Parole, the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision routinely attend the monthly offender population meeting in Jackson.
"The sharing of information among our criminal justice agencies is vital as we work together to ensure public safety, for all Georgians," stated Chris Barnett, Executive Director of Parole.
"It is so necessary that as agency leaders we understand each agency's critical criminal justice role and work in unison toward the common goal of making the state of Georgia a safe place to live, work and raise a family," Barnett added.
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles attended the annual training conference for the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (GACDL), in April, delivering a presentation on the parole process.
"This type of engagement for us is important," stated Board Chairman James Mills. "We must reach out to everyone involved in our criminal justice system to ensure the Board has all available information in a case before making a parole decision."
Parole staff attended a panel discussion in April conducted by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. The "Second Chances" forum panel included Jay Neal, Executive Director of Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), Andrea Shelton of Heartbound Ministries and Bill McGahan of Georgia Works.
"As a state we must recognize the need to continue criminal justice reform and assist in offender reentry and continue these discussions for the sake of public safety," stated Parole's Communications Director Steve Hayes.
Also attending from the Parole Board was Executive Director Chris Barnett and Government Relations Director Kim Patton-Johnson.
Parole's 4E's are: Engaging Stakeholders; Educating the Community; Eliciting Active Participation; and Enhancing Operations.
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Parole Review/Spring/Summer 2018
"Engaging the Community" is one of the 4E's guiding the day to day operations of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. In June, Executive Director Chris Barnett had the opportunity to practice that at the Henry County Rotary Club.
"Our Georgia communities are also one of our stakeholders. Not only is it important that our public safety mission and the Board's critical criminal justice role be understood, we need communities and their leaders engaged and to be active in the parole process," stated Barnett.
'We need employers to consider utilizing the skills of returning citizens. There are many benefits to hiring an offender released on parole and they include safer communities. Gainful employment that lasts is a key to successful reentry. Many returning citizens have skills or obtain them while incarcerated. Safer communities are the result when offenders are able to work," stated Barnett.
There are state and federal benefits provided to employers who hire returning citizens.
Parole staff in April visited the Re-entry Coalition of Carrollton to see this operation which assists offenders leaving prison by connecting them with needed services.
Regarding reentry services, Director Barnett stated, "We are all looking to accomplish the same goal and we can be more effective by working together."
In May, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles spoke to district attorneys in Savannah as senior parole staff delivered a presentation.
"Our thanks to the Prosecuting Attorney's Council of Georgia (PAC) for the opportunity to speak to the district attorneys. The Parole Board will continue to engage stakeholders and criminal justice partners about the parole process and the agency's operations. Both Parole and PAC are working to provide a safer Georgia," said Executive Director Chris Barnett.
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles continues collaboration with its criminal justice partners to ensure public safety for all Georgians.
"We were asked to present on the parole process. By engaging stakeholders and criminal justice partners, educating and informing everyone about the parole process, we can ensure the Board has all of the available information in a case before making the parole decision," stated Barnett.
"We are eliciting active participation by our stakeholders and partners to ensure the Board has the necessary parole information on a case. In the end, we are enhancing our operations to improve public safety."