Georgia Parole Review Summer 2021 Ga Parole Review Summer 2021 | Seite 7

Engaging Stakeholders in the Parole Process

Parole Board Members and leadership staff continue to engage and partner with stakeholders.

Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard and Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett attended the Georgia Prison Wardens' Association Conference at Lake Lanier this summer.

“Our state’s wardens have a most difficult but important job. Their responsibility for the care and custody of the state’s inmate population cannot be understated. The parole board members certainly value the contributions made to public safety by these men and women,” said Terry Barnard, Board Chairman.

Chris Barnett, Executive Director for the Parole Board says the prison warden serves as the "eyes and ears" for the board regarding the offender.

“We value our partnership with Georgia’s prison wardens. They are important to the process of ensuring the inmate population understands what is meant by being parole ready,” he said.

Parole Board leadership met with LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton, Police Chief Lou Dekmar and District Attorney Herb Cranford to discuss enhancing public safety.

"By engaging stakeholders in the parole process and the Board's operations and communicating with our local and state leaders, we are enhancing public safety,” states Director Barnett. “An open line of communication is critical to ensuring the Board has all available information as the members make parole decisions,” he added.

The offender population is again being engaged as Board Members and staff visited inmates at the Metro Reentry Facility in May and the Atlanta Transitional Center in April.

Also in April, Parole Board Member Meg Heap presented an overview of the agency to the Kiwanis Club of Skidaway.

Summer 2021

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