ATLANTA – Today an inmate receiving a GED at the Metro Transitional Center (TC) in Atlanta also received a parole certificate.

“We want state inmates who are parole eligible to complete these programs provided by the Department of Corrections,” stated Parole Board Member Jacqueline Bunn.

Bunn attended the graduation and presented the parole certificate to Amanda Ney, an inmate at the Metro TC. Ney was among the eight offenders who were awarded their GED.

“By earning their GED or high school diploma and completing other programs, state inmates are better preparing themselves for a return to the community. That’s very important to the Parole Board. The Board’s goal is to communicate the message that program completion is a very important part of reentry and can enhance parole possibilities,” said Bunn.

Last fiscal year, the Department of Corrections surpassed a major milestone of more than 2,000 GED completions.

“Inmates who put in the work and complete these programs are showing that they are willing to improve themselves and have a desire for true change,” stated Deputy Director of Parole Rita Rocker.

Ney is serving a three year sentence for possession and sale of methamphetamine; a Bartow County conviction.

The Parole Board has made similar parole grant announcements this year at Department of Corrections’ facilities to include graduations conducted at Burruss Correctional Training Center, Lee Arrendale State Prison and Emanuel Women’s Facility.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles consists of five voting Board Members who are full time state employees. They are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate. They serve seven year staggered terms. The members determine which parole eligible inmates are granted parole and they make decisions on pardons as well as clemency requests for death row inmates. In Georgia, eligible inmates are automatically considered for parole. If released on parole, offenders who violate their release conditions may be returned to prison by the Parole Board.

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

For more information about the Georgia Department of Corrections, visit www.gdc.georgia.gov.

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