James Mills re-elected vice chairman

Atlanta - Today at the monthly board meeting, Terry E. Barnard was re-elected chairman of the Parole Board for Fiscal Year 2017. Barnard will begin serving his third consecutive one-year term on July 1, 2016. Vice Chairman James Mills was re-elected and will continue to serve in this role for a third consecutive term.

“Thank you for your confidence,” stated Chairman Barnard upon being re-elected.

Barnard’s re-election as chairman marks the first time that a chairman has been elected to more than two consecutive one-year terms since Milton “Buddy” Nix Jr., served four years from 2002-2006.

Vice Chairman James Mills in nominating Barnard noted his “excellent” leadership over the past two years.

“The last couple of years, we’ve seen a lot of transition. He’s provided that necessary leadership,” stated Mills. “It has been no easy task to be chairman. Yet he has done that in an excellent way and I just think it would serve this board well and this agency well for you to continue to be our chairman this coming year.”

Chairman Barnard has guided the Parole Board through a period of transition that has included the move of parole supervision to the Department of Community Supervision and other legislative changes. Under his leadership, the board has also adopted policy and procedural changes that have improved the agency’s functions and the parole decision making process.

“I want to thank our parole staff for their dedication and hard work that has led us through this period of transition,” Barnard said. “Together the Board and staff have created a stronger board and agency, to ensure public safety through careful, data-driven parole decisions. We will continue on that path,” added Barnard.

Barnard says the board continues to engage community stakeholders and criminal justice partners in what is a public parole process in order that the best possible parole decisions are the outcome.

In addition at today’s meeting, it was announced that Board Member Albert Murray will retire effective July 1, 2016. Murray was appointed to the board by Governor Sonny Perdue in May of 2010. He served two years as vice chairman, followed by two years as chairman. Murray’s career has spanned 40 years in four states. He previously served as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and remains the longest serving DJJ Commissioner in the state’s history.

Terry E. Barnard

Terry E. Barnard is Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Mr. Barnard was elected to the position by his colleagues and will serve in the position through June 30, 2017. Mr. Barnard is serving his third consecutive one-year term as chairman. He served two one-year terms as vice chairman from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014.

Mr. Barnard was appointed to the Parole Board in May 2010 and reappointed by Governor Sonny Perdue in December 2010 to a full seven-year term which will expire on December 31, 2017.

The former State Representative served nearly sixteen years in the Georgia House of Representatives and served the state as a member of several key House Committees to include Appropriations, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Children and Youth, Rules and State Institutions and Property, where he served as the chairman for six years. In 1995-1996, Mr. Barnard guided through the Georgia House, the frame work for the State Sex Offenders Registry and Sexual Predators Review Board.

In 2012, Mr. Barnard was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to the State Commission on Family Violence and he was reappointed in January of 2015. The commission works to educate and raise awareness about family violence in Georgia.

Mr. Barnard also serves on the Board of Community Supervision. The board has regulatory oversight of the Department of Community Supervision which is responsible for the community supervision of felony offenders.

Mr. Barnard is a native of Tattnall County and makes his home at Shellman Bluff on the Georgia Coast. He is a graduate of Atlantic Community College and has a strong background in business.

For the complete bio of Terry E. Barnard: https://pap.georgia.gov/board-members/terry-e-barnard.

James W. Mills

James W. Mills of Hall County, was appointed to the Board by Governor Nathan Deal in November of 2011. Mr. Mills is the Vice Chairman of the Board and will serve in this position through June 30, 2017. 

The former State Representative served nineteen years in the legislature representing the 25th district. Among many committee assignments, he served as Chairman of the Banks and Banking Committee. During his legislative service, Mr. Mills sponsored important legislation to include an amendment that placed “IN GOD WE TRUST” on the Georgia state flag. He also passed “proof of citizenship when registering to vote” legislation.

Mr. Mills currently serves on the Board of Community Supervision.

Mr. Mills was named Christian Coalition Legislator of the Year in 2001. In 2007, he was named “Legislator of the Year” by the Georgia Retail Association and he received the “Outstanding American Award.”

Mr. Mills is a successful businessman. He was invited to the White House on two occasions as recognition for his tax cutting efforts as a state legislator. Three times he has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Who’s Who in Finance.

Mr. Mills graduated from Mercer University in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree. In 1990, he received a master’s from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (N.O.B.T.S).

For the complete bio of James W. Mills: http://pap.georgia.gov/james-w-mills.

Albert R. Murray

Albert Murray was appointed to the Board in May of 2010, by Governor Sonny Perdue. He served two years as Chairman of the Parole Board from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014 and he previously served two one-year terms as vice chairman.

Mr. Murray began his career in his native state of Tennessee, eventually resulting in an appointment as Assistant Commissioner of Juvenile Services. As a result of his success he was appointed as the first commissioner of the newly created Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority in 1997. During 2003, Mr. Murray served as Deputy Commissioner of Programs for the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Mr. Murray was sworn in as Commissioner of Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice on January 23, 2004. He ended his tenure May 14, 2010, and remains the longest serving juvenile justice commissioner in Georgia’s history. A major accomplishment as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice was the completion of all requirements for the release from the agency’s memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice on May 5, 2009, ending eleven years of federal oversight.

Mr. Murray is a member of the American Correctional Association (ACA) and in 2009 he received the ACA's Cass Award for lifetime achievement. Mr. Murray graduated cum laude with a master's degree in Education from Middle Tennessee State University and he has a bachelor's degree in English from Tennessee State University. Mr. Murray currently serves on the Board of Directors of Georgia Piedmont Technical College.

For the complete bio of Albert R. Murray: http://pap.georgia.gov/albert-r-murray.

For more information about the 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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