GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: BOPP Annual Report FY2004 — Georgia Parole Board ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-08-21 22:01:05 EDT Research Date: 2026-08-13 Topic: Parole JSON: https://gps.press/research-data/bopp-annual-report-fy2004-georgia-parole-board/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- The FY2004 Annual Report of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles documents the agency's operations amid significant budget reductions, with expenditures dropping from $47,497,086 to $46,609,659. The report highlights a parolee population of 23,595, a 72% parole success rate that exceeds the national average of 47%, and the release of 12,589 offenders on parole while 5,328 maxed out of prison. Key initiatives included the G-8 Summit security deployment, expansion of Day Reporting Centers, and the Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative (TPCI), while the Board also processed 889 life-sentence decisions and 97 medical reprieves. LEGAL FACTS (5) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Parole Board constitutional authority for clemency The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is the only entity in the state with the constitutional authority to grant executive clemency. Tags: legal,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board member appointment terms The Georgia Constitution provides that Parole Board members are appointed by the Governor to serve seven-year terms, subject to confirmation by the State Senate. Tags: legal,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] No inmate entitled to parole In Georgia no prison inmate is entitled to parole. Most, however, by law are eligible to be considered for parole at some point, usually after serving one-third of the prison sentence. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Life sentence parole eligibility requirement Georgia law requires that inmates serving life sentences for violent offenses who were convicted after January 1, 1995 be considered for parole after serving 14 years in prison. Those who are denied parole are legally entitled to reviews at intervals not exceeding eight years. Tags: legal,parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Death penalty clemency authority The Parole Board has the sole constitutional authority to reduce capital punishment cases to a sentence of life or life without parole. A majority of three affirmative votes is required to commute a death sentence. Tags: legal,death,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 FINDINGS (3) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Parole Board membership size unchanged since 1973 In 1943, when the Board was created, it had three members. In 1973 when the prison population reached 9,000 inmates, the Constitution was amended to expand the Parole Board to five members. Today, despite the increasing demands of a prison population of almost 50,000, the number of Parole Board members remains at five. Tags: operations,policy,demographics Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] G-8 Summit largest security initiative since 1996 Olympics The 2004 G-8 Summit was the largest statewide security initiative since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Date: 2004-01-01 Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Travel reimbursement processing time reduced The cycle for completing travel reimbursement payments, which once took weeks or months, is now one business day due to automation. Tags: operations,budget,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 STATISTICS (66) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Prison population growth since 1973 Statistics from the Department of Corrections indicate that there are almost 50,000 inmates serving in Georgia's prisons, equivalent to a 470% increase since the Board was made a five-member body in 1973. Value: 470.0 percent increase Tags: demographics,facilities,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Parolee population under supervision The Field Operations Division employs parole officers and field staff responsible for the daily supervision of approximately 21,000 parolees in Georgia. Value: 21000.0 parolees Tags: operations,demographics,supervision Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Total agency employees The Parole Board had 729 total employees in FY2004. Value: 729.0 employees Tags: operations,demographics,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Employee gender distribution Agency employees by gender: Males 361 (50%), Females 368 (50%). Value: 361.0 male employees (vs. 368 female employees) Tags: demographics,staffing,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Employee race distribution Agency employees by race: White 470 (65%), Black 251 (34%), Hispanic 2 (0%), American Indian 2 (0%), Asian 4 (1%). Value: 470.0 white employees (vs. 251 black employees) Tags: demographics,staffing,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] G-8 Summit training hours In preparation for the G-8 Summit, parole staff attended a total of 8,500 training hours, learning skills ranging from intelligence techniques to riot control tactics. Value: 8500.0 training hours Tags: operations,staffing,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Faith-based initiative volunteers trained Throughout FY04, 31 volunteers were trained and 33 parolees were matched to receive faith-based services under the Parole Board's faith-based initiative. Value: 31.0 volunteers trained (vs. 33 parolees matched) Tags: reentry,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Atlanta Day Reporting Center graduates By the end of FY04, the Atlanta Day Reporting Center (ADRC) had graduated more than 165 