The State Board of Pardons and Paroles met with more than 135 crime victims in Gainesville in late October. Victims met with Parole Board members at the 30th Victims Visitors’ Day. Information received from the victims was added to 79 offender parole case files. The Board considers all information received at these events when deciding whether to grant parole in those cases.
“The Board’s commitment to victims will always be measured through our willingness to listen and by conducting these events where we meet directly with victims,” stated Board Chairman Terry Barnard.
The Victims Visitors’ Day was held at Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville. It was the first held in Hall County. Twenty-two different Georgia communities have hosted an event over the past twelve years.
The Victims Visitors’ Day was a coalition involving the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Georgia Office of Victim Services and the Northeastern Judicial
Circuit Victim-Witness Assistance Program. The Department of Corrections and the Department of Community Supervision were also represented.
At the opening ceremony, remarks came from Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh.
“This is an exciting day for victims in Northeast Georgia and their families to be able to come and address the members of the Board directly,” stated Darragh.
Two of the Board’s five members live in Hall County. James Mills was appointed in 2011 and David Herring was recently appointed.
“Governor Deal’s success with criminal justice reform will have long lasting positive effects on our state through improved public safety resulting in fewer crime victims,” stated Board Member James Mills. “As Board Members our meetings with victims are important and extremely rewarding,” Mills added.
Victims meet the Board in Gainesville
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