Georgia Parole Review
6
Public Safety Partnerships
The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles engages stakeholders to enhance public safety. Those engagements include law enforcement, the judiciary, and representatives of Georgia offenders. During the summer, parole leadership attended annual training conferences conducted by the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, and the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia.
Parole Board Chairman David Herring spoke to Georgia sheriffs.
"The five-member Parole Board values our professional relationship with the association and Georgia's sheriffs. That partnership is important to our overall mission of public safety. We will ensure we're available to discuss offender cases as we go through the parole consideration process," said Herring.
Board Members Terry Barnard and Wayne Bennett attended the judges' conference.
"Our judges are one of many criminal justice partners and important stakeholders in the parole process. It was good to be able to connect with them and strengthen the professional relationship that exists involving our Board and the state's judges," said Bennett.
Executive Director of the Georgia Parole Board Chris Barnett discussed the board's operations with many of the judges.
"Our goal is to assist and work with our Superior Court Judges to enhance public safety. Understanding each other's role is necessary toward reaching that goal," stated Barnett.
The Parole Board engages prosecutors and defense attorneys. Clemency Director Crystal Moon and staff made several parole process presentations to attorneys with the Georgia Public Defender Council.
"Public defenders have a necessary role in the criminal justice process and we provided necessary information for them to assist their clients to the best of their ability after a conviction," stated Moon.
Executive Director Barnett echoed Moon's comments. (continued on page 6)