,000, the Board still consists of five voting members.
The Board is the sole authority in the state to make informed decisions on which state inmates are deserving of parole, thereby ensuring that the state's prison beds are dedicated to the offenders who have committed the most serious crimes.
In Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18), the Board Members made 75,040 clemency decisions. This total represents all Board decisions requiring a vote and multiple decisions in each offender's case considered during the fiscal year. This total does not reflect the total number of inmate cases considered.
The Board released from prison a total of 10,363 offenders in FY18. Georgia's percentage of parolees successfully completing parole in FY18 was 72%. The national average was approximately 57%.
10 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Deciding whether to grant an offender parole is the primary responsibility of the Board. Parole hearings are not held. However, each offender entering the Georgia prison system is interviewed by Board personnel. The Board also actively solicits input and accepts pleas for and protests against executive clemency throughout the consideration process. The information is sought from community stakeholders, including victims and criminal justice partners. By utilizing the Board's Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System, the process is scientific and data driven. Board Members review the comprehensive case file of the offender and each member individually makes a parole decision.
The review of death sentences is a responsibility of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Board is the only entity in Georgia with the constitutional authority to commute a death sentence. The Governor does not have this authority in Georgia. Board Members conduct a clemency meeting for the condemned inmate after which they may commute a death sentence to life with or without the possibility of parole, issue a stay or deny clemency.
The Board conducts monthly Parole Board Meetings at which policy decisions are made. Offender cases are not discussed and parole decisions are not made at the monthly Board Meetings.
Learn more about the clemency process beginning on page 20.

constitution & History
Checks and Balances
Georgia's constitution provides for three branches of government to serve as checks and balances on the power of government over the offender. The legislative branch sets the minimum and maximum range of the prison sentence, the judicial branch sentences the offender within that range, and the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, as a part of the executive branch, manages the finite resource of state prison beds by considering eligible offenders and making parole grants in the interest of public safety.
History of Parole in Georgia
Parole came to Georgia in 1908 when the General Assembly voted to give the Prison Commission authority to implement a system of "parole or conditional pardons." Parole could be granted upon the approval of the full Commission and the Governor. The Commission had power to issue warrants and arrest parole violators.
In 1938, the Commission was given broader powers to grant paroles without the approval of the Governor and without limitation on its authority, "save the welfare of the State." However, the Commission remained hampered by a shortage of funds. Then in the early 1940s there were serious questions raised about the handling of pardons. The General Assembly enacted legislation, and signed it into law in February of 1943, creating the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency to administer executive clemency.
In August of 1943, Georgia voters ratified, by a ratio of four and a half to one, a landmark amendment to the State Constitution establishing the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, commute sentences, including death sentences, and remove disabilities imposed by law.
FY 2018 Annual Report 11

PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS

Terry E. Barnard, Chairman

Terry E. Barnard serves as Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles for Fiscal Year 2019. Mr. Barnard previously served three years as chairman, from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2017. He also served two one-year terms as vice chairman. Mr. Barnard of McIntosh County was appointed to the Board in May of 2010 by Governor Perdue and reappointed December 31, 2010. Governor Nathan Deal reappointed him to a second seven-year term in December 2017.
As Parole Board Chairman, Mr. Barnard also serves on the Board of Community Supervision. The board has regulatory oversight of the Department of Community Supervision which is responsible for the supervision of felony offenders on probation and parole in Georgia.
Under Mr. Barnard's leadership as chairman, enhancements to the parole consideration process were made to increase notifications to prosecutors of pending board decisions in order to solicit additional case information. Access to the Board and the decision making process has increased for victims and the Board revised its Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System.
Mr. Barnard, a former State Representative, served nearly six-

teen years in the Georgia House of Representatives. The Coastal Georgia lawmaker served as a member of several key House committees, including the State Institutions and Property Committee, where he served as the chairman for six years.
Mr. Barnard's legislative experience and knowledge of the Georgia Department of Corrections continues to serve the Board and the citizens of Georgia. In 1995-1996, Mr. Barnard guided through the Georgia House the framework for the State Sex Offender Registry and Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. Mr. Barnard previously served two terms on the State Commission on Family Violence.
Mr. Barnard is a native of Tattnall County. He is a graduate of Atlantic Community College and has a strong background in business and more than eighteen years of experience in the financial industry. He served as Vice President and Manager of First Citizens Bank of Reidsville and as a Regional Marketing Director for Green Tree Acceptance, a national mortgage lender. He is involved in a local Baptist Church and takes part in many community events and activities.

12 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Brian Owens, Vice Chairman
Brian Owens was elected vice chairman by his colleagues on the Parole Board for FY 2019. Owens was appointed to the Parole Board on February 1, 2015, by Governor Nathan Deal. The former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections began his career as a parole officer in 1993. He was later promoted to assistant chief parole officer and chief parole officer.
In 1999, Mr. Owens joined the Georgia Department of Corrections. He began his career at the department as Director of the Office of Planning and Analysis and was later promoted to Executive Assistant and then to Assistant Commissioner. On January 8, 2009, Mr. Owens was sworn in as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections by Governor Perdue. He was reappointed as Commissioner by Governor Deal on January 18, 2011.
As vice chairman, Mr. Owens also serves on the Board of Community Supervision. The board has regulatory oversight of the Department of Community Supervision which is responsible for the supervision of felony offenders on probation and parole in Georgia.
Mr. Owens earned his bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia.
FY 2018 Annual Report 13

PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS continued

James W. Mills

James W. Mills of Hall County previously served as chairman for FY 2018 and vice chairman of the Parole Board for FY 2014-FY 2017. He was appointed to the Board in November of 2011 by Governor Nathan Deal.
The former State Representative served nineteen years in the legislature. He served on numerous committees and he served as Secretary of the Rules Committee and Chairman of the Banks and Banking Committee.
During his legislative service, Mr. Mills sponsored key legislation, including the amendment that placed "In God We Trust" on the Georgia state flag and he passed "proof of citizenship when registering to vote" legislation. He also helped to pass the Georgia Mortgage Fraud Law allowing district attorneys to prosecute mortgage fraud and the "Option of Adoption" legislation, the first-of-its-kind in the nation. He was invited to the White House on two occasions as recognition for his tax cutting efforts as a state legislator.

