ATLANTA - Jacqueline Bunn was sworn-in today as a member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Bunn, the former director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), took the oath from Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard.

“I feel like I’ve come full circle,” stated Bunn. “I started my career as an attorney representing the Parole Board in civil rights matters and I’m excited to be a part of the criminal justice process. Public safety will always be at the forefront of my mind in every decision.”

As Governor Deal stated in his announcement, Ms. Bunn brings a “myriad” of experience working directly with the criminal justice system. Bunn is licensed to practice law in all of the state and federal courts in Georgia and New Jersey and in fact she has handled hundreds of cases involving the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in state and federal courts, from the trial level through the appellate process to the United States Supreme Court.

Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard says the diversity among board members has always been one of the Board’s defining qualities. 

“Today, Governor Deal's choice with the appointment of Jacqueline Bunn further enhances board strengths. As a member of the legal community, Jacqueline brings a valued prospective along with many life experiences directly related to Georgia's criminal justice system and her passion for crime victims,” Barnard said.

Jacqueline Bunn

Bunn is licensed to practice law in all of the state and federal courts in Georgia and New Jersey. She began her career with the state of Georgia in 1997 as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Section for the Georgia Department of Law. In December of 2006, she served as Deputy Director in the Legal Services Unit of the Georgia Department of Public Safety. Bunn was appointed by Governor Deal to serve as the Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council in 2013. She was recently selected for the Henry Toll Fellowship Program Class of 2016 and currently serves on the State Bar of Georgia's Promoting Inclusion in the Profession committee. Bunn is also a member of the Georgia Bar Journal editorial board. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and her law degree from the University of Georgia.​ Access a complete bio at https://pap.georgia.gov/jacqueline-bunn-esq.

The Parole Board has five voting members who are full time employees. The Georgia Constitution provides that Parole Board Members are to be appointed by the Governor to serve seven-year staggered terms, subject to confirmation by the State Senate. The Parole Board is authorized to grant paroles, pardons and reprieves and is the only entity in the state with the constitutional authority to commute a death sentence. 

For more information please contact Steve Hayes at 404-657-9450 or [email protected] or visit our website at www.pap.georgia.gov.

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