Governor Brian Kemp made his first appointment to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in early January.
Meg Heap was appointed replacing James Mills on the five-member Parole Board. Mills’ term ended December 31, 2020.
Heap is the former district attorney of Chatham County. Governor Kemp appointed Heap, effective January 19, 2021. Heap will serve a seven year term on the Parole Board.
Heap was sworn in on February 2nd by Governor Kemp.
Following the ceremony, Mrs. Heap said she was honored to become a member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
“I take on this role with a passion to work to enhance public safety for all of our citizens and to improve this agency overall. The decisions this Board makes affect people’s lives; offenders, victims and citizens alike. I am humbled to be asked to become a member of the Parole Board,” stated Heap.
The Board’s other members attended the ceremony.
“On behalf of the Board, I congratulate Mrs. Heap on this very important appointment. Her talents will certainly contribute to the effectiveness of the Board’s mission to ensure public safety, protect victims’ rights and provide offenders with opportunities for positive change,” stated Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard.
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett, Deputy Executive Director Rita Rocker and Communications Director Steve Hayes also attended the swearing in ceremony.
Meg Heap began her career as a Volunteer Coordinator and Victim Advocate with the Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Savannah District Attorney’s Office. The position ignited a lifelong passion of working with crime victims and senior citizens.
After law school, she worked in the Cherokee County District Attorney’s office prosecuting felony cases in both Juvenile and Superior Court. In 1995, she began work as an assistant district attorney in Chatham County handling State Court Division misdemeanor cases, moving to Superior Court to handle felony cases in 1997. In 2005, she was assigned to elder and disabled adult abuse cases, becoming the first such prosecutor in the state. In 2012, Heap was elected District Attorney of Chatham County and served two-terms. She was named the 2019 District Attorney of the Year by the District Attorney’s Association of Georgia and she is the immediate past-president of the association.
Governor Names Heap to Board
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Georgia Parole Review