ATLANTA - The largest ever Victims Visitors’ Day was held this week at Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston. More than 350 victims attended the first two-day event in the Parole Board’s history on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. The five voting members of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles held meetings with the victims during the two days. Nearly 150 individual meetings were conducted between crime victims and the Board.

"These two days of meetings with crime victims have been very rewarding and extremely helpful to the board members. By spending their valuable time with us, the victims are taking an active role in the parole decision making process,” said Parole Board Chairman James Mills.

The event was co-hosted by the Georgia Office of Victim Services in coordination with the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit Victim-Witness Assistance Program and DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston.

Information received from victims is added to the offender case files for the Board Members to review prior to determining whether to grant parole.

The event was also held to bring recognition to crime victims during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, which is being celebrated through April 14, 2018. This year’s theme is: “Expand the Circle; Reach All Victims.”

Many victims not previously registered with the state were able to do so at the event. Through the Georgia Office of Victim Services, victims, if registered, can receive information about the offender who victimized them.

The Victims Visitors’ Day was the 29th conducted since 2006. 21 different communities have now hosted an event and nearly four thousand victims have met with the Parole Board over that span of time.

For more information, visit www.pap.georgia.gov or contact the Office of Communications, Director Steve Hayes at 404-567-9450 or [email protected].

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