Mr. Mills was named Christian Coalition Legislator of the Year in 2001. In 2007, he was named "Legislator of the Year" by the Georgia Retail Association. He is the recipient of the "ProLife Hero Award" from the Georgia Right to Life organization, and in 2007, he was named the Pro-Life Hero Legislator by the Justice Foundation.
Mr. Mills is a successful businessman and three times he has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle's Who's Who in Finance.
Mr. Mills graduated from Mercer University in 1985 with a bachelor's degree. In 1990, he received a master's degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (N.O.B.T.S.). Mr. Mills is involved in many community youth activities and he's led numerous overseas mission trips through his local church.

14 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Jacqueline Bunn, Esq.
Jacqueline Bunn was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the State Board of Pardons and Paroles by Governor Nathan Deal, effective July 1, 2016. She was reappointed to a full seven year term in December of 2016. In August 2018, Ms. Bunn was appointed by Governor Deal to the State Commission on Family Violence. The commission works to educate and raise awareness about family violence in Georgia. The commission evaluates services, researches the need for additional services and offers and monitors proposed legislation concerning family violence.
Ms. Bunn started her career with the state of Georgia in 1997, as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Section for the Georgia Department of Law. She handled hundreds of cases involving the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in state and federal courts, from the trial level through the appellate process, to the United States Supreme Court. In December of 2006, she served as Deputy Director in the Legal Services Unit of the Georgia Department

of Public Safety. She also served as the legislative liaison. In July of 2013, Ms. Bunn was appointed by Governor Deal
to serve as the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC). Her extensive experience directly related to Georgia's criminal justice system was a tremendous asset in this role, and resulted in numerous government efficiencies and innovations for the agency.
Ms. Bunn currently serves on the State Bar of Georgia's Promoting Inclusion in the Profession Committee and as a member of the Georgia Bar Journal Editorial Board.
Ms. Bunn is a native Georgian. She completed both her undergraduate degree in broadcast journalism, with general honors, and her law degree on full academic scholarships from the University of Georgia. She is licensed to practice law in all of the state and federal courts in Georgia and New Jersey. She has worked in private law firms in Atlanta, Georgia, Westfield, New Jersey, and Princeton, New Jersey.

FY 2018 Annual Report 15

PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS continued
David J. Herring
David J. Herring was appointed to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles on August 1, 2018, by Governor Nathan Deal.
Mr. Herring joined the Georgia Department of Public Safety in 1994 as a state trooper and has served the state of Georgia for over 24 years. During his tenure as a state trooper, Mr. Herring served as team security for the University of Georgia Football Program, member of the State of Georgia S.W.A.T. Team and most recently as a Lt. Colonel managing security details for the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice.
Mr. Herring received the Governor's Public Safety Award for Heroism in 2001 and was recognized by the Gainesville Kiwanis Club as Trooper of the Year in 2004.
Mr. Herring graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in Public Administration. Mr. Herring and his wife reside in Hall County and are members of their local church.
16 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Executive Director of Parole Christopher Barnett

Executive Director Christopher Barnett was appointed to the position in August of 2015 after serving as Interim Director and guiding the Board through a significant reorganization as parole supervision transitioned to the new Department of Community Supervision.
Director Barnett continues to work strengthening relationships with community stakeholders and criminal justice partners and informing Georgians about the parole consideration process.
Director Barnett joined the Georgia Parole Board in

2003 as a parole officer in the Marietta Parole District. Promotions to senior parole officer, assistant chief parole officer, field operations officer, senior field operations officer and statewide program manager followed. In May of 2013, he was promoted to regional director, supervising all operations and parole districts within the Northeast Region.
Mr. Barnett is a native of Hinesville, Georgia. He has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern University.

Deputy Executive Director of Parole Rita Rocker

Rita Rocker was appointed Deputy Executive Director effective June 1, 2015.
Ms. Rocker began her career in 1989 as an accounting clerk with the Engineering Unit of the Georgia Department of Corrections. She then worked in the Food & Farm Unit, before being promoted to unit manager of the Property/ Inventory & Audits Unit.
In 1997, Ms. Rocker transferred to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an operations auditor where her responsibilities included examining each of the Board's primary

operations to identify areas for improvement. Her success resulted in a promotion to unit manager. In 2010, she was promoted to Director of Government Relations, leading the Board through several legislative cycles as criminal justice reforms were implemented in Georgia.
Ms. Rocker graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. She later attended the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College at Columbus State University earning a Master of Public Administration.

FY 2018 Annual Report 17

from the executive director

It is my great honor and privilege to serve as Executive Director of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. While serving the Parole Board and the citizens of Georgia in this capacity, I have ensured the operations of the agency remained mission focused, ensuring public safety, protecting victims' rights and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change.
Our goal is simple: to be the number one parole authority in the nation, a goal this agency is well on its way to achieving. This report will highlight some of the hard work, successes, efficiency gains and enhancements to the clemency consideration system accomplished during fiscal year 2018, all of which have led to greater public safety for all Georgians.
From an operational standpoint and under the leadership, guidance and support of the five member Parole Board, the executive management team has focused on ensuring every tax dollar benefits the public and leads to a safer Georgia. By ensuring the day-to-day operations of the agency are both streamlined and productive, we are able to maximize the use of state funds.
Again this fiscal year, we closely monitored our operations in Clemency, Field Services and Victim Services to ensure each were meeting their primary operational responsibility. Where possible, we enhanced operations by focusing on our people, processes and technology. Our clemency consider-

ation process is more efficient as highlighted in the we are successful with the first three Es, the fourth E

increased number of cases considered by the Board will be realized and that is the Enhancement of the

during FY18, while at the same time enhancing the clemency consideration process.

