The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has announced the agency’s annual employee awards.
The awards were announced at the agency’s annual town hall held at Indian Springs State Park in Butts County. Georgia's Parole Board Members and leadership joined Executive Director Chris Barnett in presenting the awards.
The recipients of the 4th Annual Agency Employee Awards are:
The Katherine "Katie" Turner Employee of the Year Award – Georgia Office of Victim Services, Senior Victim Specialist Dajah Jones,
The Team Innovation Award – Clemency Division Pardon Admin Unit and DCS (Department of Community Supervision) I.T. unit,
The Community Impact Inreach Award – Clemency Division, Executive Assistant Laurie Reid,
The Community Impact Outreach Award – Clemency Division, GPEDS Team Member, Cheryl King,
and The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) Award - Clemency Division, Pardon Admin Assistant Caryl Deems.
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett says the agency staff are “public safety driven” and the selection of the award recipients is extremely difficult.
“Our award winners have performed at an extremely high level helping us as an agency achieve our goal of enhancing our operations. If your mission is public safety like ours, you need dedicated, committed, and caring employees who are consistently looking for ways to excel to strengthen our agency and benefit our citizens, and we have those types of employees,” said Barnett.
Several employees reaching service milestones were also recognized at the town hall.
Keir Chapple has been promoted to Director of the Georgia Office of Victim Services. Chapple had been deputy director since 2015. The promotion was announced at the June monthly board meeting.
“I am deeply humbled to become the Director of the Georgia Office of Victim Services. My passion for serving victims and survivors remains unwavering, and I am dedicated to supporting our clients and our incredible team. Together, we will continue making a positive impact on the lives we touch,” stated Chapple.
Executive Director of the Parole Board
Chris Barnett says leadership from all three agencies approved the promotion.
"Keir has earned this promotion. He has a passion for serving crime victims and has served them extremely well these past several years as deputy director of the office," said Barnett.
The Georgia Office of Victim Services is a division of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
(continued on page 7, see Chapple)