Fact sheet, Transitional Services, 2020

FACT SHEET
TRANSITIONAL SERVICES

2020

TIMOTHY C. WARD COMMISSIONER RICKY MYRICK CHIEF OF STAFF JAY SANDERS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER INMATE SERVICES DIVISION

OVERVIEW
MISSION
Transitional Services is a section within the Georgia Department of Corrections charged with the primary purpose to promote public safety through collaborative partnerships supporting offender placement into evidence-based interventions which reflect a seamless system of reentry assisting returning offenders to be law-abiding, productive community citizens. Transitional Services provides standardized Reentry Services Protocols that permeate all levels of affected agencies and organizations to reduce recidivism. Offender reentry planning and preparation begins when the offender is initially received by the Georgia Department of Corrections and is an on-going and dynamic endeavor that continues through the offender's release from custody and transition to the community. Reentry provides effective opportunities for offenders to achieve positive change and to be a more pro-social contributor to society.
GOALS
To prepare and build individual capacity of the offender to be a productive member of his/her family and community
To link offenders to internal and external program services necessary for successful transition and reentry into the community
To increase the community and correctional capacity to address the offender's needs and identify community resources to match assessed needs
To enhance public safety by reducing recidivism among the formerly incarcerated population
To promote public safety through collaborative state agency and community partnerships that support offender transition to the community
To optimize the services provided with external stakeholders and service providers to impact reduction on return admissions to jails, prisons and community supervision to promote Justice Reinvestment
IMPACT
Statistically, 1 in 31 adults nationwide is under some type of supervision, such as jail/prison, probation or parole
In Georgia, 1 in 13 citizens are under some type of supervision, making Georgia the fourth largest prison system in the country and first largest per capita
Though 95% of offenders return to society, within three years 26.6% will return to prison with new charges. In ten years, 66% will return.

INITIATIVES
Atlanta DOC TC/Atlanta Watershed Partnership Department of Driver Services Partnership Community Coalitions Facility-based Inmate Career Resource Centers 24/7 Dad/Mom Repository for Secured Offender Documents at
SOSTC Metro Reentry Facility Faith and Character (Prison and dormitories) Family Reunification Reentry Skills Building Handbook Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH) SSI/SSDI Outreach and Recovery (SOAR) Vocational and Job Readiness State Road and Toll Authority Social Security benefit application program US Attorney's Office, Northern District Project Safe
Neighborhoods The Offender, Parolee, and Probationer State Training
Employment Program (TOPPSTEP) Vital Records Partnership Veterans Administration Veterans Dormitory
PARTNERS & STAKEHOLDERS
Community Reentry Partnerships Community Reentry Coalitions in Macon, Augusta,
Savannah, Valdosta, Rome, Atlanta, Cobb, Dekalb, Columbus, Gwinnett and Clayton Department of Consumer Affairs/Pardons and Paroles/ Reentry Partnership Housing Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities (DBHDD) Department of Community Health Department of Community Supervision Department of Driver Services Department of Human Resources Department of Human Services/Office of Child Support Services Department of Public Health/Vital Records Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles Georgia Justice Project Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network (GMHCN) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) US Department of Veteran's Affairs US Social Security Administration