{
    "meta": {
        "source": "Georgia Prisoners' Speak, open-records requests and the documents agencies released",
        "note": "Records requested under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), by Georgia Prisoners' Speak or, where a page says so, by another person or group who shared them with GPS. Documents marked \"as released\" are posted exactly as the agency released them. Files marked \"prepared by GPS\" are GPS's own compilations of those documents, made for convenience; where they differ, the released document governs. A request is published here when GPS cites it or when its records are useful to readers; records about individual deaths are published on GPS's mortality pages, not here.",
        "generated_at": "2026-10-30T05:53:27+00:00",
        "documentation": "https://gps.press/records/",
        "rest": "https://gps.press/wp-json/gps-public-records/v1/requests"
    },
    "data": {
        "ref": "PAP-20260906",
        "url": "https://gps.press/records/pap-20260906/",
        "title": "Parole Board rulemaking records for the 2005 and 2007 Parole Decision Guidelines amendments",
        "agency": "State Board of Pardons and Paroles",
        "agency_short": "Parole Board",
        "channel": "Email to the Board's Open Records Officer (openrecords@pap.ga.gov)",
        "requested_by": "Georgia Prisoners' Speak",
        "shared_with_gps": false,
        "summary": "GPS asked the State Board of Pardons and Paroles for the rulemaking records of its 2005 and 2007 amendments to Rule 475-3-.05 (Parole Consideration), for the three-year study behind the 2008 Parole Decision Guidelines described in its FY2008 annual report, and for its copy of a Fulton County Superior Court order on its \"90% policy.\" The Board released ten files on September 28, 2026 and said it found no records of the study. The 2005 notice of intent says the 90% policy \"is subject to legal challenge that requires the Board to cease using it\" and proposes a new Crime Severity Level VIII, with guidelines recommendations of 90%, 75% or 65% of the prison sentence depending on the offender's Parole Success Score. The 2007 notice says the new guidelines \"represent a three-year study and analysis of risk factors utilized in granting clemency,\" and a December 7, 2007 page of clemency projections estimates 16,850 additional releases from 2008 to 2012 under a simulation model that assumes 70% compliance with the guidelines.",
        "request_text": "To the Open Records Officer:\n\nGeorgia Prisoners' Speak is the public name of The GDC Accountability Project, Inc., a Georgia nonprofit investigative newsroom that documents the state's corrections and parole systems. Under the Georgia Open Records Act, O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq., we request copies of four sets of records. All four are agency records about how the Board's own guidelines were made. None of them asks for information about any individual offender, so nothing here should touch the confidentiality of case files under O.C.G.A. § 42-9-53.\n\n1. The rulemaking record for the amendment to Board Rule 475-3-.05 filed with the Secretary of State on December 9, 2005 and effective January 1, 2006. We're asking for the notice of intended action, the portion of the minutes of the November 18, 2005 Board meeting covering the adoption of that rule, any staff memoranda or analysis prepared for the Board on it, and any written comments the Board received.\n\n2. The rulemaking record for the amendment to Board Rule 475-3-.05 filed on December 10, 2007 and effective January 1, 2008, in the same components as item 1.\n\n3. The study described on page 18 of the Board's FY2008 annual report, which states that the amendments to the Parole Decision Guidelines \"were preceded by a three-year study and analysis of risk factors utilized in granting clemency to offenders, past clemency practices, and the effects of the new guidelines on prison capacity.\" We're asking for that study and any report, memorandum, presentation or contractor deliverable produced by it, including the analysis of the effects on prison capacity.\n\n4. Any copy in the Board's possession of the order of the Superior Court of Fulton County referenced on page 10 of the Board's FY2005 annual report, which states that a Fulton County judge ruled that \"the Board's 90% policy in 1997 was implemented improperly and as a result is ineffective and has no force or effect.\" We understand the court is not itself subject to the Open Records Act. We're asking only for the Board's own copy of the order if one is in its files, along with the case caption or docket number if that is easier to provide than the document.\n\nElectronic delivery is best for us. PDFs sent by reply to this email are ideal, and we're happy to receive the records in batches as they become available rather than waiting for everything at once.\n\nOn fees, we agree to pay reasonable charges up to $50.00. If the cost would exceed that, please let us know first, with the itemization by position, hourly rate and time that O.C.G.A. § 50-18-71(d) provides for, and we'll respond promptly.\n\nIf any part of a record is exempt, we understand that and ask only for the non-exempt portions with the exempt material redacted. If the scope of any item is broader than is convenient, tell us and we'll narrow it. If our description of a record doesn't match how the Board files it, we'd welcome a correction, since you know the records and we're working from the Board's own published documents.\n\nThank you for your time on this.\n\nThe GDC Accountability Project, Inc. (Georgia Prisoners' Speak)\n285 W Wieuca Rd NE, PMB #4153, Atlanta, GA 30342\naccountability@gps.press · https://gps.press",