offenders with only six being rearrested for new felony charges. Value: 165.0 graduates (vs. 6 rearrested for new felony charges) Tags: reentry,drugs,programs,recidivism Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Services correspondence volume In FY04, the Office of Victim Services mailed approximately 4,425 letters to victims or victims' family members who registered with the Board for parole notification on specific inmate cases. Value: 4425.0 letters mailed Tags: victims,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Services caller assistance During FY04 the Office of Victim Services provided assistance to more than 6,000 callers. Value: 6000.0 callers assisted Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] New PC tablets distributed to parole officers By the end of FY04, 165 new computers were distributed to officers across the state. An additional 140 computers have been purchased and are being distributed during the beginning of FY05. Value: 165.0 computers distributed (vs. 140 additional computers purchased) Tags: operations,technology,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 initial budget reduction The Board began FY04 with a $1.5 million reduction in funding. The majority of this cut ($1.2 million) was made in the area of personal services. The remaining balance was cut in the areas of regular operating, travel and real estate, each cut by $100,000. Value: 1500000.0 dollars (vs. 1200000 personal services cut) Tags: budget,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 additional budget reduction In the first quarter of FY04, the agency was required to reduce its funding again by 2.5 percent, taking $1.2 million more from the agency's coffers. Value: 1200000.0 dollars (vs. 2.5 percent reduction) Tags: budget,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 supplemental budget authorization In the supplemental budget for FY04 the General Assembly and the Governor approved the $1.2 million reduction, but also authorized additional funding of $300,000 to fill vacant parole officer positions. Value: 300000.0 dollars (vs. 1200000 approved reduction) Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 net budget reduction Taking the additional funds into consideration, the Parole Board's budget was reduced by a total of $887,427. By the end of FY04, the agency's budget had dropped from $47,497,086 to $46,609,659. Value: 887427.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 total expenditures Total expenditures for FY04 were $47,434,074.69 (state & other). Value: 47434074.69 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 personal services expenditures Total personal services expenditures for FY04 were $38,248,982.72, including salaries of $28,859,465.10 and fringe benefits of $8,905,516.47. Value: 38248982.72 dollars Tags: budget,staffing,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 regular operating expenditures Total regular operating expenditures for FY04 were $2,632,756.84. Value: 2632756.84 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] County jail subsidy for parolees County Jail Subsidy for Parolees expenditure in FY04 was $657,495.00. Value: 657495.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Georgia prison population ranking With approximately 49,000 inmates, Georgia has the sixth largest prison population in the U.S. and is expected to surpass Michigan to become the fifth largest during FY05. Value: 49000.0 inmates (vs. 6 national ranking) Tags: demographics,facilities,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Georgia parole population ranking Georgia has the seventh largest parole population in the nation with more than 21,000 offenders under supervision in the state and over 2,000 under supervision out-of-state. Value: 21000.0 parolees in state (vs. 7 national ranking) Tags: demographics,operations,supervision Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Total Georgia correctional population Georgia's total correctional population in FY2004 was 200,494, including 128,866 on probation, 48,623 inmates, and 23,005 parolees. Value: 200494.0 offenders Tags: demographics,facilities,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Inmates awaiting transfer to state prisons The inmate population does not include over 2,000 offenders in county jails awaiting transfer to state prisons. Value: 2000.0 offenders in county jails Tags: facilities,demographics,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Out-of-state parolees supervised by Georgia Out-of-state parolees supervised by Georgia: 590. Value: 590.0 parolees Tags: operations,supervision,transfers Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Georgia parolees supervised by other states Georgia parolees supervised by other states: 2,242. Value: 2242.0 parolees Tags: operations,supervision,transfers Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Interstate Compact Unit downsizing In FY04, the Parole Board's Interstate Compact Unit downsized by three positions as a result of the tightening budget. Value: 3.0 positions eliminated Tags: budget,staffing,operations,transfers Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Misdemeanants under private probation More than 263,000 misdemeanants serve their probation with private probation authorities contracted by county or city governments. Value: 263000.0 misdemeanants Tags: demographics,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole releases by crime type More than 73% of parole releasees in FY04 were convicted of crimes relating to property offenses, drug possession or drug sales. Violent and sex offenders usually serve most, or all of their court-imposed sentences. Value: 73.0 percent Tags: demographics,parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Total parole releases FY04 Total parole releases in FY04 were 12,589. Value: 12589.0 releases Tags: parole,operations,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Total prison max-outs FY04 Total prison max-outs in FY04 were 5,328. Value: 5328.0 max-outs Tags: facilities,operations,demographics Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Life-sentenced inmates in Georgia In FY04 there were more than 6,000 inmates serving life sentences in Georgia. More than 3,000 of those life-sentenced inmates have been considered and denied parole at least once. Value: 6000.0 inmates serving life sentences (vs. 3000 considered and denied at least once) Tags: demographics,facilities,parole Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 90 percent policy case processing totals Total number of 90% cases processed since January 1998 = 12,790. 