Due to the creation of the Department of Community Supervision, the Parole Board no longer has the responsibility of supervising offenders while on parole. To reflect this change, we have a new, updated mission which more accurately depicts the purpose and operations of the Board. Our mission is to serve the citizens of Georgia by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims’ rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change.
Because our mission has changed, our operations have changed. We have restructured and strengthened agency functions.
We are challenging ourselves to help improve a successful parole completion rate of more than 70%, already among the nation’s highest. Through our daily work activities, we will strive to increase our effectiveness by working closely with our public safety partners ensuring offenders are provided with favorable circumstances that allow them to lead a law-abiding life. We will continue to strive for a safer Georgia through sound, data-driven decisions and we will continue to actively seek input from victims of crime.
This is an exciting time of opportunities for Georgia and our parole family.
Chair's message, Appointments & promotions continued on page 15
To serve the citizens of Georgia by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims' rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change.
Chairman Terry Barnard
4
Christopher Barnett is the new Executive Director of Parole for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. At the August board meeting, Barnett was appointed to the position. Barnett was named interim director in April to lead the Board through the transition period as a result of the creation of the Department of Community Supervision.
“It is truly an honor to serve as the Executive Director of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, especially as our state continues on the path of groundbreaking criminal justice reform initiatives. I am proud of what our state and Board have accomplished thus far, and look to the future in anticipation of even greater opportunities for enhancements and successes,” stated Barnett.
After beginning his law enforcement career in 1999 with the Fulton County Police Department, Barnett joined the Parole Board as a parole officer in 2003. Promotions to senior parole officer, assistant chief parole officer, field operations officer and senior field operations officer followed. In May 2013, he was promoted to his most recent position of regional director, supervising all operations and parole districts within the Northeast Region.
Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard stated, “During this major transition period, Director Barnett has led the agency in the interim ensuring that necessary changes resulted in stronger operations and that the agency will continue to move forward. He has formulated an excellent team to continue that growth in order to meet challenges that are ahead.”
Since his appoint- ment in April as in- terim director, the Board has adopted a new mission state- ment, strengthened its organizational structure and is fin-alizing a new strat- egic plan.
Barnett is a native of Hinesville, Georgia. He has a degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia Southern University.
"Director Barnett has led the agency in the interim ensuring that necessary changes resulted in stronger operations.." - Terry Barnard, Board Chairman
Christopher L. Barnett