        "date_filed": "2026-09-06",
        "date_last_response": "2026-10-05",
        "status": "fulfilled",
        "status_label": "Fulfilled",
        "status_note": "The Board released records for items 1, 2 and 4 on September 28, 2026, in ten files, all posted here as released. On October 5 it said it has no other responsive records, including for item 3: staff found no records of the three-year study, which predates current staff.",
        "fee_amount": 100.1,
        "fee_note": "Estimated $89.59; invoiced $100.10 (administrative fee only, no copying fee)",
        "timeline": [
            {
                "date": "2026-09-06",
                "event": "Request filed by email with the Board's Open Records Officer."
            },
            {
                "date": "2026-09-11",
                "event": "The Board estimated a fee of $89.59: $84.59 for two hours of search and retrieval (no charge for the first 15 minutes) and $5.00 to copy about 50 pages. GPS agreed the same day."
            },
            {
                "date": "2026-09-28",
                "event": "The Board released records for items 4, 2 and 1 in ten emails and invoiced $100.10 ($50.05 an hour for two hours and 15 minutes, with no charge for the first 15 minutes; no copying fee). It said a response on item 3 would follow."
            },
            {
                "date": "2026-10-03",
                "event": "GPS accepted the $100.10 fee."
            },
            {
                "date": "2026-10-05",
                "event": "The Board said it has no additional responsive records, including for item 3. Asked whether the study existed elsewhere, it said staff found no such records, that the study predates current staff, and that the Board has no other data on it."
            }
        ],
        "topics": [
            "parole",
            "parole-decision-guidelines",
            "rulemaking",
            "90-percent-policy",
            "parole-board"
        ],
        "cited_in": [],
        "published_at": "2026-10-28 20:54:16",
        "updated_at": "2026-10-28 22:09:04",
        "documents": [
            {
                "title": "2005 rule amendment file (part 2 of 2): briefing notes, legislative notices and the notice of intent",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Sixteen scanned pages on the 2005 amendment creating Crime Severity Level VIII: briefing notes for the Board's vote, a rulemaking checklist, the October 4, 2005 notice of intent and letters to Legislative Counsel, Legislative Counsel's October 7, 2005 letters to committee chairs, a September 27, 2005 memo titled \"Rule to Replace 90% Policy,\" and a May 30, 2003 transmittal letter for a different rule (475-2-.01(2)).",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/Rule-Amendment-Records-part-2-of-2.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 4472549,
                "pages": 16,
                "sha256": "736670e46b24e157416dfa11a7fab8cd954e47ae1e45885fc38abcfdac937543",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "2007 rule amendment file (part 1 of 2): notice of intent, filing record and clemency projections",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Fifteen scanned pages: a rulemaking checklist, the November 8, 2007 notice of intent with the proposed new guidelines, letters to and from Legislative Counsel, the Secretary of State's acknowledgment that the amendment was filed December 10, 2007 to take effect January 1, 2008, and a December 7, 2007 page of \"New Guidelines Clemency Projections.\"",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/Rule-Amendment-Records1-part-1-of-2.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 5355046,
                "pages": 15,
                "sha256": "05a3e08e950c1e555b4c6ff1ad6b07026a7299a09ecab21e8dc99eed9c0c3ea4",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "2007 rule amendment file (part 2 of 2): transmittal letters, certification and the rule as filed",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Eleven scanned pages: the November 8, 2007 letter to Legislative Counsel, the December 10, 2007 transmittal email and letter to the Secretary of State, the certification that the amendment was adopted December 10, 2007 to take effect January 1, 2008, and the text of Rule 475-3-.05 as amended.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/Rule-Amendment-Records1-part-2-of-2.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 3276920,
