INTRODUCTION
Very little about 2020 resembled normalcy . The coronavirus disease 2019
( COVID-19 ) Pandemic created a world health crisis and affected the way people approach their livelihoods as well as how organizations approached their operations . The rate of contracting and spreading the virus brought fear to any sense of personhood , and the numerous safety measures put in place to reduce the spread created a myriad of challenges for organizations and agencies of all sizes and functions .
With the outbreak of the virus on the horizon , numerous organizations had to swiftly modify their practices to accommodate the widespread “ stayin-place ” orders and social distancing requirements issued by state and local governments . Given the contact-driven nature of the community supervision profession , the COVID-19 pandemic produced a disparate impact on community supervision agencies . Community supervision agencies were tasked to maintain public safety and work to prevent those under their care from reoffending - all with the uncertainty of resources wrought by the resulting economic casualty caused the virus . Fortunately , the Georgia Department of Community Supervision implemented statewide initiatives ahead of the public health crisis that well-positioned the Department to carefully mitigate operational concerns . Therefore , in a year upended by uncertainty , it is the intent of this report is to chronicle the series of operational enhancements that allowed the Georgia Department of Community Supervision to offset many of the consequential impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain some semblance of normalcy .
Georgia DCS — A Not so New Normal 2021