37% of all cases to serve 100% of sentence (5,057 cases), 6% serve between 90% and 100% (768 cases), 48% serve 90% of the sentence (6,613 cases), 3% serve less than 90% (352 cases). Value: 12790.0 cases processed Tags: parole,policy,violence Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 parole releases Parole releases in FY04: 9,565. Value: 9565.0 releases Tags: parole,operations,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 supervised reprieves Supervised reprieves in FY04: 1,981. Value: 1981.0 reprieves Tags: parole,operations,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 conditional transfers Conditional transfers in FY04: 1,041. Value: 1041.0 transfers Tags: parole,operations,transfers Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 commutations Commutations in FY04: 2. Value: 2.0 commutations Tags: legal,operations,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 total parole revocations Total parole revocations in FY04: 3,363. Value: 3363.0 revocations Tags: parole,operations,supervision Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 discharges from parole Discharges from parole in FY04: 5,839. Discharges from supervised reprieve: 1,449. Commutation to discharge parole: 199. Total discharges: 7,487. Value: 7487.0 total discharges Tags: parole,operations,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 decisions under guidelines Total decisions under guidelines in FY04: 13,548. Value: 13548.0 decisions Tags: parole,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 life sentence decisions Life decisions in FY04: Deny Parole to Life Cases: 755. Grant Parole to Life Cases: 134. Total Life Decisions: 889. Value: 889.0 total life decisions Tags: parole,legal,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 pardons granted Pardons granted in FY04: 354. Value: 354.0 pardons Tags: legal,clemency,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 medical/compassionate reprieves Medical/Compassionate Reprieves in FY04: 97. Value: 97.0 reprieves Tags: medical,clemency,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 restoration of rights Restoration of Rights in FY04: 255. Value: 255.0 restorations Tags: legal,clemency,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 visitor interviews Visitor interviews in FY04: 3,123. Value: 3123.0 interviews Tags: operations,victims Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 revocation hearings Revocation hearings in FY04: 550. Preliminary hearings: 86. Value: 550.0 revocation hearings (vs. 86 preliminary hearings) Tags: parole,operations,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 parolee population breakdown Georgia Releases in Georgia: 20,763. Out-of-State Releases in Georgia: 590. Georgia Releases Out of State: 2,242. Total Parolee Population: 23,595. Value: 23595.0 total parolee population Tags: demographics,parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 death case appeals considered In FY04 the Board considered the appeals of four death-sentenced inmates. Only one was commuted to a lesser sentence than death. Value: 4.0 death-sentenced inmates considered (vs. 1 commuted to lesser sentence) Tags: death,legal,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Death penalty commutations since 1976 From Georgia's reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 until the end of FY04, the Parole Board has considered 47 death-sentenced inmates. Eight have been commuted to a lesser sentence. Value: 47.0 death-sentenced inmates considered (vs. 8 commuted to lesser sentence) Tags: death,legal,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Elderly inmate healthcare cost burden Elderly inmates comprise almost ten percent of Georgia's inmate population but consume more than 31 percent of the state prison healthcare budget set aside for all inmates. Value: 31.0 percent of healthcare budget (vs. 10 percent of inmate population) Tags: medical,demographics,budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Elderly inmate population FY04 In FY04, inmates 50 or older made up 9.7% of the prison population (5,075 inmates) and consumed 31.5% of health care dollars spent for hospital and specialist care delivered outside the prison infirmary. Value: 5075.0 elderly inmates (vs. 9.7 percent of prison population) Tags: medical,demographics,budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Total parolee payments collected FY04 Total parolee payments collected in FY2004: $2,803,572, including $2,085,019 in monthly supervision fees, $508,285 in restitution, and $210,268 in victims compensation fund payments. Value: 2803572.0 dollars Tags: budget,victims,parole Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Daily parole supervision cost FY04 Daily parole supervision cost in FY2004 was $3.78 per day, compared to $47.49 per day for prison incarceration. Value: 3.78 dollars per day (vs. 47.49 prison cost per day) Tags: