PROGRAMMING PREPARES INMATES FOR REENTRY
College Students and Inmates Learn Together
State inmates taking advantage of educational and other programming are learning of additional possible benefits. High school, GED and Evidence-Based program graduates were paroled, receiving their news during the graduation ceremonies.
The Board's purpose of delivering the parole certificate in person is to send the message to state inmates that it is up to them to make themselves "parole ready."
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett says the Board reviews, among other things, an offender’s prison program completions when determining whether an inmate will be granted parole.
“The Board wants parole eligible offenders to prepare themselves for reentry,” says Barnett. "By completing necessary programming, these offenders are better prepared to be successful back in the community. The offender population needs to understand that these are necessary steps in order to be paroled,” he added.
Parole certificates were presented to inmates at Lee and Arrendale state prisons during June.
Governor Nathan Deal spoke at Lee Arrendale State Prison on June 28th at the GED graduation. Read the Governor's comments by accessing the link below.
For more information on each graduation:
Lee State Prison, Evidence-based Graduation, June 16, 2017
Lee Arrendale State Prison, High School Graduation, June 22, 2017
Lee Arrendale State Prison GED Graduation, June 28, 2017
Burruss Correctional Training Center High School Graduation, June 29, 2017
Parole Certificates Handed to Graduates
The "Inside-Out" Prison Exchange Program graduation at Smith State Prison was April 28, 2017.
Georgia Southern University students learn alongside inmates in the prison. Chad Posick, an assistant professor at Georgia Southern, teaches the class and grades class work completed by the students and inmates. Both inmates and students received a graduation certificate by completing the program which focuses on criminal justice.
Parole Director Chris Barnett spoke at the ceremony and said the program provides, "real-life benefits" to both the inmates and students. (Georgia State University)
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Georgia Parole Review