Crime victims and their families can schedule a meeting with the Parole Board in Jonesboro

Atlanta – On April 19, 2016, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles is inviting victims of crime in Georgia to meet with the Board in Jonesboro. At the Victims Visitors’ Day, victims can discuss the impact of the crime and the offender in the case during a meeting with one of Georgia’s five Parole Board Members. Victims not previously registered will be able to register with the Georgia Office of Victim Services in order to receive notification as the offender is being considered for parole.

The Victims Visitors’ Day is a part of Georgia’s observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week which is April 10–16, 2016. The theme for this year’s celebration is: Serving Victims. Building Trust. Restoring Hope.

Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard says meeting face-to-face with crime victims accomplishes the Board’s goals.

“Victims Visitors’ Day is a unique way that crime victims are served in Georgia and by sitting down with the victim, we can build trust, let them know that they are being heard, and that their interests are being strongly considered,” stated Barnard.

The Parole Board and the Georgia Office of Victim Services will hold the Victims Visitors’ Day in conjunction with the Clayton Judicial Circuit Victim-Witness Assistance Program. In the meetings with the Board, victims can give the Board information about the case and have their questions answered.

“The Clayton County District Attorney's Office is honored to have been selected to host this Victims Visitors' Day in metro Atlanta. This is a wonderful opportunity for our victims' voices to be heard and will hopefully help them in their healing process,” stated Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Graham Lawson.

The event will take place at the S. Truett Cathy Professional Learning Center located at 1087 Battlecreek Road in Jonesboro. An opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the individual meetings.

The Georgia Office of Victim Services serves registered crime victims whose offender is a state inmate or who is under parole or probation supervision. Representatives from the Department of Corrections and the Department of Community Supervision also will be present to speak with victims. Questions victims may have concerning an inmate’s incarceration or their community supervision, whether on parole or probation, can be answered by staff from these agencies.

The Parole Board conducts Victims Visitors’ Days around the state in order to make the Board accessible to all crime victims. Since 2006, the Parole Board has conducted 24 Victims Visitors’ Days in 16 different communities and met with more than 2,600 victims. The most recent Victims Visitors’ Day was held in Brunswick last October.

Crime victims are asked to schedule an appointment by calling 404-656-6872 or 1-800-593-9474, by April 18, 2016. Walk-ins are also welcome.

For more information about the Georgia Parole Board, please contact the Office of Communications, Director Steve Hayes, at 404-657-9450 or [email protected]; also visit www.pap.georgia.gov.

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