quality, detail, consistency and scientific informa-

Again in FY18, we utilized this four E concept

tion each member receives during the consideration with law enforcement agencies to include police,

process.

sheriffs, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys,

In order to achieve continued enhancement of

community groups and public service organizations

the process, operationally we must continue our

across the state, all in an effort to serve our citizens

partnerships with stakeholders across the state. Every to the best of our ability.

taxpayer funded agency should be looking for ways

To be the number one paroling authority in the

to collaborate with

nation we must continue

stakeholders and each

to find ways of improv-

other, specifically as it

ing. We're currently en-

relates to providing for

gaged in several projects

public safety. For the

to meet this goal.

operations of the State

We have completed

Board of Pardons and

a study in collaboration

Paroles, this is referred

with the Robina Institute

to as the four Es: En-

to assist in the evalua-

gaging all stakehold-

tion of how the system

ers in the clemency

addresses parole viola-

process, Educating

tions and if that process

stakeholders on the

can be improved for the

clemency process, En-

sake of public safety. We

couraging stakeholders

are now in the process of

to become or remain actively involved in the clemency consideration process and, if

To be the number one paroling authority in the nation we must continue to find ways of improving.

determining which recommendations may be implemented to further enhance the process and

We're currently engaged in several

projects to meet this goal.

18 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

possibly lead to the development of an end stage decision making guidelines system for the Parole Board.
A new investigations module was developed to allow for "real time" tracking of legal investigations regarding clemency consideration cases and will result in a new computer software system that will enhance the entire investigative process. The new system will result in the more efficient movement of cases through the investigative process, resulting in more timely case considerations by the Board.
We are also engaged in a joint research project with Georgia Tech to determine factors among similarly situated individuals that lead to success and what the Parole Board can mandate prior to any clemency release and post release to provide the best possible chance of an individual being successful.
These are just a few of the many positive opportunities this agency has undertaken in an effort to improve over all services to stakeholders and our communities.
We hope you find this report interesting, informative and useful. If you wish to know more about the Georgia Parole Board and the clemency consideration process, I would encourage you to visit our website at: www.pap.georgia.gov.
Thank you.
Christopher L. Barnett Executive Director of Parole

FY 2018 Annual Report 19

clemency + Parole consideration

For a fourth consecutive year, parole releases were down during FY18. Meanwhile, prison commitments increased for a second consecutive year. The Parole Board released 10,363 offenders from prison through all forms of clemency to include releasing inmates on parole during the fiscal year. This total represented 105 fewer releases from the previous fiscal year.
In Georgia, clemency encompasses the parole decision making process. Clemency also pertains to the granting or denying of pardons and restoration of civil and political rights by the Parole Board. The Parole Board holds the sole constitutional authority to grant executive clemency to a condemned inmate. In Georgia, no inmate is entitled to parole; however, by law, most are eligible for consideration and therefore must be considered by the Parole Board.
As a result of data driven parole decisions, Georgia's scientific parole consideration process keeps the public safe and assists the Department of Corrections in keeping the finite number of prison beds dedicated for the most serious offenders. The annual cost avoidance to the state, due to offenders being under parole supervision as opposed to housing them in prison, was more than $450,000,000 for FY18.
FY 2018 Parole Releases

Parole Consideration and Decisions
Parole Board Members independently reach their decisions after reviewing a comprehensive electronic case file on the eligible offender. The file generally includes investigative reports, reports from the Department of Corrections, the offender's criminal history, circumstances of current offenses, information from the district attorney, victims and other stakeholders. The Clemency Division provides a thorough assessment and a recommended number of months-to-serve based upon the application of the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System, if applicable. (See listed information contained in the parole case file on pages 21-22 of this report.)
Eligible inmates are automatically considered for parole. Three of the five board members must agree on a decision. In FY18, there were 13,408 offender files initiated for consideration by the Clemency Division. For more information on parole eligibility and the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System visit: www.pap.georgia.gov.
Clemency Online Navigation System Electronic Case Management
The process of preparing a case for consideration by the Board is completed electronically in CONS (Clemency Online Navigation System). CONS has proven to be more effective and efficient than the prior paper based process. CONS allows Parole Board Members to access the offender's case material and make clemency decisions electronically. The Parole Board has eliminated the production of paper files and continues the process of imaging the last of the existing paper files.
The agency has completed the process of submitting life-sentenced inmate cases to the Board electronically. By eliminating paper files on these cases and submitting them electronically, the Clemency Division's process is more efficient. Now all parole eligible inmate cases in Georgia may be voted electronically by the Board.
CONS has significantly improved the agency's business processes. The electronic case file is established in CONS after the sentence package is electronically received from the Department of Corrections. Electronic notifications trigger actions moving the case toward a Parole Board decision.
CONS initializes notifications to judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement regarding Parole Board decisions. Notifications are also generated to wardens and inmates regarding board decisions. Please see additional information regarding statutory and other notifications made by the Board later in this report.
In FY18, 35,698 notifications (all types) were generated by CONS. There were 6,507 preconditions to parole imposed by the Board on inmates during the fiscal year.