                "pages": 11,
                "sha256": "7d5b26e051d070298e71b73cb3a224b8c240615187d5386528f0f4fbc98e6d4f",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "November 18, 2005 Board meeting records (part 1 of 3)",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Twenty-five scanned pages: the October 21, 2005 public notice of the Board's open meeting on the proposed rule amendment, and the meeting materials that follow. Includes public comment letters as the Board kept them.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/November-18-2005-Baord-Meeting-Records-part-1-of-3.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 17050850,
                "pages": null,
                "sha256": "24d697a409aa17cb591b6e60d154e14f47539153576c67594b1611ba02464e4d",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "November 18, 2005 Board meeting records (part 2 of 3)",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Twenty-five scanned pages of the November 18, 2005 meeting file as the Board kept it. Across its three parts the file holds the meeting notice and materials, public comment letters and the minutes.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/November-18-2005-Board-Meeting-Records-part-2-of-3.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 17921938,
                "pages": null,
                "sha256": "2725666009b9d2feb0605c563a6787843aada1354d282a506b1b2fa76bf4d596",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "November 18, 2005 Board meeting records (part 3 of 3)",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Thirty-four scanned pages: the rest of the November 18, 2005 meeting file as the Board kept it.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/November-18-2005-Board-Meeting-Records-part-3-of-3.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 22302855,
                "pages": null,
                "sha256": "10171b64569da462cc42f4a6e2ced659da3012ffe80839398d1697bee63cc546",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "December 10, 2007 Board meeting records (part 1 of 2)",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Twenty-five scanned pages: the public notice of the Board's December 10, 2007 open meeting on the new Parole Decision Guidelines rule, and the meeting materials that follow.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/December-10-2007-Board-Meeting-Records-part-1-of-2.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 17023023,
                "pages": null,
                "sha256": "754c5e2b5fbb0aa718f908b28045a4ef789d986fe901bbc42c257d6fc40d15f7",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "December 10, 2007 Board meeting records (part 2 of 2)",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Twenty-one scanned pages: the rest of the December 10, 2007 meeting file as the Board kept it, which across its two parts holds the notice and materials, public comment letters and the minutes.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/December-10-2007-Board-Meeting-Records-part-2-of-2.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 17792743,
                "pages": null,
                "sha256": "a370f838dee3fe0a4859a1c7ef3edcef960e1de95372f18760f1d682b083a901",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "2005 rule amendment file (part 1 of 2): filing with the Secretary of State",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Fifteen scanned pages: the Board's December 2005 email filing the amended Rule 475-3-.05 with the Secretary of State's rules unit (effective January 1, 2006), the letter of transmittal and certification, and related records including a comment letter.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/Rule-Amendment-Records-part-1-of-2.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 3929569,
                "pages": null,
                "sha256": "5cea84f5271a9dbd40a0170ecb6838fe5a673099d2442282e3cd9ad51643c8e9",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            },
            {
                "title": "Fulton County Superior Court order on the Board's 90% policy (Civil Action No. 2004-CV-92152)",
                "kind": "released",
                "kind_label": "As released by the agency",
                "description": "Four scanned pages: the Board's faxed copy of the 2005 Superior Court order in the challenge to the 90% policy brought by people serving sentences against the Board's members.",
                "url": "https://gps.press/wp-content/uploads/public-records/pap-20260906/90-percent-policy-order.pdf",
                "mime": "application/pdf",
                "bytes": 2864876,
                "pages": null,
                "sha256": "e55beba96748c64eed9b6803dd4c7d2f168d10441bb465a3e9788d1df64d0da2",
                "date_received": "2026-09-28"
            }
        ]
    }
}