Atlanta, GA – Governor Nathan Deal is proclaiming the week of July 13th through the 19th, as Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week in Georgia. During the week parole officers in Georgia will be recognized for providing public safety through the supervision of more than 25,000 parolees statewide. They are being recognized along with their colleagues in state probation with the Department of Corrections and with other community corrections professionals responsible for supervising adult and juvenile offenders in the community.

Governor Deal signed a proclamation in recognition of Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week. The proclamation states that community corrections professionals are a true “Force for Positive Change” in their communities.

Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard says Georgia parole officers have major responsibilities.

“The parole officer has the primary responsibility of keeping the public safe by ensuring compliance by the parolee and delivering swift and proportionate sanctions including re-incarceration if necessary. Public safety is also about successful reentry and the parole officer has the responsibility of working with and helping the parolee to be successful in his return to the community,” Barnard said. Barnard says the parole officer is that critical link to success for those on parole in Georgia.

Barnard says this week is also the perfect time to highlight Georgia’s parole success rate which at 74% is 20% above the national average.

Michael Nail, Executive Director of Parole, notes that it is the parole officer who is making Georgia’s “virtual office” a success. The virtual office is the Parole Board’s concept that has resulted in parole officers utilizing the latest technology and their state vehicle as the parole office. The Board closed parole offices in 2012 and 2013. As a result, direct contacts with parolees are up 22%, says Nail.

“We’re maximizing the time that our parole officers can be in the community which meets our goal of enhancing public safety by monitoring offenders and facilitating successful transition back into the community,” Nail said.

The Parole Board employs approximately 300 parole officers. Caseloads per officer average 90 parolees. Parole officers work closely with their communities and employers in finding necessary treatment and services, and jobs for parolees, a difficult task in a continuously struggling economy. Parole officers work to transition offenders back into the community using a blended approach of surveillance and treatment intervention.  Parole officers make scheduled and unscheduled visits to the parolees’ residences, employers and treatment providers to ensure compliance.

For more information on the Parole Board please visit our website at www.pap.georgia.gov.

           

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