GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: BOPP Annual Report FY2022 โ€” Georgia Parole Board ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak โ€” gps.press Generated: 2026-08-25 09:03:54 EDT Research Date: 2026-08-13 Topic: Parole JSON: https://gps.press/research-data/bopp-annual-report-fy2022-georgia-parole-board/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles FY2022 Annual Report documents the Board's exercise of executive clemency authority, including the release of 6,245 offenders on parole, a 73% parole completion rate exceeding the national average, and an estimated $376 million in annual cost avoidance to the state. The report highlights the Board's data-driven decision-making processes, the implementation of Victim Impact Sessions, and the continued operation of the Georgia Parole Evidence-based Data System (GPEDS). Key trends include declining parole releases and revocations compared to prior fiscal years, alongside increased life sentence time served averages. STATISTICS (119) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Releases Total During FY22, the Parole Board released 6,245 offenders from prison through various clemency actions. Value: 6245.0 offenders Tags: parole,releases,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Release Decrease from FY21 The FY22 total of 6,245 parole releases represented 2,389 fewer parole board-initiated releases from the previous fiscal year. Value: 2389.0 fewer releases (vs. 8634 FY21 releases) Tags: parole,releases,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Clemency Votes Cast In FY22, the five Board Members made a total of 51,243 votes, representing all Board decisions requiring a vote and multiple votes or decisions for each offender case during the fiscal year. Value: 51243.0 votes Tags: operations,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Inmate Cases Considered The total number of parole eligible offender cases considered by the Board Members during the fiscal year was 13,967. Value: 13967.0 cases Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Success Rate Georgia's percentage of parolees successfully completing parole in FY22 was 73%. Value: 73.0 percent Tags: parole,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [estimated] National Parole Success Rate Estimate The national average parole success rate was estimated to be approximately 57% according to the report. Value: 57.0 percent (vs. 73 Georgia success rate) Tags: parole,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] National Parole Success Rate per Center for Effective Public Policy The Georgia success rate of 73% outpaced the overall national average of 63% according to Richard Stroker, Center for Effective Public Policy. Value: 63.0 percent (vs. 73 Georgia success rate) Tags: parole,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [estimated] FY22 Annual Cost Avoidance The annual estimated cost avoidance to the state, due to offenders being under parole supervision as opposed to housing them in a state prison, was more than $376 million for FY22. Value: 376000000.0 dollars Tags: budget,parole,cost_avoidance Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] FY21 Annual Cost Avoidance The annual cost avoidance to the prison system because of offenders serving their sentence on parole was $404 million in FY21. Value: 404000000.0 dollars Tags: budget,parole,cost_avoidance Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] FY20 Annual Cost Avoidance The annual cost avoidance to the prison system because of offenders serving their sentence on parole was $399 million in FY20. Value: 399000000.0 dollars Tags: budget,parole,cost_avoidance Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] FY19 Annual Cost Avoidance The annual cost avoidance to the prison system because of offenders serving their sentence on parole was $433 million in FY19. Value: 433000000.0 dollars Tags: budget,parole,cost_avoidance Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] FY18 Annual Cost Avoidance The annual cost avoidance to the prison system because of offenders serving their sentence on parole was $450 million in FY18. Value: 450000000.0 dollars Tags: budget,parole,cost_avoidance Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Incarceration Cost Per Day The FY22 cost per day to incarcerate a state inmate in Georgia was $62.23, based on the most recent Georgia Department of Corrections' cost per day. Value: 62.23 dollars per day Tags: budget,incarceration Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Supervision Cost Per Day The FY22 community supervision cost per day for parole was $2.22. Value: 2.22 dollars per day (vs. 62.23 Incarceration cost per day) Tags: budget,parole Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Offender Files Initialized In FY22, 16,175 offender files were initiated for consideration by the Clemency Division. Value: 16175.0 files Tags: operations,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 GPEDS Notifications Generated For FY22, 42,290 notifications (all types) were generated by GPEDS. Value: 42290.0 notifications Tags: operations,notifications Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Preconditions to Parole Imposed There were 3,053 preconditions to parole imposed by the Board on inmates during the fiscal year. Value: 3053.0 preconditions Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 PIC Points Granted In FY22, the Parole Board members granted 30,313 PIC or PIC points to state inmates who had earned them by completing specific programming and work details. Value: 30313.0 PIC points Tags: programs,reentry,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY21 PIC Points Granted In FY21, the Parole Board members granted 36,257 PIC or PIC points to state inmates. Value: 36257.0 PIC points Tags: programs,reentry,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY20 PIC Points Granted In FY20, the Parole Board members granted 39,374 PIC or PIC points to state inmates. Value: 39374.0 PIC points Tags: programs,reentry,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY19 PIC Points Granted In FY19, the Parole Board members granted 37,012 PIC or PIC points to state inmates. Value: 37012.0 PIC points Tags: programs,reentry,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY18 PIC Points Granted In FY18, the Parole Board members granted 35,839 PIC or PIC points to state inmates. Value: 35839.0 PIC points Tags: programs,reentry,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Second Solicitation Notifications Sent In FY22, 2,081 second solicitations/notifications were sent to judges and prosecutors regarding offenders convicted of serious felonies. Value: 2081.0 notifications Tags: notifications,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 90-Day Notifications Sent In FY22, the Board sent 90-day notifications in 168 cases for serious violent felonies. Value: 168.0 cases Tags: notifications,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Pardon Notifications to District Attorneys During FY22, the Parole Board sent 751 notifications to district attorneys regarding ex-offenders applying for pardons. Value: 751.0 notifications Tags: pardon,notifications Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Pardon and Restoration Applications Received In FY22, 1,184 pardon and restoration of rights applications were received. Value: 1184.0 applications Tags: pardon,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Pardon and Restoration Applications Granted In FY22, 545 pardon and restoration of rights applications were granted (all types). Value: 545.0 applications Tags: pardon,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Pardon Application Decrease There were 207 fewer pardon and restoration of rights applications received during FY22 compared to the previous year. Value: 207.0 fewer applications Tags: pardon,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Clemency Investigations Completed In FY22, the clemency investigators completed 33,247 investigations for the Parole Board. Value: 33247.0 investigations Tags: operations,investigations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Final Reviews Completed In FY22, 9,393 final reviews were completed by CAU hearing examiners. Value: 9393.0 reviews Tags: operations,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Risk Level Rating Accuracy For FY22, CAU audits revealed 99.6% accuracy in rating on Risk Levels. Value: 99.6 percent Tags: operations,audit Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Crime Severity Level Rating Accuracy For FY22, CAU audits revealed 97.3% accuracy in rating on CSL (crime severity levels). Value: 97.3 percent Tags: operations,audit Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Cases Resubmitted After CAU Audits 13 cases were required to be resubmitted to the Board following CAU audits in FY22. Value: 13.0 cases Tags: operations,audit Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Life Sentence Cases Considered In FY22, 1,884 life sentenced cases were considered for parole. Value: 1884.0 cases Tags: life_sentence,parole Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Life Sentence Cases Granted In FY22, 162 life sentence cases were granted parole, including 118 SVF life sentence cases. Value: 162.0 cases Tags: life_sentence,parole Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Life Sentence Cases Denied In FY22, 1,722 life sentence cases were denied parole. Value: 1722.0 cases Tags: life_sentence,parole Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Serious Violent Felony Lifers Granted/Released Lifers serving for a Serious Violent Felony Granted/Released in FY22 numbered 118. Value: 118.0 offenders Tags: life_sentence,parole Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Average Time Served for Life Sentences In FY 2022, the average time served on a life sentence prior to a release was 28 years. Value: 28.0 years Tags: life_sentence,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] 2010 Average Time Served for Life Sentences By 2010, the average time served on a life sentence prior to a release was nearly 20 years. Value: 20.0 years Date: 2010-01-01 Tags: life_sentence,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] 2000 Average Time Served for Life Sentences By the year 2000, the average time served on a life sentence prior to release had increased to more than 15 years. Value: 15.0 years Date: 2000-01-01 Tags: life_sentence,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] 1973 Average Time Served for Life Sentences In 1973, life-sentenced inmates convicted of serious violent felonies served less than nine years in prison, on average, before being released from prison. Value: 9.0 years Date: 1973-01-01 Tags: life_sentence,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Guideline Cases Considered In FY22, 8,460 guideline cases were considered by the Board. Value: 8460.0 cases Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Short Sentence Cases Considered In FY22, 3,623 short sentence cases were considered by the Board. Value: 3623.0 cases Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Certificates Issued In FY22, 4,666 parole certificates were issued. Value: 4666.0 certificates Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Out-of-State Parole Orders In FY22, 252 out-of-state parole orders were issued. Value: 252.0 orders Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Conditional Transfers In FY22, 759 conditional transfers were made. Value: 759.0 transfers Tags: transfers,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Out-of-State Conditional Transfers In FY22, 139 out-of-state conditional transfers were made. Value: 139.0 transfers Tags: transfers,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Supervised Reprieves In FY22, 374 supervised reprieves were granted. Value: 374.0 reprieves Tags: clemency,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Out-of-State Supervised Reprieves In FY22, 3 out-of-state supervised reprieves were granted. Value: 3.0 reprieves Tags: clemency,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Commutations In FY22, 0 commutations were granted. Value: 0.0 commutations Tags: clemency,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Medical Reprieves In FY22, 11 medical reprieves were granted. Value: 11.0 reprieves Tags: medical,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Out-of-State ICE Orders In FY22, 41 out-of-state ICE orders were issued. Value: 41.0 orders Tags: ICE,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Total Discharges from Parole In FY22, 6,354 offenders were discharged from parole. Value: 6354.0 offenders Tags: parole,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Total Guidelines Decisions In FY22, 8,460 total guidelines decisions were made. Value: 8460.0 decisions Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Restoration of Civil and Political Rights Granted In FY22, 133 restorations of civil and political rights were granted. Value: 133.0 restorations Tags: pardon,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Pardon Grants In FY22, 412 pardons were granted. Value: 412.0 pardons Tags: pardon,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Population Start The population of offenders on parole under community supervision was 19,828 on July 1, 2021. Value: 19828.0 offenders Date: 2021-07-01 Tags: parole,population Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Population End The population of offenders on parole under community supervision was 17,744 on June 30, 2022. Value: 17744.0 offenders Date: 2022-06-30 Tags: parole,population Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Cumulative Parole Supervision Population The cumulative number of offenders under parole supervision during the fiscal year was 26,566. Value: 26566.0 offenders Tags: parole,population Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Warrants Issued In FY22, a total of 4,851 warrants were issued by the Parole Board. Value: 4851.0 warrants Tags: parole,warrants Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Warrants Entered into GCIC/NCIC In FY22, the GCIC Unit entered 3,091 warrants into the GCIC/NCIC system. Value: 3091.0 warrants Tags: warrants,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Revocations During FY22, the Board revoked 1,825 parole violators returning the offenders to prison to serve their sentences in confinement. Value: 1825.0 revocations Tags: parole,revocations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Parole Revocation Decrease The number of parole revocations decreased by 548 from the previous fiscal year. Value: 548.0 fewer revocations (vs. 2373 FY21 revocations) Tags: parole,revocations,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Technical Violation Revocation Percentage Of the FY22 total number of revocations, less than 1% of those revoked were revoked based on technical violations which include drug use, curfew violations, or failure to pay fines and fees. Value: 1.0 percent Tags: parole,revocations,technical_violations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Final Revocation Hearings Conducted Parole Board Members conducted 321 final revocation hearings during FY22. Value: 321.0 hearings Tags: parole,revocations,hearings Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 SB174 Commutation Cases Considered During FY 2022, the Parole Board considered 1,132 cases for commutation under SB174. Value: 1132.0 cases Tags: commutation,legislation Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 SB174 Commutations Granted During FY 2022, the Parole Board commuted sixteen (16) cases under SB174 that met the strict criteria of the Board. Value: 16.0 cases Tags: commutation,legislation Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Out-of-State Supervision Releases During FY22, the Interstate Compact Unit released 273 offenders to out-of-state supervision. Value: 273.0 offenders Tags: transfers,interstate_compact Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Georgia Offenders Under Out-of-State Parole