budget,parole,facilities Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] New parole officer graduates In FY04, ten new parole officers graduated from the agency's Basic Training Academy in Forsyth, Georgia at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC). Value: 10.0 new parole officers Tags: staffing,operations,training Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole violators arrested in FY04 During FY04 Georgia parole officers arrested 6,354 parole violators, averaging 530 arrests per month. Value: 6354.0 parole violators arrested (vs. 530 average arrests per month) Tags: parole,operations,supervision Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Cognitive skills program graduates In FY04, 389 parolees graduated from cognitive skills programs. Value: 389.0 parolees graduated Tags: reentry,programs,mental_health Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Substance abuse program completions In FY04, 1,925 parolees completed substance abuse programs. Value: 1925.0 parolees completed Tags: drugs,reentry,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Mental health counseling referrals In FY04, 2,743 parolees were required to attend mental health counseling. Value: 2743.0 parolees required to attend Tags: mental_health,reentry,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Female parole population by crime type Female parole population by crime type (Total = 2,525): Property 1,152 (46%), Drug Sales 431 (17%), Drug Possession 535 (21%), Violent 279 (11%), Sex 7 (0%), Other 104 (4%), HV/DUI 17 (1%). Value: 2525.0 female parolees Tags: demographics,parole,gender Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Male parole population by crime type Male parole population by crime type (Total = 20,480): Property 6,012 (29%), Drug Sales 4,699 (23%), Drug Possession 4,110 (20%), Violent 3,452 (17%), Sex 242 (1%), Other 1,588 (8%), HV/DUI 377 (2%). Value: 20480.0 male parolees Tags: demographics,parole,gender Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Electronic monitoring population increase During FY04, the Board increased the number of parolees on electronic monitoring from approximately 700 in June 2003, to 862 in July 2004. Value: 862.0 parolees on electronic monitoring (vs. 700 parolees in June 2003) Tags: operations,supervision,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Drug screening volume FY04 In FY04, more than 74,000 drug screens were completed on parolees throughout the state with 84 percent reporting negative for drug use. Value: 74000.0 drug screens completed (vs. 84 percent negative) Tags: drugs,supervision,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Drug testing episodes FY04 Total drug testing episodes in FY2004: 73,138. Negative: 60,650 (84%). Positive: 13,488 (16%). A test episode is 1 set of drug tests for 1 parolee on 1 day regardless of the number of tests conducted. Value: 73138.0 test episodes Tags: drugs,supervision,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole success rate FY04 Percentage of successful completions in FY2004 was 72%, exceeding the national average of 47% (BJS). Value: 72.0 percent successful completions (vs. 47 national average (BJS)) Tags: parole,reentry,recidivism Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Administrative cost percentage The Parole Board has maintained low administrative costs of eight percent of the agency's total budget, one of the lowest in state government. Value: 8.0 percent of total budget Tags: budget,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Parole officer caseload levels Parole officers supervised caseloads as high as 90 and above, helping parolees find jobs, providing substance abuse counseling and teaching classes to change their criminal thinking patterns. Value: 90.0 parolees per officer Tags: staffing,supervision,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] CJCC annual federal grant management Ms. Buckner joins the Parole Board after serving as Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), the agency that manages $30 million annually in federal grant money for criminal justice projects in Georgia. Value: 30000000.0 dollars annually Tags: budget,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 CASE DETAILS (8) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] G-8 Summit security deployment More than 250 Parole Board employees provided security for the historic G-8 Summit, held on Sea Island, Georgia from June 8-10, 2004. Parole officers, chief parole officers and others worked at prisoner processing sites, venue security, on intelligence details and tactical riot squads during the summit. Tags: operations,facilities,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY04 death case inmates The four inmates considered by the Board in FY04 were James Willie Brown, Eddie Albert Crawford, Willie James Hall and Robert Karl Hicks. Only Willie James Hall was granted executive clemency. The Parole Board commuted his sentence to life without parole on January 26, 2004. The other three inmates were executed. Tags: death,legal,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Nix appointment details Chairman Milton E. Nix, Jr. was appointed to the Parole Board in June 2002 to fill an interim term. He was reappointed to a full seven-year term in December 2002. Tags: operations,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice-Chairman Hunt appointment Vice-Chairman Garland Hunt, Esq. was appointed to the Parole Board in January 2004. Only one month later, Board Members elected Mr. Hunt Vice-Chairman of the Parole Board. Tags: operations,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Hammonds appointment Mr. Garfield Hammonds, Jr. of Atlanta was appointed in 1995 and reappointed in 2002. He