Victims Visitors’ Day Scheduled April 11, 2011 in Forsyth
State Agencies Come Together to Hold Annual National Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony
April 8, 2011;
Atlanta, Ga. - Coinciding with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the State
Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) are holding a Victims
Visitors’ Day at State Offices South at Tift College in Forsyth. Crime victims will be able to
meet with Board representatives and state probation staff to discuss their offender’s
case.
The Victims Visitors’ Day also coincides with the annual National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
ceremony and open house at Tift. Twelve state agencies participate in the multi-agency victim
services partnership. The event takes place at 10 a.m. with the opening ceremony and continues
until 4 p.m. allowing visitors and victims to meet with agency representatives during the open
house.
Parole Board Chairman James Donald says, "I am so pleased the Parole Board has the opportunity
to help commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week and recognize victims of crime by joining
our criminal justice partners at this annual event. Victims have a voice as the Board decides
whether to grant an offender parole.”
GDC and Parole Board Victim Services Director Shalandra Robertson says more than 300 victims
have registered to meet with Board staff for the Victims Visitors’ Day.
Chairman Donald adds, “Conducting these Victim Visitors’ Day events is one of the most
important ways we can demonstrate our commitment to victims and allow their input into their
offender's case and decision making process."
Chairman Donald and other Parole Board Members are planning to attend and will meet with many
of the registered victims. He will also take part in the ceremony during a multi-agency panel
discussion to discuss victims’ issues.
The theme for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is "Reshaping the Future, Honoring the
Past."
The Parole Board has conducted Victims Visitors’ Days across the state since 2006, meeting
with more than 1,000 victims. The most recent was held in Dalton, Georgia last August.
In addition to receiving information concerning the status of an offender during the Victims
Visitors' Day, victims can register to receive future status notifications regarding the
offender.
The following agencies are currently involved in Georgia’s Multi-Agency Victim Services
Partnership and will be represented at the ceremony and open house Monday at Tift: Administrative
Office of the Courts, Commission on Family Violence, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council,
Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Public Safety, Georgia
Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Department of Community Health, Governor’s Office of Children and
Families, Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, State Board of Pardons and Paroles, and Prosecuting
Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.
For more information on Monday’s events you may contact Steve Hayes, State Board of Pardons and
Paroles, 404-657-9450.
The Department of Corrections/State Board of Pardons and Paroles’ Office of Victim Services
can be reached at 404-651-6668 or for more information on services provided please go to
www.pap.state.ga.us
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