Georgia Parole Review Spring/Summer 2025
Engaging the Parole Eligible Offender
Are you PAROLE READY!
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Are you parole ready? It really is a question the Georgia Parole Board is asking as its members and staff visit Georgia's prisons. Offenders are being engaged and the message is being sent to work toward a release, completing programming and following prison rules.
"Eligible individuals in the system are being provided a tremendous opportunity to hear from Board Members and leadership first-hand as we visit our state's prisons. While parole is not a right in Georgia, it's important for eligible offenders to understand that a possible release on parole is up to them. It's up to them to provide the Board with information that says, 'I'm parole ready,'" states Chris Barnett, the Executive Director of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
"We're investing our resources to help these individuals in the system know that they are under consideration and to give them information that they hold the hope for their futures," states Barnett.
Board Members and leadership in the first half of 2025 have visited
Telfair State Prison (SP), Phillips SP, Lee Arrendale SP, Baldwin SP, Riverbend Correctional Facility, a GEO contracted facility, Augusta State Medical Prison, the Augusta Transitional Center, Bulloch County Correctional Institution, Metro Reentry Prison, Macon SP, Central SP, the Macon Transitional Center, Phillips TC, and the Atlanta TC.
"These are trips we definitely need to make, to meet offenders when possible individually and in groups and speak to them about their futures," said Board Member Joyette Holmes.
While receiving information from offenders about their case for parole, we're encouraging them to stay on the track to possible release through successful completion of programming and following institutional policies," added Board Member David Herring.
"This is time very well spent," said Board Member Robert Markley.