Revocation Hearings
Provide Engagement Opportunity Pilot Program Underway in Savannah
A State Board of Pardons and Paroles pilot program underway in Savannah involves the district attorney receiving notices regarding final parole revocation hearings. The idea came from continuing dialogue with that office. The Board has been providing the hearing schedule since July in order that the district attorney may attend. In Georgia, final parole revocation hearings are open to the public according to state law.
"From our meetings we learned they may have interest in attending these final revocation hearings," stated Exec. Director of Parole Chris Barnett. "Certainly anyone involved in a case or anyone with an interest in a parolee's revocation hearing may attend. That's always been the case," added Barnett.
Savannah District Attorney Meg Heap brought most of her staff to final revocation hearings in December. Members of the community were also invited. The large group viewed the proceedings which were conducted via video conferencing. Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard was the presiding Board Member. He was linked from Liberty County while the officers testifying were in Savannah and the inmates were speaking from the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson.
"The questions asked by the visitors following these hearings, were beneficial," stated Barnett. "We are looking to expand this pilot project statewide in the near future. By doing this, we're engaging our criminal justice partners and ensuring public safety by possibly increasing the information the Board has regarding these offenders."
In the three hearings conducted, Chairman Barnard recommended to the full Board, that the offenders have their paroles revoked for violating parole conditions and that they should be returned to prison.
State Senator Lester Jackson and State Representative Jesse Petrea also attended the hearings.
Georgia Parole Review
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