New Parole Officers Deployed Across the State
May 6, 2011;
Atlanta, GA - The State Board of Pardons and Paroles’ 52
nd Basic Parole Officer Training Course (BPOTC) graduation ceremony was held at the
Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth today. Fifteen new Parole Officers will
now begin duty across the state.
Parole Board Vice Chairman Albert Murray delivered the commencement address and told the new
officers that their role is one that speaks to the agency’s core mission of public
safety.
“As Board Members who consider granting parole to an offender, we do so knowing that the
offender will be managed in the community at the highest possible level,” said Murray. He
added, “Georgia’s Parole Board is nationally recognized primarily due to the quality level of
supervision of offenders.”
Parole Officers are classified as Georgia Peace Officers and must successfully complete an
eight week Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.), Basic Training
Course.
Course work includes supervision techniques, investigation procedures, intervention
strategies, criminal and Georgia law, Parole Board policy and procedure, interview skills, physical
fitness, arrest procedures, defensive tactics, computer interaction and firearms qualification. The
training includes certification to use a Board issued service weapon.
The Parole Board employs just over 300 parole officers who supervise approximately 22,500
parolees statewide. The average caseload per parole officer is 75. Parole Officers work to
transition offenders back into the community using a balanced approach of surveillance and
treatment intervention. Parolees in Georgia report at least once a month and in addition,
parole officers make scheduled and unscheduled visits to the parolees’ residences, employers and
treatment providers to ensure compliance.
The fifteen officers will begin work in the following locations: Adairsville, Americus,
Columbus (2), Conyers, Cordele, Dalton, DeKalb, Douglasville, Gainesville, Griffin, Macon, Moultrie
(2) and Atlanta (South Metro Office).
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