Supervision As of June 30, 2022, there were 2,313 Georgia offenders under active parole supervision in Compact states. Value: 2313.0 offenders Date: 2022-06-30 Tags: transfers,interstate_compact Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Out-of-State Offenders Under Parole Supervision in Georgia As of June 30, 2022, there were 1,484 other Compact state offenders on parole supervision in Georgia. Value: 1484.0 offenders Date: 2022-06-30 Tags: transfers,interstate_compact Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 ICE Rapid REPAT Releases Via the ICE Rapid REPAT Program, forty-three (43) foreign national offenders were released to ICE for deportation at an estimated cost avoidance of $7,904,267.91. Value: 43.0 offenders Tags: ICE,deportation,cost_avoidance Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [estimated] FY22 ICE Rapid REPAT Cost Avoidance The estimated cost avoidance from the ICE Rapid REPAT Program releases was $7,904,267.91. Value: 7904267.91 dollars Tags: ICE,deportation,cost_avoidance Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Documents Scanned During FY22, 33,446 documents were scanned into the case management systems (Portal, GPEDS and TRIM system) utilized by the Board. Value: 33446.0 documents Tags: operations,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Active Lifer Files Scanned There were 327 active lifer offender parole files scanned during FY22. Value: 327.0 files Tags: operations,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Archived Files Imaged There were 4,930 archived files imaged during FY22. Value: 4930.0 files Tags: operations,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [estimated] Archived Files Remaining to Be Imaged There are approximately 148,991 archived files remaining to be imaged. Value: 148991.0 files Tags: operations,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 New Direction Recovery Program Referrals For FY22, thirty-six (36) parolees were referred to the New Direction Recovery Program. Value: 36.0 parolees Tags: programs,substance_abuse,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 New Direction Recovery Program Graduates As of June 30, 2022, forty-nine (49) parolees had graduated from the New Direction Recovery Program during the fiscal year and were returned to parole supervision. Value: 49.0 parolees Tags: programs,substance_abuse,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Phone Calls Handled In FY22, 9,024 phone calls from victims were fielded by staff. Value: 9024.0 calls Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Correspondence Sent In FY22, 22,602 outgoing correspondences were sent to victims in response to concerns. Value: 22602.0 correspondences Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Correspondence Received In FY22, 8,142 correspondences were received from victims and filed with the office. Value: 8142.0 correspondences Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 New GA-V.I.P. Registrants For FY22, there were 2,555 new GA-V.I.P. registrants. Value: 2555.0 registrants Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 GA-V.I.P. Victim Calls Logged For FY22, 3,271 phone calls from victims were logged into the GA-V.I.P. system. Value: 3271.0 calls Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 GA-V.I.P. Calls Made to Victims For FY22, the GA-V.I.P. system made 2,033 calls to victims. Value: 2033.0 calls Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Impact Sessions Conducted In FY22, two Victim Impact Sessions were conducted, one in Gainesville and the other in Brunswick. Value: 2.0 sessions Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Full-Time Employees The State Board of Pardons and Paroles had 170 full-time employees in FY22. Value: 170.0 employees Tags: staffing,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Female Employees The State Board of Pardons and Paroles had 145 female full-time employees in FY22. Value: 145.0 employees Tags: staffing,demographics Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Male Employees The State Board of Pardons and Paroles had 25 male full-time employees in FY22. Value: 25.0 employees Tags: staffing,demographics Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Asian Employees The State Board of Pardons and Paroles had 3 Asian full-time employees in FY22. Value: 3.0 employees Tags: staffing,demographics Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Black Employees The State Board of Pardons and Paroles had 94 Black full-time employees in FY22. Value: 94.0 employees Tags: staffing,demographics Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 White Employees The State Board of Pardons and Paroles had 73 White full-time employees in FY22. Value: 73.0 employees Tags: staffing,demographics Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Sworn Staff Training Hours Sworn staff completed 3,870 training hours in FY22. Value: 3870.0 hours Tags: training,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Non-Sworn Staff Training Hours Non-sworn staff completed 907 training hours in FY22. Value: 907.0 hours Tags: training,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Training Hours Delivered by Parole Training Office The Parole Training Office delivered 641 training hours in FY22. Value: 641.0 hours Tags: training,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Total Expenditures Total expenditures for FY22 were $17,713,201.32. Value: 17713201.32 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Personal Services Expenditures Personal Services expenditures for FY22 were $15,298,634. Value: 15298634.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Regular Operating Expenses Regular Operating Expenses for FY22 were $875,779. Value: 875779.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Motor Vehicles Expenditures Motor Vehicles expenditures for FY22 were $75,072. Value: 75072.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Computer Charges Computer Charges for FY22 were $230,517. Value: 230517.0 dollars Tags: budget,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Real Estate Rentals Real Estate Rentals for FY22 were $419,927. Value: 419927.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Telecommunications Expenditures Telecommunications expenditures for FY22 were $160,493. Value: 160493.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Contracts Expenditures Contracts expenditures for FY22 were $572,434. Value: 572434.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 County Jail Subsidy County Jail Subsidy for FY22 was $68,745. Value: 68745.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Equipment Expenditures Equipment expenditures for FY22 were $11,600. Value: 11600.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Board Administration Budget The FY22 budget for Board Administration was $2,193,325.00. Value: 2193325.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Board Administration Expenditures The FY22 expenditures for Board Administration were $2,149,354.54. Value: 2149354.54 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Clemency Decisions Budget The FY22 budget for Clemency Decisions was $14,931,751.00. Value: 14931751.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Clemency Decisions Expenditures The FY22 expenditures for Clemency Decisions were $14,919,374.22. Value: 14919374.22 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Services Budget The FY22 budget for Victim Services was $678,895.00. Value: 678895.0 dollars Tags: budget,victims Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Services Expenditures The FY22 expenditures for Victim Services were $644,472.56. Value: 644472.56 dollars Tags: budget,victims Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 State Funds Expenditures State Funds expenditures for FY22 were $17,513,475.25. Value: 17513475.25 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Federal Funds Expenditures Federal Funds expenditures for FY22 were $149,083.50. Value: 149083.5 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Other Funds Expenditures Other Funds expenditures for FY22 were $50,642.57. Value: 50642.57 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Total Budget The total FY22 budget was $17,803,971.00. Value: 17803971.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [estimated] Georgia Inmate Population Approximately 49,000 Today, with an inmate population at approximately 49,000, the Board still consists of five voting members. Value: 49000.0 inmates Tags: population,incarceration Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] 1973 Georgia Prison Population In 1973, as the prison population rose to 9,000, the Constitution was amended to increase the Board to five members. Value: 9000.0 inmates Date: 1973-01-01 Tags: population,incarceration,history Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Clemency Investigators Staffing Fifty-nine (59) investigators work in the Clemency Division. Thirty-eight (38) investigators are assigned to the field and predominantly complete post sentence investigations and profiles for all offenders sentenced by Georgia courts. Ten (10) investigators are assigned to work within the prisons to conduct personal history statements on inmates during the diagnostic process. Value: 59.0 investigators Tags: staffing,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] P.O.S.T. Certified Criminal Investigators The Board has eleven (11) P.O.S.T. certified criminal investigators who conduct face-to-face interviews of inmates serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole and interview all former offenders who are applying for restoration of civil and political rights, a pardon, or a pardon with firearm restoration. Value: 11.0 investigators Tags: staffing,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] District Operations Managers Staffing The district operations managers are assigned to the ten (10) Judicial Districts in the state of Georgia. Value: 10.0 districts Tags: staffing,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 POLICYS (140) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] FY22 $5,000 Pay Increase FY22 budget highlights included funds to provide a $5,000 pay increase for full-time, benefit-eligible state employees to address agency recruitment and retention needs. Tags: budget,staffing,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Hearings Not Held Parole hearings are not held. However, each offender entering the Georgia prison system is interviewed by parole staff. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Life Sentence Reconsideration Policy If parole is denied to an inmate serving life, the Board, by policy, will reconsider the case again at least once every eight years. Tags: life_sentence,parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System In most cases, the Board's Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System is applied which includes a time-to-serve recommendation. The guidelines account for the severity of the crime and the offender's risk to reoffend. Tags: parole,policy,guidelines Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY21 Guidelines Changes Changes to the guidelines were approved by the Parole Board for fiscal year 2021. The Board increased the crime severity levels (CSL) for several offenses. Several offenses were raised from a level seven CSL to a level eight. Tags: parole,policy,guidelines Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GPEDS Electronic Case Management The process of preparing a case for consideration by the Board is completed electronically in GPEDS (Georgia Parole Evidence-based Data System). The Parole Board has eliminated the production of paper files and continues imaging remaining paper files. Tags: technology,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Performance Incentive Credit Program The Georgia Department of Corrections operates an inmate Performance Incentive Credit (PIC) program. By completing rehabilitative programming while incarcerated, state inmates can work toward an earlier possible parole release. Each PIC point equals one month that a TPM can be changed to an earlier date. Tags: programs,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Sessions Implemented Victim Impact Sessions (VIS) were implemented during FY 2022. These sessions allow victims whose offender is within twelve to eighteen months of parole consideration to discuss their case in a close-knit setting with a Board Member, a GOVS staff member, and a senior hearing examiner. Tags: victims,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Offender Dialogue Program Paused In FY22, Victim Offender Dialogue sessions were paused due to the pandemic. Training of facilitators continued as staff from multiple agencies received VOD program training. Tags: victims,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Support Partners Program Paused The Victim Support Partners (VSPs) program was paused during FY22 because of the pandemic. Tags: victims,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] New Direction Recovery Program The New Direction Recovery Program located at the Treutlen Probation Detention Center is an intensive addiction program for parolees who are both higher risk and higher need offenders who were not successful in community-based treatment and supervision. The Parole Board utilizes the program as an alternative to revocation for some offenders. Tags: programs,substance_abuse,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Tentative Parole Month Not a Release Date The Tentative Parole Month or 'tentative grant' can be rescinded at any time. The TPM is not a release date or a final parole release decision. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] District Operations Managers P.O.S.T. Training Requirement District operations managers are required to complete twenty (20) hours of P.O.S.T. training each year. The training includes weapons requalification. Tags: training,policy,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Sworn Staff Annual Training Requirement Sworn staff must complete a minimum of 20 hours annually which includes mandatory firearms requalification, use of deadly force and De-escalation and Community Policing training. Tags: training,policy,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Non-Sworn Staff Annual Training Requirement Non-sworn staff must complete a minimum of eight hours of training annually. Tags: training,policy,staffing Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] CAU On-Call 24/7 CAU personnel are on call 24-hours a day, seven days a week, assisting the Clemency Division with operations and responses to critical incidents and major investigations involving parole eligible offenders housed in the Georgia Department of Corrections. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] CAU Collaborates on Security Threat Groups The Critical Analysis Unit collaborates with the Georgia Department of Corrections regarding Security Threat Groups (STG), gang offenders, offenders with Immigration and Customs detainers and those offenders who are classified with medical requirements in order to provide Parole Board Members with critical case information prior to the parole decision. Tags: gangs,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Interstate Compact Membership The State Board of Pardons and Paroles, in FY22, was a member of the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision (ICAOS). ICAOS comprises all fifty (50) states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. Tags: interstate_compact,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Support Partners Composition Victim Support Partners (VSPs) is a statewide network of crime victims who are registered with the Georgia Office of Victim Services. This group consists of eleven (11) victim-volunteers who give their time to assist, guide, and comfort other crime victims during the post-conviction process. Tags: victims,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Offender Dialogue Victim-Initiated VOD can only be initiated by the victim. Additionally, the offender must agree to participate, and must acknowledge his/her role in the crime and that he/she will not receive special consideration by the Board for participating. Tags: victims,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GA-V.I.P. 24-Hour Automated System The Georgia Victim Information Program, GA-V.I.P., is a 24-hour automated information system providing registered crime victims and/or their family members with access to information about the offender. Tags: victims,policy,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GOVS Represents Three State Agencies Three state agencies are represented by the Georgia Office of Victim Services. They are the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Community Supervision. Tags: victims,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Revocation Hearings via Video Conferencing Parole revocation hearings are conducted from the Board's central office in Atlanta via video conferencing or in person at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson. Use of this technology has reduced travel costs for all three agencies involved in the process. Tags: parole,revocations,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Full-Time State Employees Board Members are full-time state employees from various professions including criminal justice and private business. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Offender Cases Not Discussed at Monthly Meetings Offender cases are not discussed, and parole decisions are not made at the monthly Board Meetings. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Life Sentence Guidelines Not Applied The guidelines are not applied to life sentence reviews. The Board maintains a comprehensive parole file in each case and the members review each case thoroughly before voting to grant or deny parole. Tags: life_sentence,parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Expedited Life Sentence Reviews Inmates serving life who have been denied parole and have a scheduled reconsideration date may receive expedited parole reviews if the Board receives new information that warrants an earlier review. Tags: life_sentence,parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Work Release Precondition for Life Sentence Parole A parole eligible inmate serving a life sentence who receives a 'grant' parole decision may be required to complete a Department of Corrections' work release program as a precondition to parole. Tags: life_sentence,parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Certificates Forwarded to Clerks of Court If released on parole, parole certificates are forwarded to the clerks of court for each docket the inmate received parole. Tags: parole,operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Sex Offender Pardon Application Requirements Sex offender pardon applicants must provide a current copy of their most recent risk level evaluation as assigned by the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board (SORRB), provide a psychosexual evaluation, and submit to a disclosure polygraph. Tags: pardon,sex_offender,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Pardon Application Content Requirements The current pardon application requires applicants to provide information including their version of criminal offenses, justification for why they should be considered for a pardon, including a description of how they have contributed to their community. Tags: pardon,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Inmate TPM Lookup Available Online An inmate's TPM status is available on the agency's website. The Inmate TPM Lookup (Offender/Inmate Parole Status) link is located on the home page at www.pap.georgia.gov. Tags: parole,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Session Definition The Victim Impact Session is a new direction in victim engagement by the Board, where a Board Member meets with crime victims individually from a judicial circuit. The Board Member and Clemency staff travel to a specific area of the state and partner with the local district attorney to host meetings involving victims whose offender(s) are up for parole consideration by the Board now or will be in the near future. Tags: victims,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Information Added to Case Files Information provided by victims to the Board is added to the case files of offenders for the Parole Board Members to review at the time parole is considered. Tags: victims,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Eligible Inmates Automatically Considered Eligible inmates are automatically considered for parole. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members May Deviate from Guidelines The members may agree with the time-to-serve recommendation provided by the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System, or they may deviate from the recommendation by increasing or decreasing the number of months to be served before parole is granted. The Board also has the authority to deny parole. Tags: parole,policy,guidelines Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Final Review Determines Release Date As the TPM approaches, the hearing examiner will conduct a final review of the offender's case file. The final review determines if there is any reason a release date should not be set. Parole could be delayed or denied because of the offender not completing required programming, prison misconduct, or because of detainers, warrants or new sentences. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Release Date Can Be Rescinded A release date that is set can be rescinded at any time prior to the release. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Correspondence Accepted Throughout Incarceration The parole consideration process in Georgia allows for correspondence about the case to be sent to the Board at any time during the offender's incarceration up to the point of a parole release. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Solicits Information from Stakeholders The Board solicits information by sending notifications throughout the process to stakeholders including victims, judges, and prosecutors. Tags: notifications,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Six-Month Pre-Eligibility Notification The Board sends a notification to judges and district attorneys six months prior to specific offenders becoming parole eligible. This notification is sent regarding 'serious felony' cases. Tags: notifications,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 72-Hour Notification for Serious Violent Felonies The Clemency Division sends the 72-hour notification in 'serious violent felony' cases to the district attorney and sheriff of the county where the offender is being released to, if different from the county of conviction. Tags: notifications,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Investigators Conduct Post-Sentence Investigations Parole investigators conduct and complete investigations collecting information about the offender's conviction offenses. The process includes interviewing inmates for personal history statements and completing post sentence investigations. Tags: operations,investigations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Case Initialization Process The first step in processing cases for consideration is referred to as initializing the case. This includes reviewing the sentencing package for completeness, determining consideration type, and requesting legal investigations. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] CAU Random Case Audits CAU randomly audits cases to ensure accuracy before submitting the cases to the Board. Tags: operations,audit,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Violations Include New Charges and Technical Violations Violations of parole consist of new criminal charges (felony and misdemeanor) and technical violations related to failing to follow the conditions of their parole. Tags: parole,violations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] District Operations Manager Violation Investigation Upon receipt of the report, the district operations manager conducts a thorough case investigation to determine what action the Board should take in the best interest of public safety. The recommendation to the Board could be treatment referral up to revocation of parole. Tags: parole,violations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parolees Supervised by Department of Community Supervision Offenders released on parole are supervised by the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Tags: parole,supervision,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Field Services Division Mission The mission of the Field Services Division is to effectively and efficiently manage the processes related to Parole Violations, Commutations, and the Interstate Compact. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Field Services Division Units The Field Services Division comprises four units: the Scanning and Imaging Unit, the Warrant/GCIC Entry Unit, the Violations/Commutations Unit, and the Interstate Compact Unit. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Warrant Placed in GCIC/NCIC If the offender cannot be immediately located, the Parole Board Warrant is then placed in the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) system or the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system. Tags: warrants,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] CJIS Database Connection Both GCIC and NCIC systems are connected to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) database that is used by law enforcement agencies for wanted person entry. Tags: warrants,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Interstate Compact Unit Responsibilities The Interstate Compact Unit is responsible for processing the transfer of all Georgia inmates paroled to an out-of-state residence. In addition, the unit responded to violations, conducted probable cause hearings, handled extraditions, and addressed victim issues relating to these cases. Tags: interstate_compact,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] ICE Rapid REPAT Program Via the ICE Rapid REPAT (Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer) Program, foreign national offenders were released to ICE for deportation. Tags: ICE,deportation,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Scanning and Imaging Unit Role The Scanning and Imaging Unit has an integral role in the Parole Board's transition to a paperless environment. The unit images offender documents that are generated daily, to include correspondence, revocation documents and victim notifications. Tags: operations,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GOVS Delivers Post-Conviction Victim Services The Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS) delivers post-conviction victim services in Georgia. The office is the service delivery source of post-conviction notifications for all registered crime victims in Georgia. Tags: victims,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GOVS Ensures Victim Voice in Parole Process The Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS) ensures the registered crime victim's voice is heard throughout the parole process. Tags: victims,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GA-V.I.P. Registration Process By completing a victim impact statement or crime victim notification request form, victims can be registered with GA-V.I.P. The forms can be completed online at www.pap.georgia.gov or forms can be requested by calling 404-651-6668 or 1-800-593-9474. Upon registering, victims are issued a PIN (Personal Identification Number). Tags: victims,policy,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GA-V.I.P. Provides Release Information Through GA-V.I.P., registered victims receive information on a prison release after the inmate completes the court ordered term of incarceration (end of sentence), or if the inmate is placed on community supervision. Tags: victims,policy,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Offender Dialogue Program Description The Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) program provides an opportunity for victims of violent crime to have a safe, structured, one-on-one meeting with the offender who committed the crime. The program allows the victim and offender to discuss the crime and its impact on the victim. Tags: victims,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] VOD Requires Lengthy Preparation VOD requires a lengthy preparation process which involves both the victim and the offender working separately with a trained facilitator. Tags: victims,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Members Independent Decision-Making Parole Board Members independently reach their decisions after reviewing a comprehensive electronic case file on the eligible offender. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Case File Contents The parole case file includes investigative reports, reports from the Department of Corrections, the offender's criminal history, circumstances of current offenses, information from the district attorney, victims, and other stakeholders. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Clemency Division Provides Assessment The Clemency Division provides a thorough assessment and a recommended number of months-to-serve based upon the application of the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System, if applicable. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Life Sentence Cases Submitted Electronically The agency has completed the process of submitting life-sentenced inmate cases to the Board electronically. By eliminating paper files on these cases and submitting them electronically, the Clemency Division's process is more efficient. Tags: life_sentence,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GPEDS Electronic Notifications GPEDS generates notifications to judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement regarding clemency actions pending on parole eligible offender cases. Notifications are also generated to wardens and inmates regarding Board decisions. Tags: notifications,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GPEDS Case File Establishment The electronic case file is established in GPEDS after the sentence package is electronically received from the Department of Corrections. Tags: technology,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Hearing Examiners Prepare Rating Summaries To make equitable recommendations to the Board Members, hearing examiners process and prepare rating summaries utilizing the agency's Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Vote Electronically Board Members then individually consider each case and vote electronically. Tags: parole,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] TPM Set by Three Votes A Tentative Parole Month (TPM) is set when three of the five board members agree on a specific amount of time that the offender should serve before being granted parole. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Inmates Receive Written TPM Notification Inmates receive written notification of the Board's TPM decision. Tags: parole,policy,notifications Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] PIC Points Equal One Month Each Each PIC point equals one month that a TPM can be changed to an earlier date. Tags: programs,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Discretion on PIC The Parole Board Members have discretion to determine if an inmate who has earned PIC through program completions will have his/her established TPM moved to an earlier date. Tags: programs,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] PIC Earned Through Programming and Work Details Inmates deemed eligible by the Department of Corrections for the PIC program may have their TPM advanced a few months by completing educational, vocational, treatment programs and work details during their incarceration. Tags: programs,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Death Sentence Clemency Meeting Board Members conduct a clemency meeting for the condemned inmate after which they may commute a death sentence to life with or without the possibility of parole, issue a stay or deny clemency. Tags: death_penalty,clemency,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Monthly Board Meetings for Policy and Operations The Board conducts monthly Parole Board Meetings at which policy changes are considered and operational updates are provided. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Actively Solicits Input The Board also actively solicits input and accepts pleas for and protests against clemency throughout the consideration process. Information from community stakeholders, including victims, the public and criminal justice partners is considered by the Board. Tags: clemency,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] TPM Decision Types The Board's decision may be for the offender to receive a tentative parole month which is a future possible release from prison, an immediate release or parole may be denied. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Multiple Votes Per Case Not only is a majority of three votes required to grant or deny parole, but other votes may also be required for each individual parole case. For example, the Board may add preconditions to parole which require each member to vote. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Review Comprehensive Case File Board Members review the comprehensive case file of each offender, and each member individually makes a parole decision. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Serves on Board of Community Supervision As Parole Board Chairman, Mr. Barnard also serves on the Board of Community Supervision. The board has regulatory oversight of the Department of Community Supervision which is responsible for the supervision of felony offenders on probation and parole in Georgia. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Serves on Board of Community Supervision As Vice Chair of the Parole Board, Ms. Bunn also serves on the Board of Community Supervision. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board's Operational 4E's The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has operational guidelines which are the 4E's: Engaging Stakeholders, Educating the Community, Encouraging Active Participation in the Parole Process and Enhancing Operations. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Values Ethics Integrity Equity Innovation The Board values Ethics, Integrity, Equity and Innovation. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Mission Statement To serve the citizens of Georgia by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims' rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change. Tags: operations,mission,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Vision Statement To be the nation's most effective and efficient executive clemency authority by: Making informed, scientific, data-driven clemency decisions based in constitutional authority and guided by applicable state law; Preparing offenders for positive change through the imposition of practical and constructive pre and post release conditions; Protecting the public and creating safer communities by holding accountable those offenders who violate the conditions of release; Ensuring crime victims have a voice in the post-conviction criminal justice process; Fostering partnerships and positive relationships with all stakeholders; Engaging, educating, and encouraging the active participation of all stakeholders in the clemency decision-making process; Striving to be a continuously learning public safety organization. Tags: operations,mission,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Session Direct Private Meeting The Victim Impact Session is a direct, in-person, private meeting between a Board Member, staff and the victim(s), hosted by a local district attorney's office. Tags: victims,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Eligible Inmates Automatically Considered Eligible inmates are automatically considered for parole. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members May Deviate from Guidelines The members may agree with the time-to-serve recommendation provided by the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System, or they may deviate from the recommendation by increasing or decreasing the number of months to be served before parole is granted. The Board also has the authority to deny parole. Tags: parole,policy,guidelines Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Final Review Determines Release Date As the TPM approaches, the hearing examiner will conduct a final review of the offender's case file. The final review determines if there is any reason a release date should not be set. Parole could be delayed or denied because of the offender not completing required programming, prison misconduct, or because of detainers, warrants or new sentences. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Release Date Can Be Rescinded A release date that is set can be rescinded at any time prior to the release. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Correspondence Accepted Throughout Incarceration The parole consideration process in Georgia allows for correspondence about the case to be sent to the Board at any time during the offender's incarceration up to the point of a parole release. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Solicits Information from Stakeholders The Board solicits information by sending notifications throughout the process to stakeholders including victims, judges, and prosecutors. Tags: notifications,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Six-Month Pre-Eligibility Notification The Board sends a notification to judges and district attorneys six months prior to specific offenders becoming parole eligible. This notification is sent regarding 'serious felony' cases. Tags: notifications,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 72-Hour Notification for Serious Violent Felonies The Clemency Division sends the 72-hour notification in 'serious violent felony' cases to the district attorney and sheriff of the county where the offender is being released to, if different from the county of conviction. Tags: notifications,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Investigators Conduct Post-Sentence Investigations Parole investigators conduct and complete investigations collecting information about the offender's conviction offenses. The process includes interviewing inmates for personal history statements and completing post sentence investigations. Tags: operations,investigations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Case Initialization Process The first step in processing cases for consideration is referred to as initializing the case. This includes reviewing the sentencing package for completeness, determining consideration type, and requesting legal investigations. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] CAU Random Case Audits CAU randomly audits cases to ensure accuracy before submitting the cases to the Board. Tags: operations,audit,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Violations Include New Charges and Technical Violations Violations of parole consist of new criminal charges (felony and misdemeanor) and technical violations related to failing to follow the conditions of their parole. Tags: parole,violations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] District Operations Manager Violation Investigation Upon receipt of the report, the district operations manager conducts a thorough case investigation to determine what action the Board should take in the best interest of public safety. The recommendation to the Board could be treatment referral up to revocation of parole. Tags: parole,violations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parolees Supervised by Department of Community Supervision Offenders released on parole are supervised by the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Tags: parole,supervision,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Field Services Division Mission The mission of the Field Services Division is to effectively and efficiently manage the processes related to Parole Violations, Commutations, and the Interstate Compact. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Field Services Division Units The Field Services Division comprises four units: the Scanning and Imaging Unit, the Warrant/GCIC Entry Unit, the Violations/Commutations Unit, and the Interstate Compact Unit. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Warrant Placed in GCIC/NCIC If the offender cannot be immediately located, the Parole Board Warrant is then placed in the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) system or the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system. Tags: warrants,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] CJIS Database Connection Both GCIC and NCIC systems are connected to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) database that is used by law enforcement agencies for wanted person entry. Tags: warrants,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Interstate Compact Unit Responsibilities The Interstate Compact Unit is responsible for processing the transfer of all Georgia inmates paroled to an out-of-state residence. In addition, the unit responded to violations, conducted probable cause hearings, handled extraditions, and addressed victim issues relating to these cases. Tags: interstate_compact,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] ICE Rapid REPAT Program Via the ICE Rapid REPAT (Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer) Program, foreign national offenders were released to ICE for deportation. Tags: ICE,deportation,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Scanning and Imaging Unit Role The Scanning and Imaging Unit has an integral role in the Parole Board's transition to a paperless environment. The unit images offender documents that are generated daily, to include correspondence, revocation documents and victim notifications. Tags: operations,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GOVS Delivers Post-Conviction Victim Services The Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS) delivers post-conviction victim services in Georgia. The office is the service delivery source of post-conviction notifications for all registered crime victims in Georgia. Tags: victims,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GOVS Ensures Victim Voice in Parole Process The Georgia Office of Victim Services (GOVS) ensures the registered crime victim's voice is heard throughout the parole process. Tags: victims,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GA-V.I.P. Registration Process By completing a victim impact statement or crime victim notification request form, victims can be registered with GA-V.I.P. The forms can be completed online at www.pap.georgia.gov or forms can be requested by calling 404-651-6668 or 1-800-593-9474. Upon registering, victims are issued a PIN (Personal Identification Number). Tags: victims,policy,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GA-V.I.P. Provides Release Information Through GA-V.I.P., registered victims receive information on a prison release after the inmate completes the court ordered term of incarceration (end of sentence), or if the inmate is placed on community supervision. Tags: victims,policy,technology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Offender Dialogue Program Description The Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) program provides an opportunity for victims of violent crime to have a safe, structured, one-on-one meeting with the offender who committed the crime. The program allows the victim and offender to discuss the crime and its impact on the victim. Tags: victims,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] VOD Requires Lengthy Preparation VOD requires a lengthy preparation process which involves both the victim and the offender working separately with a trained facilitator. Tags: victims,policy,programs Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Members Independent Decision-Making Parole Board Members independently reach their decisions after reviewing a comprehensive electronic case file on the eligible offender. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Case File Contents The parole case file includes investigative reports, reports from the Department of Corrections, the offender's criminal history, circumstances of current offenses, information from the district attorney, victims, and other stakeholders. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Clemency Division Provides Assessment The Clemency Division provides a thorough assessment and a recommended number of months-to-serve based upon the application of the Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System, if applicable. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Life Sentence Cases Submitted Electronically The agency has completed the process of submitting life-sentenced inmate cases to the Board electronically. By eliminating paper files on these cases and submitting them electronically, the Clemency Division's process is more efficient. Tags: life_sentence,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GPEDS Electronic Notifications GPEDS generates notifications to judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement regarding clemency actions pending on parole eligible offender cases. Notifications are also generated to wardens and inmates regarding Board decisions. Tags: notifications,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] GPEDS Case File Establishment The electronic case file is established in GPEDS after the sentence package is electronically received from the Department of Corrections. Tags: technology,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Hearing Examiners Prepare Rating Summaries To make equitable recommendations to the Board Members, hearing examiners process and prepare rating summaries utilizing the agency's Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Vote Electronically Board Members then individually consider each case and vote electronically. Tags: parole,technology,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] TPM Set by Three Votes A Tentative Parole Month (TPM) is set when three of the five board members agree on a specific amount of time that the offender should serve before being granted parole. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Inmates Receive Written TPM Notification Inmates receive written notification of the Board's TPM decision. Tags: parole,policy,notifications Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] PIC Points Equal One Month Each Each PIC point equals one month that a TPM can be changed to an earlier date. Tags: programs,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Discretion on PIC The Parole Board Members have discretion to determine if an inmate who has earned PIC through program completions will have his/her established TPM moved to an earlier date. Tags: programs,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] PIC Earned Through Programming and Work Details Inmates deemed eligible by the Department of Corrections for the PIC program may have their TPM advanced a few months by completing educational, vocational, treatment programs and work details during their incarceration. Tags: programs,reentry,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Death Sentence Clemency Meeting Board Members conduct a clemency meeting for the condemned inmate after which they may commute a death sentence to life with or without the possibility of parole, issue a stay or deny clemency. Tags: death_penalty,clemency,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Monthly Board Meetings for Policy and Operations The Board conducts monthly Parole Board Meetings at which policy changes are considered and operational updates are provided. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Actively Solicits Input The Board also actively solicits input and accepts pleas for and protests against clemency throughout the consideration process. Information from community stakeholders, including victims, the public and criminal justice partners is considered by the Board. Tags: clemency,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] TPM Decision Types The Board's decision may be for the offender to receive a tentative parole month which is a future possible release from prison, an immediate release or parole may be denied. Tags: parole,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Multiple Votes Per Case Not only is a majority of three votes required to grant or deny parole, but other votes may also be required for each individual parole case. For example, the Board may add preconditions to parole which require each member to vote. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Review Comprehensive Case File Board Members review the comprehensive case file of each offender, and each member individually makes a parole decision. Tags: parole,policy,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Serves on Board of Community Supervision As Parole Board Chairman, Mr. Barnard also serves on the Board of Community Supervision. The board has regulatory oversight of the Department of Community Supervision which is responsible for the supervision of felony offenders on probation and parole in Georgia. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Serves on Board of Community Supervision As Vice Chair of the Parole Board, Ms. Bunn also serves on the Board of Community Supervision. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board's Operational 4E's The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has operational guidelines which are the 4E's: Engaging Stakeholders, Educating the Community, Encouraging Active Participation in the Parole Process and Enhancing Operations. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Values Ethics Integrity Equity Innovation The Board values Ethics, Integrity, Equity and Innovation. Tags: operations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Mission Statement To serve the citizens of Georgia by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims' rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change. Tags: operations,mission,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Vision Statement To be the nation's most effective and efficient executive clemency authority by: Making informed, scientific, data-driven clemency decisions based in constitutional authority and guided by applicable state law; Preparing offenders for positive change through the imposition of practical and constructive pre and post release conditions; Protecting the public and creating safer communities by holding accountable those offenders who violate the conditions of release; Ensuring crime victims have a voice in the post-conviction criminal justice process; Fostering partnerships and positive relationships with all stakeholders; Engaging, educating, and encouraging the active participation of all stakeholders in the clemency decision-making process; Striving to be a continuously learning public safety organization. Tags: operations,mission,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Session Direct Private Meeting The Victim Impact Session is a direct, in-person, private meeting between a Board Member, staff and the victim(s), hosted by a local district attorney's office. Tags: victims,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 LEGAL FACTS (42) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Parole Board Established 1943 In 1943, the Board was established through a constitutional amendment and consisted of three members. Date: 1943-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Expanded to Five Members 1973 In 1973, the Constitution was amended to increase the Board to five members. Date: 1973-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Came to Georgia in 1908 Parole came to Georgia in 1908 when the General Assembly voted to give the Prison Commission authority to implement a system of 'parole or conditional pardons.' Date: 1908-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 1938 Parole Commission Expanded Powers In 1938, the Commission was given broader powers to grant paroles without the approval of the Governor and without limitation on its authority, 'save the welfare of the State.' Date: 1938-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 1943 Constitutional Amendment Ratification In August of 1943, Georgia voters ratified, by a ratio of four and a half to one, a landmark amendment to the State Constitution establishing the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency. Date: 1943-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Sole Authority for Death Sentence Commutation The Board is the only entity in Georgia with the constitutional authority to commute a death sentence. The Governor does not have this authority in Georgia. Tags: death_penalty,legal,clemency Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Sole Authority for Parole Decisions The Board is the sole authority in the state to make informed decisions regarding which state inmates should be paroled, thereby ensuring that the state's prison beds are dedicated to the offenders who have committed the most serious crimes. Tags: parole,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Three Votes Required for Parole Decision A majority of three votes is required to grant or deny parole. Tags: parole,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Seven Deadly Sins Pre-1995 Parole Eligibility If a crime considered to be a 'seven deadly sins' offense was committed prior to 1995, the offender is eligible for parole after seven years. Date: 1995-01-01 Tags: life_sentence,parole,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Seven Deadly Sins 1995-2006 Parole Eligibility Beginning in 1995, offenders committing 'seven deadly sins' crimes became eligible for parole after serving 14 years. Date: 1995-01-01 Tags: life_sentence,parole,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Seven Deadly Sins Post-2006 Parole Eligibility If the crime is committed on/after July 1, 2006, the offender is eligible for parole after serving 30 years. Date: 2006-07-01 Tags: life_sentence,parole,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] SB174 Commutation Provision Senate Bill 174, passed in 2017, included a provision requiring the Board to consider commuting the sentences of specific offenders serving a split sentence who have successfully completed twelve (12) consecutive months of parole supervision (O.C.G.A. ยง 42-8-21). Date: 2017-01-01 Tags: commutation,legislation,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 90-Day Notification Statute As a result of legislation enacted in 2017, the Parole Board notifies the district attorney if an offender convicted of a serious violent felony is being considered for parole release. The notification is made at a minimum of 90-days prior to the final decision to parole. (O.C.G.A. ยง 17-10-6.1.) & (O.C.G.A. ยง 42-9-43(c) (1)) Date: 2017-01-01 Tags: notifications,legislation,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 72-Hour Statutory Notification Judges, district attorneys, sheriffs (of the county of residence prior to the arrest and the county of conviction) and registered victims also receive a 72-hour statutory notification that the offender is about to be paroled. (O.C.G.A. ยง 42-9-47) Tags: notifications,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Notification Statute Registered victims of a crime are given notification at the time the Board is considering a parole release, allowing for a period for the victim to send the Board information about the case. (O.C.G.A. ยง 17-17-13) Tags: victims,notifications,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Pardon Notification Statute 2015 A state law adopted in 2015 created a notification process informing registered victims and prosecutors, in specific cases, when an offender is seeking a pardon. Date: 2015-01-01 Tags: pardon,notifications,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Sex Offender Pardon Crime-Free Requirement Applicants seeking a pardon for offenses requiring registration on Georgia's Sex Offender Registry must be crime free for ten years following the completion of all sentences, as opposed to five years for all other conviction types. Tags: pardon,sex_offender,legal 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 to be appointed by the Governor to seven-year staggered terms, subject to confirmation by the State Senate. Tags: legal,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Pardon Does Not Expunge Record A pardon does not expunge, remove, or erase crimes from a person's criminal record. A pardon is an order of official forgiveness and may be granted to individuals who have maintained a good reputation in their community and have remained crime free for a required period of years following the completion of their sentence(s), to include parole or probation. Tags: pardon,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Automatic Revocation Conditions A revocation can occur during a parole revocation hearing, when the offender signs a waiver to a revocation hearing, or automatic revocation if the conditions exist according to O.C.G.A. ยง 42-9-51. Tags: parole,revocations,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Warrants Authorized by State Law State law authorizes the Parole Board Members to issue warrants for the arrest of alleged parole violators. Tags: parole,warrants,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Serious Violent Felony Notification List Serious violent felonies requiring 90-day notification include murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, and aggravated sexual battery. Tags: notifications,legal,violent_crime Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Sole Authority for Executive Clemency In Georgia, the Parole Board holds the sole constitutional authority to grant executive clemency to a condemned inmate. Tags: clemency,legal,death_penalty Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Inmate Not Entitled to Parole An inmate is not entitled to parole, however by law; most are eligible for consideration and therefore must be considered by the Parole Board. Tags: parole,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Offender Opportunity to Submit Information The Board, according to the statute, also gives the offender being considered an opportunity to submit information. Tags: notifications,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] SB174 Transfers to Probation Supervision Under SB174, the prison/parole portion of the sentence ends and the case transfers to probation supervision. Tags: commutation,legislation,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] SB174 Requires Probation Following Prison Under provisions of the legislation, offenders must have probation to serve following the prison portion of their sentence. Tags: commutation,legislation,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Have Discretion on Clemency The Board Members have discretion to determine who receives clemency. Tags: clemency,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Checks and Balances in Georgia Government Georgia's constitution provides for three branches of government to serve as checks and balances on the power of government over the offender. The legislative branch sets the minimum and maximum range of the prison sentence, the judicial branch sentences the offender within that range, and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, as a part of the executive branch, manages the finite resource of state prison beds by considering eligible offenders and making parole grants in the interest of public safety. Tags: legal,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Authority Includes Pardons and Commutations The Board's authority includes granting paroles, pardons, and commutations including death sentences. Tags: clemency,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Established as Independent Agency The General Assembly passed legislation and it was signed into law in February of 1943, creating the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency to administer executive clemency. Date: 1943-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 1943 Amendment Authorized Board Powers The 1943 amendment to the State Constitution established the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, commute sentences, including death sentences, and remove disabilities imposed by law. Date: 1943-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Sole Authority for Executive Clemency In Georgia, the Parole Board holds the sole constitutional authority to grant executive clemency to a condemned inmate. Tags: clemency,legal,death_penalty Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Inmate Not Entitled to Parole An inmate is not entitled to parole, however by law; most are eligible for consideration and therefore must be considered by the Parole Board. Tags: parole,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Offender Opportunity to Submit Information The Board, according to the statute, also gives the offender being considered an opportunity to submit information. Tags: notifications,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] SB174 Transfers to Probation Supervision Under SB174, the prison/parole portion of the sentence ends and the case transfers to probation supervision. Tags: commutation,legislation,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] SB174 Requires Probation Following Prison Under provisions of the legislation, offenders must have probation to serve following the prison portion of their sentence. Tags: commutation,legislation,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Have Discretion on Clemency The Board Members have discretion to determine who receives clemency. Tags: clemency,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Checks and Balances in Georgia Government Georgia's constitution provides for three branches of government to serve as checks and balances on the power of government over the offender. The legislative branch sets the minimum and maximum range of the prison sentence, the judicial branch sentences the offender within that range, and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, as a part of the executive branch, manages the finite resource of state prison beds by considering eligible offenders and making parole grants in the interest of public safety. Tags: legal,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Authority Includes Pardons and Commutations The Board's authority includes granting paroles, pardons, and commutations including death sentences. Tags: clemency,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Established as Independent Agency The General Assembly passed legislation and it was signed into law in February of 1943, creating the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency to administer executive clemency. Date: 1943-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] 1943 Amendment Authorized Board Powers The 1943 amendment to the State Constitution established the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, commute sentences, including death sentences, and remove disabilities imposed by law. Date: 1943-01-01 Tags: history,legal Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 FINDINGS (47) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Eighth Term Chairman Terry Barnard is serving an eighth one-year term as Chairman of the Board for FY 2023 following action at the June 2022 monthly board meeting. Unprecedented in recent history of the Parole Board, the other members elected Chairman Barnard to an eighth term as chair. Tags: operations,leadership Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Second Longest Serving Chair Following the completion of his current term as chair, Mr. Barnard will be the second longest serving chair in the agency's history. The first chair, Edward B. Everett, served almost ten years from 1943 to 1953. Tags: operations,leadership,history Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Second Term At the June Meeting, the Board also voted to have Jacqueline Bunn continue the leadership role of vice chair. Ms. Bunn is serving a second one-year term as vice chair. Tags: operations,leadership Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Letter on FY22 Parole Consideration For FY22, the Board carefully considered almost 14,000 offenders for parole. The process involves setting a tentative parole month (TPM) in most cases, which is a future possible parole period for that offender. Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole as Effective Reentry Method Parole remains an effective method of reentry in Georgia. Offenders who prepare themselves by completing programming and completing their case plan identify themselves to the Parole Board as being 'parole ready.' Tags: parole,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Intermediate Sanctions Reduce Technical Revocations The appropriate recommendations and enforcement of intermediate sanctions, such as treatment referral, administrative hearings, electronic monitoring, GPS monitoring, day reporting centers and parole detention centers result in the low percentage of technical parole violators being revoked and returned to prison. Tags: parole,revocations,policy Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Engages in Fight Against Gangs As a public safety agency, the Board remains engaged with partners in the fight against violent, sexual crimes and criminal street gangs in Georgia. Tags: gangs,violent_crime,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Continued Operations During Pandemic As many other states and Paroling authorities shutdown, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles not only continued operations, but made significant enhancements to ensure every eligible individual was afforded appropriate executive clemency consideration regardless of the pandemic. Tags: operations,COVID-19 Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Re-Entered Prisons for Face-to-Face Inmate Contact FY22 saw parole staff re-enter the corrections system speaking directly with inmates face-to-face, all in an effort to ensure the Board has the most complete picture of an individual prior to any clemency consideration. Tags: operations,COVID-19 Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Members Resume Face-to-Face Victim Meetings For the first time since the pandemic, the Parole Board Members began meeting face-to-face with crime victims again. Tags: victims,operations,COVID-19 Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board's Decision Process Evidence-Based The Board's decision process is evidence-based, scientific and data-driven. Tags: operations,data Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Uses Georgia-Normed Data The Board uses the latest scientific, Georgia-normed, evidence-based, data driven information to make its decision. Tags: operations,data Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Board Recognized as Nation's Leading Executive Clemency Authority The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles is and has long been recognized as the Nation's Leading Executive Clemency Authority. Tags: operations,leadership Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Most Offenders Waive Revocation Hearings Most offenders facing parole revocation proceedings admit their parole violations and sign a waiver to be returned to prison eliminating a final hearing. Tags: parole,revocations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] PIC Program Prepares Offenders for Success The PIC program prepares offenders for success after release and assists the state in better utilization of prison beds at a cost savings to taxpayers. Tags: programs,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Manages Prison Bed Resource The State Board of Pardons and Paroles manages the finite resource of state prison beds by considering eligible offenders and making parole grants in the interest of public safety. Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Deciding Parole is Primary Board Responsibility Deciding whether to grant an offender parole is the primary responsibility of the Board. Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] 1938 Commission Hampered by Shortage of Funds The Commission remained hampered by a shortage of funds in the late 1930s. Date: 1938-01-01 Tags: history,budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Serious Questions About Pardon Handling in Early 1940s In the early 1940s there were serious questions raised about the handling of pardons. Tags: history,pardon Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Enhancements Under Chairman Barnard Under Mr. Barnard's leadership as Parole Board Chairman, enhancements have been made to the parole consideration process. Enhancements include increased notifications to prosecutors and other stakeholders regarding pending Board decisions to solicit additional case information. Tags: operations,notifications Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Access to Board Increased for Victims Access to the Board Members and the decision-making process has increased for victims and the Board continues to revise its Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System to ensure best practices in parole decision-making. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Everyone is a Stakeholder in Parole Process Everyone is a stakeholder in the parole process. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Fulfilled Mission in FY22 In FY22, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles again fulfilled its mission of serving our citizens by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims' rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change. Tags: operations,mission Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Continuously Learning Organization In FY22, the agency continued to be a learning agency, continually evaluating people, processes, and technology; determining where improvement opportunities exist and moving quickly to enhance operations where possible. Tags: operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Engaged Stakeholders Across Georgia During the fiscal year 2022 the Board engaged stakeholders across Georgia in the parole process and educated communities so they could gain a true understanding of the consideration process. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Sessions Critical to Clemency Process These meetings are critical to the clemency consideration process and to the victim, many of whom have never been able to tell their story in person to someone who will make a decision in their case. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Engaged Law Enforcement Partners at New Levels FY22 saw parole staff, including Board Members engaging law enforcement partners, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys and advocates at all new levels. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Re-Entered Corrections System The Board re-entered the corrections system speaking directly with inmates face-to-face, all in an effort to ensure the Board has the most complete picture of an individual prior to any clemency consideration. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Remains Engaged in Fight Against Violent Crime As a public safety agency, the Board remains engaged with partners in the fight against violent, sexual crimes and criminal street gangs in Georgia. Tags: gangs,violent_crime,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Board Recognized as Nation's Leading Executive Clemency Authority The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles is and has long been recognized as the Nation's Leading Executive Clemency Authority. Tags: operations,leadership Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Most Offenders Waive Revocation Hearings Most offenders facing parole revocation proceedings admit their parole violations and sign a waiver to be returned to prison eliminating a final hearing. Tags: parole,revocations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] PIC Program Prepares Offenders for Success The PIC program prepares offenders for success after release and assists the state in better utilization of prison beds at a cost savings to taxpayers. Tags: programs,reentry Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Manages Prison Bed Resource The State Board of Pardons and Paroles manages the finite resource of state prison beds by considering eligible offenders and making parole grants in the interest of public safety. Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Deciding Parole is Primary Board Responsibility Deciding whether to grant an offender parole is the primary responsibility of the Board. Tags: parole,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] 1938 Commission Hampered by Shortage of Funds The Commission remained hampered by a shortage of funds in the late 1930s. Date: 1938-01-01 Tags: history,budget Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Serious Questions About Pardon Handling in Early 1940s In the early 1940s there were serious questions raised about the handling of pardons. Tags: history,pardon Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Enhancements Under Chairman Barnard Under Mr. Barnard's leadership as Parole Board Chairman, enhancements have been made to the parole consideration process. Enhancements include increased notifications to prosecutors and other stakeholders regarding pending Board decisions to solicit additional case information. Tags: operations,notifications Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Access to Board Increased for Victims Access to the Board Members and the decision-making process has increased for victims and the Board continues to revise its Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System to ensure best practices in parole decision-making. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Everyone is a Stakeholder in Parole Process Everyone is a stakeholder in the parole process. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Fulfilled Mission in FY22 In FY22, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles again fulfilled its mission of serving our citizens by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims' rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change. Tags: operations,mission Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Continuously Learning Organization In FY22, the agency continued to be a learning agency, continually evaluating people, processes, and technology; determining where improvement opportunities exist and moving quickly to enhance operations where possible. Tags: operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Engaged Stakeholders Across Georgia During the fiscal year 2022 the Board engaged stakeholders across Georgia in the parole process and educated communities so they could gain a true understanding of the consideration process. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Sessions Critical to Clemency Process These meetings are critical to the clemency consideration process and to the victim, many of whom have never been able to tell their story in person to someone who will make a decision in their case. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Engaged Law Enforcement Partners at New Levels FY22 saw parole staff, including Board Members engaging law enforcement partners, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys and advocates at all new levels. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Re-Entered Corrections System The Board re-entered the corrections system speaking directly with inmates face-to-face, all in an effort to ensure the Board has the most complete picture of an individual prior to any clemency consideration. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Remains Engaged in Fight Against Violent Crime As a public safety agency, the Board remains engaged with partners in the fight against violent, sexual crimes and criminal street gangs in Georgia. Tags: gangs,violent_crime,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [reported] Board Recognized as Nation's Leading Executive Clemency Authority The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles is and has long been recognized as the Nation's Leading Executive Clemency Authority. Tags: operations,leadership Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 CASE DETAILS (48) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] First Georgia Office of Victim Services Conference The Georgia Office of Victim Services conducted the first training conference for the state's district attorneys, victim-witness assistance staff and other victim advocates. The training was conducted May 25th through the 27th of 2022 at Lake Lanier Islands. Date: 2022-05-25 Tags: victims,training,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Session Gainesville Board Member David Herring met with crime victims in Gainesville in April during a Victim Impact Session. Date: 2022-04-01 Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Session Brunswick Chairman Terry Barnard met with victims in Brunswick in June during a Victim Impact Session. Date: 2022-06-01 Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] APAI Conference Presentations The State Board of Pardons and Paroles made presentations at the annual Association of Paroling Authorities International (APAI) conference in FY 2022. The general session was titled, 'The Media, Critical Incidents, and Stakeholder Engagement.' Tags: operations,training Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] April Board Meeting at Georgia Southern University The April monthly Board meeting was held on the campus of Georgia Southern University in Statesboro to increase public access to the Board. Date: 2022-04-01 Tags: operations,public_access Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] June Board Meeting at GPSTC The June monthly Board meeting took place at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth to increase public access to the Board. Date: 2022-06-01 Tags: operations,public_access Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Training Completed During FY 2022, Board members completed training delivered by the Center for Effective Public Policy and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Training focused on national trends, Georgia's inmate population, enhancing the Georgia Board's guidelines system and studies of parole decisions in other states. Tags: training,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] National Crime Victims' Rights Week Participation During National Crime Victims' Rights Week in April, GOVS participated in several community events including a blood drive sponsored by MADD and a recognition ceremony held by Governor Brian Kemp. Date: 2022-04-01 Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] LGBTQ+ Crime Victims Vigil Participation In June, GOVS joined the Fulton County District Attorney's Office for the LGBTQ+ Crime Victims Vigil. The event included community stakeholders such as Atlanta Police Department, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, and the Fulton County Victim Witness-Assistance Office. Date: 2022-06-01 Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Board Stakeholder Engagement Groups In FY 2022, parole officials met with and made presentations to the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Public Safety, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, the