16,212 13,520 13,374 10,468 10,363

fy14 fy15 fy16 fy17 fy18
20 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

The Parole Consideration Process
After the agency receives an offender's sentencing information electronically from the Department of Corrections, parole investigators collect details of conviction offenses, interview inmates for personal history statements and complete post sentence investigations.
For cases other than a life sentence, hearing examiners review all of the information contained in the investigations conducted by parole investigators. In order to make equitable recommendations to the Board Members, hearing examiners process and prepare rating summaries utilizing the agency's Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System.
Following the hearing examiner's review, the cases and recommendations are electronically forwarded to the Board Members for consideration. Board Members then individually consider each case and vote electronically. The members may agree with the time-to-serve recommendation provided by the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System or they may deviate from the recommendation by increasing or decreasing the number of months to be served before parole is granted. The Board also has the authority to deny parole.
Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System
When considering parole for those offenders who will become statutorily eligible for parole consideration and who are serving less than a life sentence, the Board reviews a recommendation of months, or a percentage of the sentence, to serve. This recommendation is obtained from the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System or the guidelines. The guidelines account for the severity of the crime and the offender's risk to reoffend. The offender's risk to reoffend is determined by weighted factors concerning the offender's criminal and social history that the Board has found to have value in predicting the probability of further criminal behavior.
Revisions to the guidelines were completed in 2017. Updates included raising the crime severity level of certain conviction types. The higher the crime severity level, the more serious the offense and the likely result is a recommendation for the offender to serve a longer period of time prior to parole. On the risk to reoffend scale, the Board now includes prior arrest episodes in place of conviction history for the offender. Research has proven arrests to be a better statistical predictor of future criminal behavior. The updated guidelines take into account statewide sentencing averages and parole decisions by previous boards. More information regarding the Board's application of the current Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System can be found at www.pap.georgia.gov/parole-consideration-eligibility.

What information is considered when determining who gets paroled?

In a guidelines case, a recommendation is derived from application of the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System regarding the time the offender should serve prior to parole or that the offender should be denied parole and serve the entire prison sentence. The Board considers the recommendation and decides whether to agree. Because the Board has constitutional authority and discretion to determine parole, the following is information that may be in the parole file that the Board Members can consider when determining if an eligible inmate receives parole:

aggravating circumstances victim impact statements prosecutor/judicial statements legal investigations including
details/circumstances of the crime(s) the parole guidelines recommendation, if applicable inmate progress reports inmate interviews program completions/failures prison conduct inmate disciplinary reports amount of the prison sentence served

inmate's mental health status and progress
if probation is to be served after confinement
offender's age at the crime commit date
prior parole considerations number of prior arrests number of prior felonies prior revocations prior incarcerations personal history statement parole release plan

FFYY22001188AAnnnnuuaallRReeppoorrtt 2211

Many documents in the parole file on the offender are public. They may include (if applicable to the offender) but are not limited to:

sentencing documents
notifications to the offender regarding the Board's decision
notice of consideration for parole prior to serving one-third of the sentence (only if applicable)
notice of the final decision to parole
correspondence sent by the Board in response to an offender's correspondence or in response to correspondence sent on behalf of the offender
parole certificate
notice of the preliminary revocation hearing
the preliminary hearing summary
the waiver of the preliminary revocation hearing

notice of the final revocation hearing
the waiver of the final revocation hearing
revocation orders the public portion of the revo-
cation hearing recording court production orders detainers subpoenas Board arrest warrants the certificate of discharge
from parole the pardon order restoration of political and civil
rights order commutation order Board orders in death penalty
cases

Documents protected by Georgia law from public disclosure include

but are not limited to:

victim correspondence
the offender's medical information
GCIC/NCIC reports
the hearing examiner's executive summary of the offender's case

the offender's residence plan verification
correspondence to the Board including from those opposing parole for the offender
parole investigations
pardon application

the Board ballot

petition for commutation of a death sentence

For more information: www.pap.georgia.gov/parole-consideration

22 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Tentative Parole Months
(excludes inmates serving life with parole eligibility)
After receiving the case from the hearing examiner, a Tentative Parole Month (TPM) is set when three of the five Parole Board Members agree on a specific amount of time that the offender should serve before being granted parole. Inmates receive written notification of the Board's decision. The Tentative Parole Month or "tentative grant" can be rescinded at any time. The TPM is not a release date or a final parole release decision. An inmate's TPM status is available on the agency's website. The Inmate TPM Lookup (Offender/Inmate Parole Status) link is located on the home page at www.pap.georgia.gov.
Final Review Process
As the TPM approaches, the hearing examiner will conduct a final review of the offender's case file. The final review determines if there is any reason a release date should not be set. Parole could be delayed or denied as a result of the offender not completing required programming, prison misconduct, or because of detainers, warrants or new sentences. A release date that is set can be rescinded at any time prior to the release.

Statutory and Board Notifications
The Parole Consideration Process in Georgia allows for correspondence about the case to be sent to the Board at any time during the offender's incarceration up to the point of a parole release. The Board solicits information by sending notifications to stakeholders including victims, judges, prosecutors and the public throughout the process.
Registered victims of a crime are given notification at the time the Board is considering a parole release, allowing for a period of time for the victim to send the Board information about the case. (O.C.G.A. 17-17-13)
Registered crime victims may also use an automated system to call and receive an offender status update. (www.pap.georgia.gov/victim-information-program-vip)
The state's prosecutors routinely provide information to the Board regarding cases. During the post-sentence investigation conducted by parole investigators, the judge and the district attorney have the opportunity to provide information and their view of the case.
In order to ensure the Board has current information about the cases, the Board sends a notification to judges and district attorneys six months prior to specific offenders becoming parole eligible. The Board sends the "second solicitation/ notification" to the judge and district attorney informing them that the Board is preparing the case for statutory parole consideration and is requesting information about the case. For FY18, 3,425 second solicitations/notifications were sent to judges and prosecutors. These notifications are sent regarding offenders convicted of serious felonies. The offenses included in this notification process can be found at www.pap.georgia.gov/parole-process-georgia-0.
As a result of legislation enacted in 2017, the Parole Board notifies the district attorney if an offender convicted of a serious violent felony is being considered for parole release. This notification is made at a minimum of 90-days prior to the final decision to parole. Those serious violent felonies are murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery. The Board shall also give the offender being considered an opportunity to submit information. This additional notification allows for another opportunity for the Parole Board Members to receive additional or current community views regarding the scheduled parole for the offender. In FY18, the Board sent 90-day notifications in 391 cases. (O.C.G.A. 17-10-6.1.) & (O.C.G.A. 42-9-43(c) (1)).
Judges, district attorneys, sheriffs (of the county of residence prior to arrest) and registered victims also receive a 72-hour statutory notification that the offender is about to be paroled. The Board may receive information about the case during this period. (O.C.G.A. 42-9-47)
If released on parole, parole certificates are forwarded to the clerks of court for each docket the inmate received parole.

