DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION
Board Members
In 2013, Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia General
Assembly passed legislation creating The Georgia
Council on Criminal Justice Reform. The Council was
charged with conducting periodic comprehen sive
reviews of Georgia's criminal justice system. Special
attention was given to parole, probation and
community-based offender supervision practices in
Georgia. The council's findings made it clear to
Governor Deal that tremendous enhancements to
public safety and governmental efficiency could be
achieved through streamlining this element of the
criminal justice system.
As the next step in Governor Deal's ongoing criminal
justice reform efforts, HB 310 was introduced during the
2015 legislative session. HB 310 transferred the
community-based offender superv1s1on components of
the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the
Department of Corrections, and Class A and B
designated juvenile offenders from the Department of
Juvenile Justice to the Department of Community
Supervision. The bill also shifted oversight
responsibilities of private and governmental
misdemeanor probation entities from the County and
Municipal Probation Advisory Council (CMPAC) to the
newly created Board of Community Supervision.
The Georgia General Assembly passed HB 310 and on
May 7th, 2015, Governor Deal signed the bill into law
establishing the Department of Community
Supervision (DCS). DCS began operations effective July
1st, 2015. As a part of the executive branch of Georgia's
government, DCS is responsible for the effective and
efficient supervision of approximately 200,000 adult
felony offenders and Class A and Class B designated
juvenile offenders. Some offenders under the
supervision of DCS have been granted parole or a
reprieve by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles
while others have received probated or split sentences
through Georgia courts.
DCS embraces the One Community Philosophy
approach to community supervision through all facets
of our work, including a strong collaboration with fellow
criminal justice agencies; commitment to victims and
their families; involvement in the communities we
serve; holistic programming for individuals under
supervision and their families.
Terry Barnard
Terry E. Barnard is the Chairman of the State
Board of Pardons and Paroles. Mr. Barnard
was elected Chairman for FY 2019. It is his
fourth term as Chairman.
Sonja Fillingame
Sonja Fillingame was appointed by the
Mayor and City Council of Union City as City
Manager to ensure the efficient day-to-day
operations of the City.
Judy Fitzgerald
Judy Fitzgerald was appointed
Commissioner of the Georgia Department of
Behavioral Health and Developmental
Disabilities by Governor Deal in 2016.
Kevin Little
Kevin Little was elected Chairman of the
Walton County Board of Commissioners in
2000 and is currently in his fourth term.
Nick Norton
Sheriff Charles N. "Nick" Norton is a
dedicated law enforcement professional
who has served the State of Georgia and his
local county for nearly three decades.
Tyrone Oliver
DJJ Commissioner Tyrone Oliver was
appointed to his position in 2019.
Brian Owens
Brian Owens is Vice Chairman of the Parole
Board. He was appointed to the State Board
of Pardons and Paroles on in 2015.
Steve Queen
Steve Queen is Director of Field Services for
CSRA Probation Services, Inc.
Tom Rawlings
Rawlings is the director of the Office of the
Child Advocate.
Timothy Ward
Timothy C. Ward was appointed by Governor
Kemp as the Commissioner for the Georgia
Department of Corrections in 2019.