served as chairman of the Board during 1996. Tags: operations,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Light appointment J. Michael Light was appointed to the Parole Board in July 2002, twenty-two years after joining the agency as a parole officer. Tags: operations,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Walker appointment Dr. Eugene Walker from DeKalb County was appointed to the Board in May 1999 and reappointed to a full seven-year term in December 1999. Tags: operations,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Buckner appointment On December 2, 2004 Governor Sonny Perdue announced that he will appoint L. Gale Buckner to the Parole Board. Subject to confirmation by the State Senate, Ms. Buckner begins her seven-year term as a Parole Board member on January 1, 2005. She succeeds Board Member J. Michael Light. Tags: operations,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 POLICYS (33) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Faith-based initiative video production The Board produced a 12-minute video that was distributed to faith-based organizations across the state to encourage member participation in the faith-based initiative. Tags: reentry,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Day Reporting Center program description The nine-month DRC program targets offenders in the community who are failing to abide by the conditions of their parole or probation, primarily due to drug use. Offenders are allowed to continue living with their families but required to spend all day at the center to attend intensive drug treatment, thinking and problem solving skills counseling, and job skills training. Offenders are drug-tested three times each week. Tags: drugs,reentry,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] New Day Reporting Centers planned for FY05 In FY05 new Day Reporting Centers will open in Jonesboro, Macon, Rome and Tifton. Tags: reentry,drugs,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] TPCI Initiative selection In March 2004, the State of Georgia was selected as one of nine states for participation in the Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative (TPCI), a federal/state partnership focusing on prisoner reentry into the community. Other states chosen include Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island and potentially the District of Columbia. Tags: reentry,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chief parole officer assessment center project In FY04 the Parole Board partnered with the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government to develop an assessment process for the position of chief parole officer. Tags: staffing,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] New managers training course The Board's personnel department established a training course for all new managers during FY04. The program is a three-module course designed to cover management basics, offered once each year. Tags: staffing,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Electronic interstate case transfer system The Interstate Compact Unit developed and adopted a process by which paperwork for interstate offenders can be transferred electronically to field offices and other states. The new electronic system is now being used as a model for similar cases across the country. Tags: operations,technology,transfers Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Tentative parole month process A favorable parole decision results in the Board establishing a 'tentative parole month' (TPM) for the inmate, contingent on positive progress reports and other information received during the intervening months or years. A tentative parole may be withdrawn by the Board at any time prior to the scheduled prison release date. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole consideration investigation process When an offender enters the prison system, parole investigators begin studying arrest and court records and talking with arresting officers, victims and witnesses to determine the details of the offender's crime. A parole investigator interviews the inmate in prison to gather information about personal history. A Board employee conducts interviews with family members, former employers and friends. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Crime severity levels in parole guidelines The crime severity level begins at level one with offenses such as shoplifting, to level seven, which includes crimes such as kidnapping or armed robbery. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board vote majority requirement Board members independently review the inmate's file. The file travels individually to each Board member until a majority of three agree upon the final parole determination. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Decision Guidelines implementation year Since 1979 the Parole Board has reviewed non-life sentence cases under 'Parole Decision Guidelines,' one of the country's first standardized methods of predicting an offender's success on parole. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole guidelines review in FY04 During FY04, the Board reviewed the Parole Decision Guidelines. Although no official guideline changes were made in FY04, over the next year, staff members plan to make recommendations on changes in the system to more accurately reflect current voting patterns. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 90 percent policy implementation In January 1998, the Parole Board implemented a new guideline policy that recommends inmates convicted of one of 20 violent crimes serve ninety percent of the court-imposed sentence before release to parole supervision. Tags: parole,policy,violence Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 90 percent policy deviation rationale In a small number of carefully selected cases, the Board voted to release the inmate prior to ninety percent so that the offender would have up to one year of supervision under the strict eye of a parole officer. Tags: parole,policy,supervision Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Elderly inmate population definition Georgia defines its 'elderly inmate' population as those who are 50 years of age or older. Tags: demographics,medical,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Medical reprieve process The Parole Board has the power to grant medical reprieves to inmates who are incapacitated due to age, a health condition, or a terminal illness. Department of Corrections medical staff recommend inmates for reprieve. In FY04, the Parole Board released 97 inmates on medical reprieve status. Tags: medical,clemency,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim compensation fee requirement Since 1991 the agency has required certain parolees to pay a victim compensation fee. The proceeds of this fee are deposited in the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Fund. Tags: victims,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Monthly supervision fee Releasees pay a $30 monthly supervision fee that goes to the state treasury's general fund. Tags: parole,policy,budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Field Division mission redefinition During FY04, the Parole Board's Field Division redefined its mission to 'safely transition offenders into the community,' refocusing field staff towards mission-critical efforts. Tags: operations,policy,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole officer training duration Parole officers spend eight weeks studying defensive tactics, constitutional law, supervision techniques, victims' rights and other subjects. Tags: staffing,training,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole officer POST certification Graduates of the rigorous training are certified by the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Council to serve as Georgia Peace Officers sworn to protect the public. Tags: staffing,training,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole officer education requirements All parole officers have four-year college degrees and are P.O.S.T. certified peace officers. Tags: staffing,training,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Substance abuse services RFP At the end of FY04, the Parole Board issued a request for proposals for parolee substance abuse services to obtain one statewide vendor (or up to six regional vendors) to deliver outpatient substance abuse services to offenders identified by the Board. Tags: drugs,reentry,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] TAPP program for mentally ill parolees During FY04, parole officers referred increasing numbers of parolees to the Treatment and Aftercare for Probationers and Parolees (TAPP) program, specializing in treatment for mentally ill offenders. TAPP provides case managers for mentally ill offenders who facilitate mental health treatment, find funding for medication, and help offenders find appropriate housing and other support services. Tags: mental_health,reentry,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Electronic monitoring contract In August 2003, using the state's competitive bid process, the Board contracted with ADT Security Services to supply electronic monitoring devices at a cost of $2.80 per day per parolee. These costs are paid by the offender. Tags: operations,policy,supervision,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GPS electronic monitoring pilot project At the end of FY04, the Board began the bidding process for a pilot project to evaluate Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) electronic monitoring in ten cities across the state. Implementation of the program is scheduled for FY05. Tags: operations,supervision,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GPS electronic monitoring evaluation The Board began testing new electronic monitoring equipment using global positioning satellite (GPS) in October 2004. The evaluation period will end in October 2005. A criminal justice professor with Georgia State University will prepare an independent recommendation on the future use of GPS electronic monitoring. Tags: operations,supervision,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Parole guidelines revision planned for FY05 In FY05, the Board plans to complete revisions to the parole guidelines system adjusting crime severity levels and time-to-serve recommendations to more accurately reflect current Board decisions. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Day Reporting Center expansion FY05 The Parole Board will partner with the Department of Corrections in FY05 to expand the day reporting center concept to three new cities: Jonesboro, Macon and Rome. Tags: reentry,drugs,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] New database for parole records During FY05, the Parole Board will begin the process of moving its portfolio of applications from Lotus Notes to a web based application. This long term project is expected to decrease future equipment costs and allow applications to be shared more easily with other agencies. Tags: operations,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Personnel assessment center FY05 During FY05 the Carl Vinson Institute of Government will begin the work of a job task analysis for the position of chief parole officer. The institute will help the Board develop criteria and procedures for using the assessment center to evaluate applicants for job promotions and new hires. Tags: staffing,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] New web site planned for FY05 The Board plans to revamp its web site during FY05, bringing popular components such as the Parolee Database, Contact Registry, Pardon Application, Parole laws and rules, and the Victim Impact form to the forefront for easier navigation. Tags: operations,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 TRENDS (3) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Parole population stability trend At the close of FY04, the parolee population stood at 23,595. While the inmate population has grown each year since 1992, the parole population has remained stable or has slightly fallen. Tags: demographics,parole,trends Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole population exceeds prison population in early 1990s In the early 1990s, the parole total exceeded the prison population. By FY2004, the prison total was more than double the parole population. Tags: demographics,trends,facilities Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole success rate trend Over the last seven years the Georgia Parole Board's success rate has exceeded the national average by 14% or more. In FY03 the Board began to apply a stricter measure of 'parolee success,' excluding from successful outcomes those parolees in county jail or on absconder status at the expiration of their parole period. Tags: parole,reentry,recidivism,trends Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 DATASETS (11) ---------------------------------------- # Parole Board Expenditures FY1998-FY2004 Annual Parole Board expenditures from FY1998 through FY2004, showing a declining trend in funding. Fiscal Year Expenditures --------------------------- FY1998 45805389 FY1999 47890920 FY2000 49133580 FY2001 50837957 FY2002 51448774 FY2003 49027202 FY2004 47434074.69 # Georgia Correctional Population by Crime Type FY2004 Breakdown of Georgia's correctional population (probation, inmate, parole) by crime type for FY2004. Crime Type Probation Probation Percent Inmate Inmate Percent Parole Parole Percent Total ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Violent 19578 43 21860 48 3731 8 45169 Sex 5859 46 6687 52 249 2 12795 Property 46681 73 10289 16 7164 11 64134 Drug Sales 9599 52 3818 21 5130 28 18547 Drug Possession 34939 81 3562 8 4645 11 43146 Habitual Violator / D.U.I. 2678 79 313 9 394 12 3385 Other 9532 72 2094 16 1692 13 13318 Total 128866 64 48623 24 23005 11 200494 # FY2004 Prison Releases by Crime Type Comparison of parole releases and prison max-outs by crime type in FY2004. Crime Type Parole Releases Prison Max-outs --------------------------------------------------- Violent 1776 1580 Sex 130 602 Property 4580 1838 Drug Sales 1988 245 Drug Possession 2702 630 HV / DUI 230 78 Other 1183 355 # Prison Population, Parole Population and Prison Releases FY1991-FY2004 Longitudinal data showing prison population, parole population, board releases, and max-outs from FY1991 to FY2004. Fiscal Year Prison Population Parole Population Board Releases Max-outs ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY1991 23005 16772 2397 FY1992 23302 FY1993 FY1994 FY1995 FY1996 FY1997 FY1998 FY1999 FY2000 FY2001 FY2002 FY2003 FY2004 48623 23595 12589 5328 # Inmates Serving a Life Sentence FY1993-FY2004 Annual admits and population of inmates serving life sentences in Georgia from FY1993 to FY2004. Fiscal Year Admits Population --------------------------------- FY1993 357 3604 FY1994 366 3970 FY1995 417 4387 FY1996 450 4837 FY1997 271 5108 FY1998 257 5365 FY1999 317 5682 FY2000 195 5877 FY2001 130 6007 FY2002 271 6071 FY2003 267 6161 FY2004 323 6272 # Inmates 50 Years of Age and Older 1993-2004 Population of inmates aged 50 and older in Georgia prisons from 1993 to 2004. Year Inmates 50+ ------------------- 1993 1365 1994 1566 1995 1838 1996 2009 1997 2274 1998 2480 1999 3050 2000 3426 2001 3948 2002 4379 2003 4441 2004 5075 # Cost Comparison: Parole Supervision vs. Prison Incarceration FY1999-FY2004 Daily cost comparison between parole supervision and prison incarceration from FY1999 to FY2004. Fiscal Year Prison Cost per Day Parole Cost per Day ------------------------------------------------------- FY1999 47.68 2.5 FY2000 49.82 2.7 FY2001 49.59 2.91 FY2002 48.65 2.9 FY2003 47.49 2.8 FY2004 47.49 3.78 # Parole Success Rate FY1998-FY2004 Percentage of successful parole completions from FY1998 to FY2004 compared to national average. Fiscal Year Success Rate --------------------------- FY1998 61 FY1999 64 FY2000 68 FY2001 68 FY2002 72 FY2003 61 FY2004 61 # Parolee Payments in FY2004 Breakdown of parolee payments collected in FY2004 by payment type. Payment Type Amount ------------------------------------ Monthly Supervision Fee 2085019 Restitution 508285 Victims Compensation Fund 210268 # 90% Service Policy Case Processing Distribution of 90% service policy cases processed from January 1998 through June 30, 2004. Category Cases Percent -------------------------------------------- Serve 100% of sentence 5057 37 Serve between 90% and 100% 768 6 Serve 90% of sentence 6613 48 Serve less than 90% 352 3 # Agency Employee Age Distribution Age distribution of Parole Board employees in FY2004 (Total = 729). Age Range Percent -------------------- 20-24 1 25-29 9 30-34 14 35-39 14 40-44 14 45-49 13 50-54 13 55-59 10 60-64 4 65-69 1 KEY ENTITIES (29) ---------------------------------------- - ADT Security Services [organization]: Company awarded the electronic monitoring contract in July 2003 at $2.80 per parolee per day. (aka: ADT) - Atlanta Day Reporting Center [facility]: Project of the Parole Board and the Department of Corrections offering intensive and holistic intervention for probationers and parolees. - Bureau of Justice Statistics [organization]: Federal statistical agency within DOJ that collected and published mortality in correctional institutions data from approximately 2000 until 2019. (aka: BJS) - Carl Vinson Institute of Government [organization]: An organization that delivered training to Board members during FY2022. - Criminal Justice Coordinating Council [organization]: Georgia state agency administering the Crime Victims Compensation Program (aka: CJCC) - Eddie Albert Crawford [person]: Death-sentenced inmate considered by the Parole Board in FY04. Executed after clemency was denied. - Eugene Walker [person]: Member of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Appointed May 6, 1999, reappointed December 31, 1999. Former State Senator and Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice. (aka: Dr. Eugene Walker) - G-8 Summit [operation]: International summit held on Sea Island, Georgia from June 8-10, 2004. More than 250 Parole Board employees provided security. (aka: 2004 G-8 Summit) - Garfield Hammonds, Jr. [person]: Board Member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Appointed in 1995 and reappointed in 2002. Former DEA Special Agent and Special Agent in Charge of the Southeast Region. Served as Board chairman during 1996. (aka: Mr. Hammonds) - Garland R. Hunt [person]: Board Member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Appointed in January 2004. Served as Board Chairman from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008. Attorney and ordained minister. (aka: Garland R. Hunt, Esq., Mr. Hunt) - Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Fund [program]: Fund that receives victim compensation fees paid by violent-crime offenders and provides payment to those personally impacted by crime. (aka: Crime Victims Compensation Fund, Victims Compensation Fund) - Georgia Department of Corrections [organization]: State agency responsible for operating Georgia's prison system. Subject of federal DOJ investigation in 2022-2023 for constitutional violations including food-related deaths. (aka: GDC) - Georgia General Assembly [organization]: Georgia state legislature. Has not advanced legislation to address prison labor compensation or remove the state's slavery exception. A two-thirds vote in both chambers would be required to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. - Georgia Public Safety Training Center [organization]: State training center providing the basic coroner training course required within 180 days of election. (aka: GPSTC) - Georgia State University [organization]: University where the Georgia Innocence Project is based. - Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision [organization]: Commission responsible for creating and upholding rules governing interstate transfer of adult offender supervision. Comprises all 50 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. (aka: ICAOS) - J. Michael Light [person]: Parole Board member appointed July 3, 2002. Joined the agency as a parole officer in 1980 and rose to chief parole officer, research manager, and public information director. - James Willie Brown [person]: Death-sentenced inmate considered by the Parole Board in FY04. Executed after clemency was denied. - L. Gale Buckner [person]: Board Member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, appointed January 2005 by Governor Sonny Perdue. Served as Vice Chair and as Chair from July 2008 until June 30, 2010. Former Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and former GBI agent. (aka: Board Member L. Gale Buckner, Ms. Buckner) - Milton E. Nix, Jr. [person]: Board Member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Appointed in June 2002 to fill an interim term, then appointed to a full seven year term in December 2002. Served as Board Chairman from 2002 to 2006. Former FBI Special Agent and GBI Director. (aka: Buddy Nix, Mr. Nix) - Office of Victim Services [organization]: Joint office of the Department of Corrections and State Board of Pardons and Paroles serving victims of crime and their families. (aka: Victim Services) - Peace Officers Standards and Training Council [organization]: Council that certifies graduates of parole officer training to serve as Georgia Peace Officers. (aka: POST Council, POST) - Robert Karl Hicks [person]: Death-sentenced inmate considered by the Parole Board in FY04. Executed after clemency was denied. - Sonny Perdue [person]: Former Governor of Georgia who appointed Terry Barnard to the Parole Board and Brian Owens as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections. (aka: Governor Perdue) - State Board of Pardons and Paroles [organization]: Georgia state entity that serves as a reporting entity for sexual abuse allegations in prisons - TAPP [program]: Interagency cooperative program providing case managers who facilitate access to community mental health treatment for mentally disordered offenders upon release from incarceration. (aka: Treatment and Aftercare for Probationers and Parolees) - Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative [program]: Federal/state partnership focusing on prisoner reentry. Georgia was selected as one of nine states in March 2004. (aka: TPCI) - U.S. Department of Justice [organization]: Federal agency that published October 2024 findings report on unconstitutional conditions in Georgia prisons. (aka: DOJ) - Willie James Hall [person]: Death-sentenced inmate granted executive clemency by the Parole Board on January 26, 2004. Sentence commuted to life without parole. SOURCES (1) ---------------------------------------- - State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024, State Board of Pardons and Paroles by State Board of Pardons and Paroles (2024-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://pap.georgia.gov