Life Sentence Parole Considerations for inmates who are parole eligible according to state law
Inmates serving a life sentence are considered when they become eligible under Georgia law (see State Law and Life Sentences). Unlike other offenders, the Board's guidelines are not used and a TPM is not the result of the Board's decision. The Board's decision is either to grant or deny parole. If parole is denied to an inmate serving life, the Board, by policy, will reconsider the case again at least once every eight years. The duration between considerations is a decision made by the Board. Inmates serving life who have been denied parole and have a scheduled reconsideration date may receive expedited parole reviews if the Board receives new information that warrants an earlier review. A parole eligible inmate serving a life sentence who receives a "grant" parole decision may be required to complete a Department of Corrections' work release program as a precondition to parole.

FY 2018 Annual Report 23

Parole Decisions for Parole Eligible Inmates Serving Life Sentences

FY 133

14

577

FY 151 15

FY

163

16

FY 104 17

FY 119 18

Granted Denied
1,230 1,504 1,471 1,517

State Law and Life Sentences
Since 1995, there have been two statutory changes pertaining to serious violent felonies that determine the minimum amount of the sentence to be served to become parole eligible for offenders sentenced to life with parole eligibility. If a crime considered to be a "seven deadly sin" was committed prior to 1995, the offender is eligible after seven years. In 1995, offenders committing these crimes became eligible after serving 14 years. If the crime is committed after July 1, 2006, the offender is eligible for parole after serving 30 years.

Life Sentence Time Served for Serious Violent Felonies Parole Eligible Offenders
In 1973, life-sentenced inmates convicted of serious violent felonies served less than nine years in prison, on average, before being released from prison. By year 2000, the average had risen to more than 15 years. By 2010, the average time served on a life sentence was nearly 20 years and in 2018, a life-sentenced inmate served on average more than 26 years in prison prior to being released.
24 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Time served (years)

30 25 20 15 10
5 0
1973

2000

2010

2018

Pardon Administration Unit

The Parole Board's pardon application and decision making process in-

cludes thorough pardon investigations and provides the most comprehensive

information available to assist the Board in making quality pardon decisions.

A pardon does not expunge, remove or erase crimes from a person's criminal

record. A pardon is an order of official forgiveness and may be granted to

individuals who have maintained a good reputation in their community and

have remained crime free for a re-

quired period of years following the Pardon Administration

completion of their sentence(s).

Unit FY18

The pardon process is continu-

ously reviewed in order to ensure informed decisions are the result.

647 Applications received (all types)

The current application requires applicants to provide information including their version of criminal offenses, justification for why they should be considered for a pardon,

163 Pardons granted without firearms being restored
249 Pardons granted with firearms being restored

including a description of how they have contributed to their com-

57 Restorations of civil and political rights

munity. Applicants seeking a pardon for

13 Restorations of civil and political rights with firearms restored

offenses requiring registration on Georgia's Sex Offender Registry must be crime free for ten years following the completion of all sen-

482

Total applications granted (Grants include applications filed in previous year)

tences, as opposed to five years for

all other conviction types. These applicants must also provide a current copy

of their most recent risk level evaluation as assigned by the Sexual Offender

Registration Review Board (SORRB), provide a psychosexual evaluation, and

submit to a disclosure polygraph as part of the application process.

A state law adopted in 2015 created a notification process informing reg-

istered victims and prosecutors, in specific cases, when an offender is seeking

a pardon. This allows victims and prosecutors the opportunity to send the

Board information about the case. The Parole Board exceeds the statutory

requirements and sends these notifications regarding all applications received.

During FY18, the Parole Board sent 572 notifications to registered victims

and district attorneys regarding ex-offenders applying for pardons.

In FY18, 647 pardon and restoration of rights applications were received

and 482 were granted (all types). There were 421 fewer applications received

during the fiscal year compared to the previous year. There were 237 fewer

grants in FY18 than the previous fiscal year.

Clemency (Parole and Criminal) Investigators
Parole investigators conduct and complete investigations collecting information about the offender's conviction offenses. The process includes interviewing inmates for personal history statements and completing post sentence investigations.
Fifty-two parole investigators work in the Clemency Division. Forty-four investigators are assigned to the field and predominantly complete post sentence investigations and profiles for all offenders sentenced by Georgia courts. Eight investigators are assigned to work within the prisons to conduct personal history statements on inmates during the diagnostic process at which time they will interview inmates.
The Board has six criminal investigators who conduct faceto-face interviews of ex-offenders seeking restoration of firearm rights and inmates serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole. The P.O.S.T. (Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council) certified staff utilize their experience and interviewing techniques to collect necessary information required by the Board Members in order to make decisions in these cases.
In FY18, the clemency investigators completed 38,919 investigations for the Parole Board.

