8th Term
Parole Board Chairman Terry E. Barnard will again lead the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles for another year.
At the June 8, 2022, monthly operational meeting of the Board, the five members re-elected Barnard to another one-year term. It is the eighth term as chairman for the Coastal Georgian who was appointed to the Board in 2010 and reappointed in 2017. He has served three administrations in the role.
"It's been very rewarding. To see the growth of this parole board and how our decisions and the operations of this agency have impacted public safety in a positive way," stated Barnard.
Chairman Barnard is the agency's third longest serving chairman. With the completion of the FY 2022 term, Barnard surpassed Rebecca Garrett who served as chair from April 1961 to January of 1968. Barnard will pass Wayne Snow, Jr., as the second longest serving chairman during the new term which begins July 1st. Chairman Barnard will only trail Edward B. Everett who was the first chairman serving from March of 1943 to January of 1953.
Despite his longevity, Chairman Barnard remains humble.
"I've never thought of it in those terms really," says Barnard.
"I am extremely humbled to be chosen by the board members through the years. The Georgia Parole Board is one of the strongest in the nation because of the members that I've served with in my twelve years."
Chairman Terry Barnard
Vice Chair Jacqueline Bunn was elected to a second term in the leadership role. Bunn was re-elected at the June meeting.
Board moves monthly meetings
The June meeting was conducted from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth. The April 2022 meeting was held in Statesboro on the campus of Georgia Southern University.
"When possible, moving the meetings grants the public more access to the Board," states Chairman Barnard.
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett says that increased access to the Board has benefits.
"These meetings give the Parole Board more opportunities to engage our stakeholders, educate our communities about parole and encourage active participation in the parole process. We are enhancing our agency operations," Barnett states.
"We're a stronger agency by operating by our 4E's and as we enhance agency operations, we are improving public safety and making our communities a safer place to work and raise families," he adds.
Georgia Southern University hosts the April Meeting
In Statesboro, criminal justice students were invited to the monthly board meeting. They heard from parole leadership as updates were provided to the Board from the Clemency, Field Services and Victim Services divisions and from the agency's support units to include Budget, Human Resources and Training.
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett says the agency is building partnerships with stakeholders. “Everyone, including our next generation of public leaders, are stakeholders in the parole process. We will continue to engage, educate, and encourage participation in the parole process as a path to enhanced operations and public safety,” Barnett stated.
Ryan Schroeder is Dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at Georgia Southern. Schroeder says students were able to learn about a unique and sometimes misunderstood part of the criminal justice system. The Statesboro meeting allowed students to speak to the members and the board's leadership following the meeting.
Schroeder says the meeting allowed students to meet with professionals to network and that could benefit them in their career progression.
There is more on page four about the meeting at GPSTC.
Georgia Parole Review
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