Georgia Gang Investigators Association, the Georgia Public Defender Council and the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Tags: operations,stakeholders Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Conference Attendees The first training conference for the state's district attorneys, victim-witness assistance staff and other victim advocates was conducted May 25th through the 27th of 2022 at Lake Lanier Islands. Agency leaders addressed the conference including Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard, Vice Chair Jacqueline Bunn, Board Member David Herring, Department of Corrections Commissioner Tim Ward, Department of Community Supervision Field Operations Director Patrick Holsey, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Executive Director Jay Neal, and Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia Executive Director Peter Skandalakis. Date: 2022-05-25 Tags: victims,training,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Crime Survivors Spoke at Conference The conference included comments from crime survivors who spoke about their experiences as crime victims. Date: 2022-05-25 Tags: victims,training Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Sessions with Northeastern Judicial Circuit During the last quarter of the fiscal year, Victim Impact Sessions were conducted with Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh and with Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Former State Representative Mr. Barnard, a former State Representative, served nearly sixteen years in the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1995-1996, Mr. Barnard guided through the Georgia House the framework for the State Sex Offender Registry and Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. Tags: leadership,history Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Appointed 2016 Ms. Bunn was appointed to complete an unexpired term on the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in July of 2016, by Governor Deal. She was reappointed to a full seven-year term in December of 2016. Date: 2016-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Appointed to Georgia Commission on Family Violence In August of 2018, Ms. Bunn received an appointment to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. Date: 2018-08-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Serves on Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Ms. Bunn also serves as a member of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, serving as the Chair of the Victims Compensation Board. Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Owens Appointed 2015 Brian Owens was appointed to the Board on February 1, 2015, by Governor Nathan Deal. He previously served three one-year terms as Vice Chairman of the Board. Date: 2015-02-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Owens Former GDC Commissioner The former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections began his career as a parole officer in 1993. On January 8, 2009, Mr. Owens was sworn in as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections by Governor Sonny Perdue. He was reappointed Commissioner by Governor Deal in January of 2011. Date: 2009-01-08 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Herring Appointed 2018 David J. Herring was appointed to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles on August 1, 2018, by Governor Deal. Date: 2018-08-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Herring State Trooper Background Mr. Herring joined the Georgia Department of Public Safety in 1994 as a state trooper and has served the state of Georgia for over twenty-seven years. Prior to his Board appointment, he served as a Lt. Colonel managing security details for the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice. Date: 1994-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap Appointed 2021 Meg Heap was appointed to the Parole Board by Governor Brian Kemp effective January 19, 2021. Date: 2021-01-19 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap Former District Attorney Mrs. Heap is the former District Attorney for Georgia's Eastern Judicial Circuit. In 2012, Mrs. Heap was elected district attorney for the Eastern Judicial Circuit (Chatham County) where she served two terms. Date: 2012-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap First Elder Abuse Prosecutor At the end of 2005, she was assigned to elder and disabled adult abuse cases, becoming the first such prosecutor in the state. Date: 2005-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap 2019 District Attorney of the Year Mrs. Heap is the immediate past president of the District Attorneys' Association of Georgia and was named the 2019 District Attorney of the Year. Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Executive Director Barnett Appointed 2015 Executive Director Christopher Barnett was appointed to the position in August of 2015 after serving as Interim Director and guiding the Board through a significant reorganization as parole supervision transitioned to the new Department of Community Supervision. Date: 2015-08-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Executive Director Barnett Career History Director Barnett joined the Georgia Parole Board in 2003 as a parole officer in the Marietta Parole District. Promotions to senior parole officer, assistant chief parole officer, field operations officer, senior field operations officer and statewide program manager followed. In May of 2013, he was promoted to regional director, supervising all operations and parole districts within the Northeast Region. Date: 2003-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Deputy Executive Director Rocker Appointed 2015 Rita Rocker was appointed Deputy Executive Director on June 1, 2015. She has served as the Director of the Georgia Office of Victim Services since September of 2020. Date: 2015-06-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Deputy Executive Director Rocker Career History Ms. Rocker began her career in 1989 as an accounting clerk with the Engineering Unit of the Georgia Department of Corrections. In 1997, Ms. Rocker transferred to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an operations auditor. In 2010, she was promoted to Director of Government Relations, leading the Board through several legislative cycles as criminal justice reforms were implemented in Georgia. Date: 1989-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] FY22 Victim Conference Attendees The first training conference for the state's district attorneys, victim-witness assistance staff and other victim advocates was conducted May 25th through the 27th of 2022 at Lake Lanier Islands. Agency leaders addressed the conference including Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard, Vice Chair Jacqueline Bunn, Board Member David Herring, Department of Corrections Commissioner Tim Ward, Department of Community Supervision Field Operations Director Patrick Holsey, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Executive Director Jay Neal, and Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia Executive Director Peter Skandalakis. Date: 2022-05-25 Tags: victims,training,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Crime Survivors Spoke at Conference The conference included comments from crime survivors who spoke about their experiences as crime victims. Date: 2022-05-25 Tags: victims,training Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Victim Impact Sessions with Northeastern Judicial Circuit During the last quarter of the fiscal year, Victim Impact Sessions were conducted with Northeastern Judicial Circuit District Attorney Lee Darragh and with Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Keith Higgins. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Former State Representative Mr. Barnard, a former State Representative, served nearly sixteen years in the Georgia House of Representatives. In 1995-1996, Mr. Barnard guided through the Georgia House the framework for the State Sex Offender Registry and Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. Tags: leadership,history Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Appointed 2016 Ms. Bunn was appointed to complete an unexpired term on the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in July of 2016, by Governor Deal. She was reappointed to a full seven-year term in December of 2016. Date: 2016-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Appointed to Georgia Commission on Family Violence In August of 2018, Ms. Bunn received an appointment to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. Date: 2018-08-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Vice Chair Bunn Serves on Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Ms. Bunn also serves as a member of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, serving as the Chair of the Victims Compensation Board. Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Owens Appointed 2015 Brian Owens was appointed to the Board on February 1, 2015, by Governor Nathan Deal. He previously served three one-year terms as Vice Chairman of the Board. Date: 2015-02-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Owens Former GDC Commissioner The former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections began his career as a parole officer in 1993. On January 8, 2009, Mr. Owens was sworn in as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections by Governor Sonny Perdue. He was reappointed Commissioner by Governor Deal in January of 2011. Date: 2009-01-08 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Herring Appointed 2018 David J. Herring was appointed to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles on August 1, 2018, by Governor Deal. Date: 2018-08-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Herring State Trooper Background Mr. Herring joined the Georgia Department of Public Safety in 1994 as a state trooper and has served the state of Georgia for over twenty-seven years. Prior to his Board appointment, he served as a Lt. Colonel managing security details for the offices of Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and Chief Justice. Date: 1994-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap Appointed 2021 Meg Heap was appointed to the Parole Board by Governor Brian Kemp effective January 19, 2021. Date: 2021-01-19 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap Former District Attorney Mrs. Heap is the former District Attorney for Georgia's Eastern Judicial Circuit. In 2012, Mrs. Heap was elected district attorney for the Eastern Judicial Circuit (Chatham County) where she served two terms. Date: 2012-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap First Elder Abuse Prosecutor At the end of 2005, she was assigned to elder and disabled adult abuse cases, becoming the first such prosecutor in the state. Date: 2005-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Heap 2019 District Attorney of the Year Mrs. Heap is the immediate past president of the District Attorneys' Association of Georgia and was named the 2019 District Attorney of the Year. Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Executive Director Barnett Appointed 2015 Executive Director Christopher Barnett was appointed to the position in August of 2015 after serving as Interim Director and guiding the Board through a significant reorganization as parole supervision transitioned to the new Department of Community Supervision. Date: 2015-08-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Executive Director Barnett Career History Director Barnett joined the Georgia Parole Board in 2003 as a parole officer in the Marietta Parole District. Promotions to senior parole officer, assistant chief parole officer, field operations officer, senior field operations officer and statewide program manager followed. In May of 2013, he was promoted to regional director, supervising all operations and parole districts within the Northeast Region. Date: 2003-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Deputy Executive Director Rocker Appointed 2015 Rita Rocker was appointed Deputy Executive Director on June 1, 2015. She has served as the Director of the Georgia Office of Victim Services since September of 2020. Date: 2015-06-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Deputy Executive Director Rocker Career History Ms. Rocker began her career in 1989 as an accounting clerk with the Engineering Unit of the Georgia Department of Corrections. In 1997, Ms. Rocker transferred to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an operations auditor. In 2010, she was promoted to Director of Government Relations, leading the Board through several legislative cycles as criminal justice reforms were implemented in Georgia. Date: 1989-01-01 Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 TRENDS (7) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Parole Releases Decreased as Admissions Increased Parole releases decreased during FY22, as prison admissions increased. Tags: parole,trend,incarceration Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Life Sentence Time Served Increasing Trend The average time served on a life sentence prior to release has increased from less than nine years in 1973 to 28 years in FY 2022. Tags: life_sentence,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Population Decreasing The population of offenders on parole under community supervision decreased from 19,828 on July 1, 2021, to 17,744 on June 30, 2022. Tags: parole,population,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Revocations Decreasing The number of parole revocations decreased by 548 from the previous fiscal year, from 2,373 in FY21 to 1,825 in FY22. Tags: parole,revocations,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] PIC Points Granted Decreasing PIC points granted decreased from 39,374 in FY20 to 36,257 in FY21 to 30,313 in FY22. Tags: programs,reentry,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Cost Avoidance Decreasing Trend Annual cost avoidance from parole supervision has decreased from $450 million in FY18 to $376 million in FY22. Tags: budget,parole,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Georgia Parole Success Rate Exceeds National Average Georgia's parole completion success percentage annually surpasses the national average. Tags: parole,reentry,trend Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 QUOTES (9) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Quote on Board Excellence I continue to be humbled by the trust and confidence the members place in my leadership. Georgia citizens have an excellent clemency board. The decisions made are informed, scientific, and data driven. Our mission is to make decisions that contribute to public safety, which protect victims' rights and that provide offenders with opportunities for positive change. Georgia's Parole Board is a model for other states to follow. Tags: leadership,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Quote on Victim Impact Sessions The Board is committed to meeting directly with registered crime victims as a 'measure-component' of an offender's review for parole as we have done previously on a larger scale. By conducting these smaller sessions with crime victims, we can spend more time discussing each case with the victims. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] DA Keith Higgins Quote on Victim Impact Sessions Victims need a voice in the parole process and those who were able to meet with Parole Board officials were provided that opportunity. I applaud the Board for collaborating with our Victim Advocates Office to set up these meetings, to listen to these crime victims, and inform them about the parole status of the offenders. The meetings were important to the victims. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Member Herring Quote on Victim Impact Sessions It is important that we have all available information regarding a case and the offender before we make parole decisions. The Victim Impact Sessions ensure a fully informed parole board. Tags: victims,operations Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Executive Director Barnett Quote on APAI This year we were excited to showcase best practices from Georgia with two training opportunities for the APAI membership. I am proud of how we do business in Georgia and our training sessions we provided were received very well by those attending the conference this year. We provided effective strategies for engaging and educating stakeholders for the public to better understand how parole works and we explained how we are enhancing public safety through our decision-making process. Tags: operations,training Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Executive Director Barnett Quote on Staying Informed As a public safety agency, we must stay informed regarding national trends and review the processes of other paroling authorities. Although most states operate differently, we must research ways to make our system more efficient and effective. Tags: operations,training Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Chairman Barnard Quote on Data-Driven Decisions As a paroling authority we will always look for information that can make our scientific, data driven decision-making system even better. We must continue to focus on enhancements that can result in more positive outcomes. Tags: operations,data Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Richard Stroker Quote on Georgia Parole Board Your Board is a leader among parole boards, among the best in the nation. Tags: operations,leadership Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Executive Director Barnett Quote on Monthly Meetings The focus of these monthly meetings is enhancing operations which results in improved public safety. Tags: operations,public_access Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 METHODOLOGY NOTES (7) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] FY22 Virtual Training Due to COVID-19 In FY22, due to COVID-19 complications, most of the training delivered by the training office was via virtual media. Tags: training,operations,COVID-19 Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Decision Guidelines Consider Risk to Reoffend The offender's risk to reoffend is determined by weighted factors concerning the offender's criminal and social history that the Board has found to have value in predicting the probability of further criminal behavior. Tags: parole,guidelines,methodology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Guidelines Account for Sentencing Averages and Prior Decisions The guidelines take into account statewide sentencing averages and parole decisions by previous boards. Tags: parole,guidelines,methodology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Uses Scientific Georgia-Normed Data The Board uses the latest scientific, Georgia-normed, evidence-based, data driven information to make its decision. Tags: operations,data,methodology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Parole Decision Guidelines Consider Risk to Reoffend The offender's risk to reoffend is determined by weighted factors concerning the offender's criminal and social history that the Board has found to have value in predicting the probability of further criminal behavior. Tags: parole,guidelines,methodology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Guidelines Account for Sentencing Averages and Prior Decisions The guidelines take into account statewide sentencing averages and parole decisions by previous boards. Tags: parole,guidelines,methodology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 - [confirmed] Board Uses Scientific Georgia-Normed Data The Board uses the latest scientific, Georgia-normed, evidence-based, data driven information to make its decision. Tags: operations,data,methodology Sources: State Board of Pardons and Paroles Annual Report FY 2024 DATASETS (13) ---------------------------------------- # FY18-FY22 Parole Releases Number of parole releases by fiscal year from FY18 through FY22. Fiscal Year Parole Releases ------------------------------ FY18 10363 FY19 9455 FY20 10429 FY21 8634 FY22 6245 # FY18-FY22 PICs Awarded Number of Performance Incentive Credit points awarded by fiscal year from FY18 through FY22. Fiscal Year PICs Awarded --------------------------- FY18 35839 FY19 37012 FY20 39374 FY21 36257 FY22 30313 # FY18-FY22 Parole Revocations Number of parole revocations by fiscal year from FY18 through FY22. Fiscal Year Parole Revocations --------------------------------- FY18 2525 FY19 2720 FY20 2199 FY21 2373 FY22 1825 # FY18-FY22 Cost Per Day Cost of incarceration versus cost of supervision, per day, for state of Georgia by fiscal year. Fiscal Year Incarceration Cost Per Day Parole Supervision Cost Per Day -------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY18 61 2.11 FY19 61.73 2.18 FY20 61.73 2.19 FY21 62.23 1.8 FY22 62.23 2.22 # FY18-FY22 Annual Cost Avoidance Annual cost avoidance to the prison system because of offenders serving their sentence on parole by fiscal year. Fiscal Year Cost Avoidance ----------------------------- FY18 450000000 FY19 433000000 FY20 399000000 FY21 404000000 FY22 376000000 # Life Sentence Time Served for Serious Violent Felonies Average time served in years for life-sentenced inmates convicted of serious violent felonies before being released from prison, by year. Year Average Time Served --------------------------- 1973 9 2000 15 2010 20 2022 28 # FY22 Clemency Actions Summary of clemency actions taken by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in FY22. Action Type Count ---------------------------------------------------------- Parole Certificates 4666 Out-of-State Parole Orders 252 Conditional Transfers 759 Out-of-State Conditional Transfers 139 Supervised Reprieves 374 Out-of-State Supervised Reprieves 3 Commutations 0 Medical Reprieves 11 Out-of-State ICE Orders 41 Total Prison Releases by Parole 6245 Total Discharges from Parole 6354 Total Guidelines Decisions 8460 Life Sentence Cases Denied 1722 Life Sentence Cases Granted 162 Total Life Sentence Case Decisions 1884 Restoration of Civil and Political Rights Granted 133 Pardon Grants 412 Total Pardons & Restorations Granted 545 # FY22 Pardons Granted Detail Detailed breakdown of pardon and restoration of rights applications received and granted in FY22. Category Count ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applications received (all types โ€“ pardons and RR) 1184 Pardons granted without firearms being restored 124 Pardons granted with firearms being restored 288 Restorations of civil and political rights 116 Restorations of civil and political rights with firearms restored 17 Total applications granted (including applications filed in previous year) 545 # FY22 Staff Demographics Full-time employee demographics for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles in FY22. Category Count ---------------------------- Full-time Employees 170 Female 145 Male 25 Asian 3 Black 94 White 73 Age 20-29 15 Age 30-39 35 Age 40-49 49 Age 50-59 48 Age 60 Plus 23 # FY22 Budget and Expenditures by Program FY22 budget and expenditures by program for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Program FY22 Budget FY22 Expenditures Percent of Total Budget ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Board Administration 2193325 2149354.54 12.32 Clemency Decisions 14931751 14919374.22 83.87 Victim Services 678895 644472.56 3.81 Total Funds 17803971 17713201.32 100 # FY22 Expenditures by Object Class FY22 expenditures by object class for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Object Class Expenditures ------------------------------------------ Personal Services 15298634 Regular Operating Expenses 875779 Motor Vehicles 75072 Computer Charges 230517 Real Estate Rentals 419927 Telecommunications 160493 Contracts 572434 County Jail Subsidy 68745 Equipment 11600 TOTAL EXPENDITURES FY22 17713201 # FY22 Expenditures by Fund Type FY22 expenditures by fund type for the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Fund Type FY22 Expenditures ---------------------------------- State Funds 17513475.25 Federal Funds 149083.5 Other Funds 50642.57 Total Funds 17713201.32 # FY22 Training Hours Training hours taken by staff and delivered by the Parole Training Office in FY22. Category Hours ----------------------------------------------------------- Sworn staff 3870 Non-sworn staff 907 Training hours delivered by Parole Training Office 641 KEY ENTITIES (40) ---------------------------------------- - Association of Paroling Authorities International [organization]: International association of paroling authorities. Parole Board staff conducted a workshop at their conference in FY2024. - Brian Kemp [person]: Governor of Georgia who proposed $600 million in emergency spending over 18 months for prison reform in January 2025. (aka: Governor Kemp) - Brian Owens [person]: Vice Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles for FY2019. Appointed to the Parole Board on February 1, 2015 by Governor Nathan Deal. Former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections. (aka: Brian Owens, Vice Chairman) - Carl Vinson Institute of Government [organization]: An organization that delivered training to Board members during FY2022. - Center for Effective Public Policy [organization]: An organization that delivered training to Board members during FY2022 on national trends, Georgia's inmate population, and parole decision studies. - Christopher L. Barnett [person]: Executive Director of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles since August 2015. Joined the agency in 2003 as a parole officer. Native of Hinesville, Georgia. MPA from Georgia Southern University. (aka: Chris Barnett) - Critical Analysis Unit [program]: Specialized unit within the Clemency Division responsible for investigating and preparing specialized parole cases, conducting audits, and analyzing crime trends. Staffed 24/7. (aka: CAU) - David J. Herring [person]: Chairman of the Georgia Parole Board for FY2025. Appointed to the Board August 1, 2018, by Governor Deal. Former Lt. Colonel with Georgia Department of Public Safety. - Edward B. Everett [person]: The first chair of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, who served almost ten years from 1943 to 1953. - Field Services Division [organization]: The division of the Parole Board that manages processes related to Parole Violations, Commutations, and the Interstate Compact. Comprises four units: Scanning and Imaging Unit, Warrant/GCIC Entry Unit, Violations/Commutations Unit, and Interstate Compact Unit. - Georgia Department of Community Supervision [organization]: Georgia agency that supervises people on probation and parole, maintains the THOR housing directory (aka: DCS) - 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 Office of Victim Services [organization]: Division of the Parole Board providing post-conviction services to crime victims. Represents the Parole Board, GDC, and DCS. (aka: GOVS) - Georgia Victim Information Program [program]: 24-hour automated information system providing registered crime victims with access to offender status information. (aka: GA-V.I.P.) - GPEDS [program]: Electronic case management system used by the Parole Board for all parole consideration processes. Generates notifications and enables electronic voting by Board members. (aka: Georgia Parole Evidence-based Data System) - ICE Rapid REPAT Program [program]: Program through which foreign national offenders on parole are released to ICE for deportation. (aka: Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer) - 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) - Interstate Compact Unit [organization]: The unit within the Field Services Division responsible for processing the transfer of all Georgia inmates paroled to an out-of-state residence. - Jacqueline Bunn [person]: Member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Appointed effective July 1, 2016 by Governor Nathan Deal, reappointed to a full seven-year term in December 2016. Former Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. (aka: Jacqueline Bunn, Esq., Ms. Bunn) - Jay Neal [person]: Criminal Justice Coordinating Council Executive Director who addressed the first Georgia Office of Victim Services conference. - Keith Higgins [person]: District Attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit who partnered with the Board for Victim Impact Sessions. (aka: District Attorney Keith Higgins) - Lee Darragh [person]: District Attorney for the Northeastern Judicial Circuit who partnered with the Board for Victim Impact Sessions. (aka: District Attorney Lee Darragh) - Meg Heap [person]: Vice Chair of the Georgia Parole Board for FY2025. Appointed January 2021 by Governor Kemp. Former District Attorney for Georgia's Eastern Judicial Circuit (Chatham County). - Nathan Deal [person]: Former Georgia Governor (2011-2019) whose justice reinvestment reforms (2012-2015) resulted in a 6% prison population decrease, $264M in averted costs, and $57M reinvested. (aka: Governor Deal) - New Direction Recovery Program [program]: Intensive addiction program for higher risk/higher need parolees at Treutlen Probation Detention Center, used as alternative to parole revocation. - Parole Decision Guidelines Rating System [program]: Evidence-based system used by the Board to recommend time-to-serve based on crime severity and offender risk to reoffend. Updated most recently effective July 1, 2023. (aka: Guidelines Rating System, Parole Guidelines) - Patrick Holsey [person]: Department of Community Supervision Field Operations Director who addressed the first Georgia Office of Victim Services conference. - Performance Incentive Credit Program [program]: GDC program allowing inmates to earn earlier possible parole release by completing rehabilitative programming. Each PIC point equals one month advance of Tentative Parole Month. Board has discretion to approve or deny earned PIC. (aka: PIC, PIC Program) - Peter Skandalakis [person]: Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia Executive Director who addressed the first Georgia Office of Victim Services conference. - Richard Stroker [person]: Senior Associate with the Center for Effective Public Policy who provided the national parole success rate comparison. - Rita Rocker [person]: Deputy Executive Director appointed June 1, 2015. Also served as Director of Georgia Office of Victim Services from September 2020 to June 2024. - Senate Bill 174 [legislation]: Legislation passed in 2017 that included a provision requiring the Board to consider commuting the sentences of specific offenders serving a split sentence who have successfully completed twelve consecutive months of parole supervision (O.C.G.A. ยง 42-8-21). (aka: SB174, SB 174) - 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 - Terry E. Barnard [person]: Board Member and second longest serving chair in the Board's 80-year history. Served as chairman from July 2014 to June 2017 and July 2018 to June 2024. Former State Representative for nearly 16 years. - Tim Ward [person]: Department of Corrections Commissioner who addressed the first Georgia Office of Victim Services conference. (aka: Commissioner Tim Ward) - Vic Reynolds [person]: Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director who addressed the first Georgia Office of Victim Services conference. - Victim Impact Sessions [program]: In-person sessions where crime victims meet with Board members to discuss cases within 12-18 months of parole consideration. Introduced FY2022. (aka: VIS) - Victim Offender Dialogue Program [program]: Program offering structured, safe environment for victims of violent crimes to engage in one-on-one meetings with their offenders. (aka: VOD) - Victim Support Partners [program]: Statewide network of dedicated victim-volunteers who support victims and their families. Crime victims who provide post-sentencing advocacy. 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