Fiscal Year Clemency Actions
Parole Certificates ........................................7,703 Out-of-State Parole Orders ..............................316 Conditional Transfers....................................... 904 Out-of-State Conditional Transfers.................. 230 Supervised Reprieves.................................... 1,061 Out-of-State Supervised Reprieves.....................19 Commutations...................................................... 1 Medical Reprieves...............................................23 Out-of-State ICE Orders....................................106 Total Prison Releases by Parole.............10,363 Total Discharges from Parole...................8,501 Total Guidelines Decisions......................13,923 Life Sentence Cases Denied Parole.................1,517 Life Sentence Cases Granted Parole................. 119 Total Life Sentence Case Decisions.........1,636 Restoration of Civil and Political Rights Granted................................................... 70 Pardon Grants...................................................412 Total Pardons & Restorations Granted.......482 Preliminary Revocation Hearings................286 Final Revocation Hearings............................ 310
FY 2018 Annual Report 25

PAROLE PROCESS PRE-DECISION

CONVICTION

1

Sentence computed by DOC Offender Administration sent to

the Board

2 CASE "INITIALIZED" Parole Eligibility Date (PED) set and legal investigations ordered

investigations

3

Parole Investigator Initial DA input is solicited at time the legal

is written for all offenses

6 months before ped

4

Secondary solicitation notifications sent to DAs and judges for

the most serious violent and sexual offenders

Parole eligibility date
5 OCGA 42.9.45(b)
42.9.46(1/3)

PAROLE PROCESS POST-DECISION
8 tentative parole month established

9 Inmate notified first per board rules

10 90-day notification To DA if a "Serious Violent Felony"

11 victims notified Office of Victim Services registered victims notified

12

final review
Institutional conduct, program completion, new victim, DA, judge or stakeholder input

13 victims & Da Case reviews verifying notification

6

hearing examiner Prepare case for board consideration

14

72 HR notification
Pending release OCGA 42.9.41 & OCGA 42.9.44(a)

7 board Consideration
26 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

15 RELEASE

field services division
The mission of the Field Services Division is to effectively and efficiently manage the process related to violations of parole by offenders. The division ensures that violations of parole conditions by offenders are quickly addressed. If necessary, the offender's parole is revoked and the offender is returned to prison. District operations managers effectively and efficiently manage this process for the Parole Board. The Field Services Division is comprised of four units: Revocations/Commutations Unit; Scanning and Imaging Unit; GCIC Entry Unit; and the Interstate Compact Unit.
FY18 Parole Population
During Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18), the population of offenders on parole under community supervision decreased from 22,737 on July 1, 2017, to 22,047 on June 30, 2018. The number of offenders discharging from parole was 8,501. The percentage of successful parole completions was 72% for the fiscal year. The cumulative number of offenders under parole supervision in Georgia during the fiscal year was 33,646. Offenders released on parole are supervised by the Department of Community Supervision.
Parole Violations
The Parole Board enhances public safety by quickly responding to offenders who violate the conditions of their parole. Violations of parole consist of new criminal charges (felony and misdemeanor) and technical violations related to failing to follow the conditions of their parole. The offenders who violate the terms of their release risk returning to prison having demonstrated that they are not willing to comply with their conditions of parole. When a violation occurs, the supervising officer generates a report detailing the delinquent behavior. Upon receipt of the report, the district operations manager conducts a thorough case investigation to determine what action the Board should take in the best interest of public safety. Based on the investigation, the district operations manager makes a recommendation to the Board. The recommendation could be treatment referral up to revocation of parole.
Warrants/GCIC
State law authorizes the Parole Board Members to issue warrants for the arrest of alleged parole violators. Upon notification that an offender has violated the conditions of release, the district operations manager reviews the violations and the case history to determine if a Board Warrant should be issued to immediately place the offender into custody. In FY18, a total of 7,703 warrants were issued by the Parole Board.
If the offender cannot be immediately located, the Parole Board Warrant is then placed on the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) system or the National Crime Information Center system (NCIC). Both systems are connected to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) database that is used by law enforcement agencies for wanted person entry. In FY18, the GCIC Unit entered 4,494 warrants into the GCIC/NCIC system. By accessing the system, law enforcement agencies know if an offender should be taken into custody.

FY 2018 Annual Report 27

Revocations & Parole Revocation Hearings

During FY18, the Board revoked 2,525 parole violators returning the

offenders to prison to serve their sentences in confinement. The number

revoked decreased by 156 from the previous fiscal year. Of the FY18

total number of revocations, less than 1% were revoked on the basis of

technical violations only which include, but not limited to, drug use,

curfew violations, or failure to pay fines and fees. Revocation can occur

during a Parole Revocation Hearing, when the offender signs a waiver

to a revocation hearing, or automatic revocation if the conditions exist

according to O.C.G.A. 42-9-51. The appropriate recommenda-

Parole Revocations

tions and enforcement of intermediate FY

sanctions, such as treatment referral,

14

2,380

administrative hearings, electronic

FY

monitoring or GPS monitoring, day

15

2,655

reporting centers and parole detention centers results in the low percentage of

FY 16

technical parole violators being revoked

FY 17

and returned to prison. The purpose of

intermediate sanctions is to bring the

FY 18

offenders who are not a threat to public

2,505 2,681
2,525

safety back into compliance with their parole conditions.

Upon the establishment of probable cause, Parole Revocation Hear-

ings are held to address violations of parole. Parole Board Members

conducted 310 final revocation hearings during FY18. Each hearing

is presided over by an individual Board Member who hears all of the

evidence in the case and makes a recommendation to the full Board

to either revoke parole and return the offender to prison or continue

parole and community supervision. Most offenders facing parole revoca-

tion proceedings admit their parole violations and sign a waiver to be

returned to prison eliminating a final hearing.

District operations managers are responsible for scheduling and man-

aging the Parole Revocation Hearing process. Parole Revocation Hear-

ings are conducted from the Board's central office in Atlanta via video

conferencing or in person at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification

Prison in Jackson. For video conference hearings, the offender, the of-

ficer of record and the Board Member may be in different locations. Use

of this technology has reduced travel costs for all three agencies involved

in the process; the Parole Board, the Department of Corrections and the

Department of Community Supervision.

28 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Commutations
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles may grant other forms of clemency to meet special needs of the criminal justice system. The Parole Board has the authority to commute an offender's sentence to time served. This includes offenders serving parole. Offenders serving parole may petition to have their prison sentence commuted by the Board. Senate Bill 174, passed in 2017, included a provision requiring the Board to consider commuting the sentences of specific offenders serving a split sentence who have successfully completed twelve (12) consecutive months of parole supervision (O.C.G.A. 42-8-21). Under provisions of the legislation, offenders must have probation to serve following the prison portion of their sentence. The preparation of cases meeting the criteria for consideration by the Board is completed by the district operations managers in the Field Services Division. During FY 2018, the Parole Board commuted the sentences of 88 offenders under SB 174, ending the prison/parole portion of their sentence and moving the case to probation supervision.

