ATLANTA – Members of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles were in attendance for this morning’s signing of House Bill 310, which creates the new Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS). Governor Deal traveled to Augusta where he signed the legislation at the Daniel Field Airport. Beginning July 1, 2015, DCS will be responsible for the supervision of all felony offenders who are on parole or probation in Georgia.  

Executive Director of Parole, Michael Nail was named the commissioner of the new agency by Governor Deal at the signing ceremony.

Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard says the Governor’s appointment of Michael Nail will ensure the new agency is ready to protect Georgians.

“Michael Nail has done a fantastic job at the Parole Board. He knows community supervision and is a great choice to lead this new agency and the state into a new era of community supervision,” Barnard stated.

Michael Nail has served the Board since July 2010.

Chairman Barnard says the Board has supported the measure creating DCS from the beginning as proposed by Governor Deal and it was important for the members to be present at the signing ceremony.

“The consolidation of felony offender community supervision under one agency will result in safer communities as the supervision of parolees, probationers and juveniles in our communities is made stronger through this legislation,” stated Chairman Barnard. “The Parole Board applauds the Governor for his insight and continued push for criminal justice reform in our state.”

In January, Chairman Barnard announced the Parole Board’s full support of the legislation and that the Board would play a key role in getting the new agency up and running.

“We pledged our support and put together a team of experienced community supervision professionals to work side by side with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice to ensure this new agency is ready to protect the public on day one,” Chairman Barnard said.

Chairman Barnard says the Board’s Field Operations Division, which includes nearly 340 parole officers, will add experience and professionalism to the new agency.

“The rate which parolees in Georgia successfully complete parole is among the highest in the nation and our officers continue to stand proud of work they do to protect Georgians. The Board is confident that community supervision of felony offenders in our communities will be even better because of the Governor’s action today,” Barnard stated. “As DCS begins operation, the Parole Board will continue to support and be a key stakeholder and partner of DCS.”

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles will continue to have the authority and responsibility of granting paroles, pardons, reprieves, and commuting sentences, including death sentences. The Board will also continue to issue warrants and determine if a parolee should have his/her parole revoked as a result of failing to comply with parole supervision.

Chairman Barnard says the Board’s parole decisions are equally important to continued successful community supervision of those released on parole.

“The Board’s decisions regarding who receives parole are critical to public safety and are an important part of the state’s 72% parole completion rate, which is among the highest successful completion rates in the nation. Our pledge is that the Parole Board will always have public safety as our first consideration when rendering any decision.”

For more information about the Parole Board, including the parole process in Georgia, please visit: https://pap.georgia.gov/.