Board's new Executive management team
The operations of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles are directed by Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett and an Executive Management Team. The team consists of Deputy Executive Director Rita Rocker, Division Directors Rick Jacobs, James Williams, Felicia Holloway and Shalandra Robertson as well as Budget Services Director Lisa Reid.
In February, the agency announced changes to the management team.
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett says the appointments will result in enhanced operations and a stronger agency in order to meet its public safety mission.
“The Georgia Parole Board understands to remain the number one parole authority in the nation, we must be a learning institution; challenging our perceptions, our processes and most importantly ourselves. Only by challenging ourselves, do we realize the true potential of this great agency and drive success, which by definition enhances public safety for all Georgians,” stated Barnett.
James Williams was appointed the Support Operations Division Director. He oversees support offices to include communications, government relations, community affairs, budget services, human resources, mental health/EAP services, training, investigations and compliance and the special executive assistant to the board.
Williams has over thirty years of experience in law enforcement and most recently served the agency as Clemency Director.
Rick Jacobs was named Director of Clemency. A long career with the Georgia Department of Corrections included leadership roles such as the Director of Facility Operations with responsibility of the direct supervision of all offenders sentenced to the state prison system.
Jacobs joined the Parole Board in 2015 as Field Services Division Director.
Felecia Holloway is the new Field Services Director. Holloway's career in state government spans more than twenty eight (28) years. Following promotions to several positions within the Georgia Department of Corrections, she joined the Parole Board as a parole officer. Promotions followed to assistant chief parole officer, chief parole officer, master chief parole officer, regional director and Field Services Division Deputy Director.
The other members of the team include Lisa Reid, Budget Director. Reid transferred from the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget in 2012. Shalandra Robertson has been the Director of the Georgia Office of Victim Services since 2004. Rita Rocker was most recently the agency's legislative director before being named the agency's first deputy executive director in 2015.
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett was first named interim director in 2015 as supervision of parolees was transferred to the Department of Community Supervision. He was later named executive director in August of the same year.
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