Parole Completion Rates (National figures from Bureau of Justice Statistics) 80%

70%

Georgia

60% 50%

U.S.A.

40%

FY14

FY15

FY16

FY17

FY18

District Operations Managers
District operations managers thoroughly investigate alleged parole violations and determine what appropriate actions are to be recommended with the interest of public safety in mind. This may include that a Board Warrant be issued in order to take an offender into custody. District operations managers are assigned to the ten (10) Judicial Districts and are an integral link between the Board and the Department of Community Supervision (DCS) as it relates to parole violators.
District operations managers are P.O.S.T. certified officers. In addition to managing the parole violations and revocation process, they handle Board security, special law enforcement details, and training. They are required to annually complete 20 hours of P.O.S.T. training to include weapons requalification.
Interstate Compact
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles, in FY18, was a member of the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS). ICAOS is responsible for creating and upholding the rules of the Commission. ICAOS is comprised of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
In FY18, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles' Interstate Compact Unit was responsible for processing the transfer of all Georgia inmates paroling to an out-of-state residence. In addition, the unit responded to violations, handled extraditions and addressed victim issues relating to these cases. During FY18, the unit released 566 offenders to out-of-state supervision. As of June 30, 2018, there were 2,436 Georgia offenders under active parole supervision in Compact states and 1,373 other Compact state offenders on parole supervision in Georgia.
Another responsibility of the unit in FY18 was to release foreign national offenders to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. Via the ICE Rapid REPAT (Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer) Program, 117 foreign national offenders were released to ICE for deportation at an estimated cost avoidance of $6,122,724.
Scanning and Imaging
The Scanning and Imaging Unit plays an integral role in the Parole Board's transition to a paperless environment. During FY18, 39,196 documents were scanned into the case management systems (Portal, CONS and TRIM system) utilized by the Board to make parole decisions. This unit images offender documents that are generated daily, to include correspondence, revocation documents and victim notifications. There were 1,224 active lifer offender parole files scanned and 5,718 archived files imaged during the fiscal year. There are approximately 163,372 archived files remaining to be imaged. Upon completion, all of the Parole Board's files will be accessible electronically.
FY18 New Direction Recovery Program
The New Direction Recovery Program located at the Treutlen Probation Detention Center is an intensive addiction program for parolees who are both higher risk and higher need offenders who were not successful in community-based treatment and supervision. The Parole Board utilizes the program as an alternative to revocation for some offenders. The program started halfway through the fiscal year. For FY18, 57 parolees were referred to the program. As of June 30, 2018, ten (10) parolees had graduated from the program and were returned to parole supervision.

Cost Avoidance
The graph below for FY14-FY18 shows costs of incarceration versus cost of supervision, per day, for state of Georgia.

Cost per day Incarceration

Parole

FY
14 $4.03
FY
15 $4.49
FY
16 $3.54
FY
17 $2.12
FY
18 $2.11

$52.81 $52.81 $52.95 $53.76
$61.00

Fiscal Year Cost Avoidance
The fiscal year cost avoidance is calculated based on the FY18 cost per day to incarcerate a state inmate in Georgia ($61.00) compared to the community supervision cost per day ($2.11). In FY18, the annual cost avoidance to the prison system as a result of offenders serving their sentence on parole is calculated at more than
$450 million.
FY17 $377 million
FY16 $450 million
FY15 $451 million
FY14 $469 million

FY 2018 Annual Report 29

georgia office of victim services

The Georgia Office of Victim Services ensures the registered crime victim's voice is heard throughout the parole process.
This office serves registered crime victims regarding offenders in prison or under community supervision. The office provides victims with updates pertaining to the parole status of the offender and notifies registered victims if an offender is being considered for parole and if the offender is released from confinement.
This office operates the Victim Information Program or V.I.P. This is a 24-hour automated information system which provides crime victims and their families with access to information about the offender.
In conjunction with the Parole Board, the Georgia Office of Victim Services also serves crime victims by conducting Victims Visitors' Days.
The office is supported by three state agencies which are the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Corrections and the Department of Community Supervision.
The office corresponds with victims and receives information directly from crime victims. In FY18, 12,416 phone calls from victims were handled by staff, 17,483 outgoing correspondences were sent to victims in response to concerns and 9,430 correspondences were received from victims and filed with the office.

Victim Information Program or V.I.P.
V.I.P. is a 24-hour automated information system providing registered crime victims and/or their family members, with access to information about their offender. By completing a victim impact statement or crime victim notification form, victims can be registered with V.I.P. The forms are available online at www.pap.georgia.gov or by calling 404-651-6668.
How V.I.P. Assists Crime Victims
Upon registering, victims are issued a PIN (Personal Identification Number). When accessing the system (800-593-9474), victims can learn the status of the offender. Also through V.I.P., registered victims receive information on a prison release after the inmate completes the court ordered term of incarceration (end of sentence), or if the inmate is placed on community supervision.
For FY18, there were 3,422 new (victims registered with the office) V.I.P. registrants, 6,917 phone calls from victims were logged into the system and the system made 935 calls to victims of crime.

30 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

Fiscal Year 2018 Victims Visitors' Days
The Parole Board visited two Georgia communities during the fiscal year, meeting with victims of crime. The agency's Victims Visitors' Days are conducted to give crime victims the opportunity to discuss directly with the Board, the crime, the offender and the impact on the victim or victims. At these events, victims receive parole status updates on the offenders involved in the crimes against them or their loved ones. Victims share their emotions and their wishes regarding parole for the offender.
The Victims Visitors' Day provides new opportunities to register previously unregistered victims of crime with the Georgia Office of Victim Services. Victims meet with the staff and are informed of the services and resources available to them through this office. Victims also are able to meet with staff from the Department of Corrections and the Department of Community Supervision at these events. These two agencies are able to assist victims with information regarding the incarceration of the offender or the supervision of the offender in the community.
The Victims Visitors' Day program began in 2006. Through FY18, 29 separate events have been conducted, 21 different communities have hosted, and the Parole Board has met with 3,849 victims including family members. Information received by the Board from victims is included in the parole case files and available for review by the Board Members when the parole eligible inmates are considered.
According to exit surveys at these two events, 98% of victims participating in FY18 stated that all of their questions were answered to their satisfaction.
FY18 Victims Visitors' Days
Cordele, Georgia October 17, 2017 In Cordele, 165 victims of crime including family members attended the Victims Visitors' Day conducted by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Georgia Office of Victim Services in partnership with the Cordele Judicial Circuit VictimWitness Assistance Program and the Office of the District Attorney. As a result new or additional victim information was added to 75 parole case files.
Clarkston, (DeKalb County) Georgia April 11-12, 2018 The largest ever Victims Visitors' Day was held at Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston in April of 2018. A total of 356 victims including family members attended the first two-day event in the Parole Board's history. The individual meetings conducted between crime victims, the Board and parole staff involved 167 parole case files. The event was co-hosted by the Georgia Office of Victim Services in coordination with the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Victim-Witness Assistance Program and the DeKalb County District Attorney.

FY 2018 Annual Report 31

Victim Offender Dialogue
The Georgia Office of Victim Services' (OVS) Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) program provides an opportunity for victims of violent crimes to have a structured, safe, direct, one-on-one meeting with the offender who committed the crime. The program allows the victim and offender to discuss the crime and its impact on the victim. VOD can only be initiated by the victim and the offender must voluntarily agree to participate and must acknowledge his/her role in the crime.
VOD requires a lengthy preparation process involving both the victim and the offender working separately with a trained facilitator. In FY18, the Georgia Office of Victim Services conducted fifteen (15) Victim Offender Dialogue sessions involving victims and offenders. Victims interested in the program may contact the Georgia Office of Victim Services at 404-651-6668.

Victim Support Partners
This is a statewide network of dedicated victim-volunteers who support victims and their families. The Victim Support Partners are crime victims who provide post-sentencing advocacy. The victim volunteers give their time to assist, guide and comfort other crime victims. The victim volunteers, working with the Georgia Office of Victim Services, are able to answer questions that other crime victims have and can assist in getting victims registered with the office and also assist with completion of victim impact statements. During the fiscal year, the group expanded to seventeen (17) victim-volunteers who compiled more than 505 volunteer hours supporting other Georgia crime victims.

Additional responsibilities of the Georgia Office of Victim Services
Victim Impact Statements and Protest Letters are submitted to the Parole Board for review
Notification of parole consideration, release, and supervision of offenders
Advocacy for victims, including assisting victims with unwanted contact from offenders and offender compliance with court-mandated conditions
Victim referrals to community based resources and services
Preparation and orientation for victims for pending executions in death penalty cases

32 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

budget + fiscal

PERSONAL SERVICES REGULAR OPERATING COMPUTER CHARGES REAL ESTATE RENTAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CONTRACTS COUNTY JAIL SUBSIDY MOTOR VEHICLE PURCHASE

$15,320,152 $741,092 $177,197 $415,805 $171,916 $440,114 $232,125 $13,604

Total Expenditures for FY 2018 $17,512,005

Personal Services 87.5%

Regular Operating 4.3% Computer Charges 1% Real Estate Rental 2.4% Telecommunications 1% Contracts 2.5% County Jail Subsidy 1.3%
Motor Vehicle Purchase less than 0.1%

STATE BUDGET FUNDS During FY 2015, HB310 created the Depart-
ment of Community Supervision (DCS) An Executive Order transferred $10,058,280
to DCS at the beginning of FY 2016 400+ Parole Officers remained on the
Parole payroll throughout FY 2016, although operationally transferred to DCS In FY 2017, PAP transferred $29,720,450 in state funds, mainly for payroll, to DCS Agency budget decreased by 70% between FY 2015 and FY 2018 Increase in FY 2018 due to law enforcement raises (20%) and 2 new positions
60
50
40

$ MILLIONS
FY 2015 FY 2016 EXEC ORDER FY 2016 AM FY 2017 FY 2018

30

20
fy 18 funds

Federal

$102,602

10

Other$88,913

State

$17,585,140

0

Total Funds

$17,776,655

FY 2018 Annual Report 33

OFFICE OF TRAINING

All agency employees must complete inservice training on an annual basis. Sworn staff must complete a minimum of 20 hours annually, which includes mandatory firearms requalification and use of deadly force. Non-sworn staff must complete a minimum of eight hours of training annually.
Beginning January 1, 2017, Boardsworn staff must participate in De-escalation and Community Policing train-

ing. The new training standards are the result of law enforcement improvements brought by Governor Deal which included increases in law enforcement pay for state officers.
Both sworn and non-sworn staff must complete Unlawful Harassment and Professionalism and Ethics training each year as a part of their training hours and any other training as prescribed by law.

Training Delivered in FY 2018 To sworn staff....................................... 3,182 hours To non-sworn staff............................... 2,016 hours Delivered by Pardons and Paroles....... 3,180 hours
34 Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles

human resources

FY 18 HUMAN RESOURCES DATA
Full-Time Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148 Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Staff by race/ethnicity

Multi-Racial

1

Asian

2

Hispanic

2

Black

101

White

76

Staff by age groups

20-29

13

30-39

26

40-49

52

50-59

71

60 Plus

20

FY 2018 Annual Report 35

State Board of Pardons and Paroles
PAROLE'S ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY
Annual Report Fiscal Year 2018

Martin Luther King Jr. Drive S.E. Suite 458, East Tower Atlanta, GA 30334-4909
404.657.9450 www.pap.georgia.gov