Parole
BOPP Annual Report FY2004 — Georgia Parole Board
The FY2004 Annual Report of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles documents the agency's operations amid significant budget reductions, with expenditures dropping from $47,497,086 to $46,609,659. The report highlights a parolee population of 23,595, a 72% parole success rate that exceeds the national average of 47%, and the release of 12,589 offenders on parole while 5,328 maxed out of prison. Key initiatives included the G-8 Summit security deployment, expansion of Day Reporting Centers, and the Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative (TPCI), while the Board also processed 889 life-sentence decisions and 97 medical reprieves.
Where this research is used
This page is a research collection: individual facts drawn from the sources listed further down, each traced to where it came from. A research topic brings many collections together into one overview of an issue. The facts on this page feed these 6 topics; open one to see how they fit with the rest of the evidence.
Budget & Spending
Georgia's prison budget rose from $1.53 billion in fiscal 2024 to an all-time peak of $1.91 billion in fiscal 2025, then settled near $1.79 billion for fiscal 2027. Across that arc the money moved toward health contracts, private beds and surveillance technology while the state-operated prison program, food service and education shrank. GPS's own budget series has since corrected several of its earlier headline claims, and the gap between what the state appropriates and what it can show for it remains the central accountability problem.
11,375 data points
Healthcare & Medical Neglect
Georgia's prison healthcare system fails the constitutional floor on a documented, repeated basis: the federal Department of Justice concluded in October 2024 that medical care in Georgia prisons is 'abhorrent,' 'life-threatening' and unconstitutional, with people waiting months for treatment and roughly 10% of those with Hepatitis C or HIV receiving it. The state has outsourced the duty to a succession of contractors — Georgia Correctional HealthCare until 2021, Wellpath for three years, and Centurion Health since July 2024 under a $2.40 billion nine-year contract — while the Health program appropriation reached $432,247,728 for fiscal year 2027. What the record leaves is a delivery system that cannot staff itself, a mortality record the Department stopped explaining in March 2024, and named dead people whose settlements the state pays years later.
4,808 data points
Parole & Sentencing
Georgia's parole system has contracted sharply over three decades: the Board of Pardons and Paroles released 5,588 people on parole in FY2025, down 42% from 9,455 in FY2019, and its lifer grant rate has fallen from 21.9% in FY2001–FY2006 to roughly 5% today. Average time served on a life sentence for a serious violent felony has risen from under nine years in 1973 to 29.6 years in FY2025 per the Board's own reporting — 31.1 years by GPS's separate count. The result is a system in which parole eligibility at 7, 14, or 30 years increasingly ends in denial, reconsideration up to eight years later, and release for many only at the maximum sentence date.
12,868 data points
Population & Demographics
Georgia holds roughly 53,000 people in state custody — the fourth-largest state prison population in the country — after a decades-long buildup, one pandemic-era collapse, and a rebound that has carried the count back toward its pre-COVID level. Black Georgians are about 31 to 33 percent of the state and 58 to 61 percent of its prisoners, and one in five people in a Georgia prison is serving a life sentence. The series that describe this population do not agree with each other, and Georgia publishes no count at all for some of the people it holds.
11,185 data points
Recidivism & Reentry
Georgia reports one of the lowest recidivism rates in the nation — a 25 to 27 percent three-year felony reconviction rate — but that figure counts only new felony convictions, only within three years, and only among people who survive the window. Georgia's own reconviction rate has climbed every year since 2019, reaching 30.7 percent for the 2022 release cohort even as the state spends more than a billion dollars a year on corrections, releases 12,000 to 16,000 people annually with almost no preparation, and funds vocational education at $172,000 statewide. The evidence on what works is unusually clear — education, vocational training, cognitive-behavioral programming, and transitional beds all correlate with substantially lower recidivism — and Georgia has systematized almost none of it at scale.
12,548 data points
Reform Models & Programs
Georgia operates a statewide cognitive-skills curriculum for parolees, twelve reentry and cognitive programming centers, contracted addiction treatment, step-down units inside its Tier segregation system, and an earned-time credit statute — and the national evidence base for each of those program types is unusually strong. What the record does not contain is current, published, rigorously designed outcome data for most of Georgia's own programs, and the state's direct spending on them amounts to a fraction of one percent of the prison budget. This page sets out what the research verifies, what Georgia actually runs, what it spends, what other states have achieved, and where the evidence stops.
12,091 data points
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection. Tap a card for the full finding, GPS commentary on why it matters, and its source.
The finding
Statistics from the Department of Corrections indicate that there are almost 50,000 inmates serving in Georgia's prisons, equivalent to a 470% increase since the Board was made a five-member body in 1973.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
The Board that decides releases has kept five members since 1973 while the prison population it reviews grew more than fivefold, so each member now weighs release for far more people.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
With approximately 49,000 inmates, Georgia has the sixth largest prison population in the U.S. and is expected to surpass Michigan to become the fifth largest during FY05.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Georgia's release decisions act on one of the larger prison populations in the country, so the Board's choices, such as its 12,589 parole releases in FY2004, reach more people than in most states.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
Georgia has the seventh largest parole population in the nation with more than 21,000 offenders under supervision in the state and over 2,000 under supervision out-of-state.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Ranking seventh for parole but sixth for prisoners, Georgia stands higher nationally for confinement than for supervision, in line with a prison total more than double the parole population by FY2004.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.
The finding
In the early 1990s, the parole total exceeded the prison population. By FY2004, the prison total was more than double the parole population.
Why it matters · GPS commentary
Prison growth, not parole, drove the expansion of Georgia's correctional system since the early 1990s, as the parole population stayed fairly stable while the number of people held in prison kept climbing.
Our reading of the finding above. It is not part of the source.All Data Points
118 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
Parole Board constitutional authority for clemency Legal fact
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is the only entity in the state with the constitutional authority to grant executive clemency.
Parole Board member appointment terms Legal fact
The Georgia Constitution provides that Parole Board members are appointed by the Governor to serve seven-year terms, subject to confirmation by the State Senate.
Parole Board membership size unchanged since 1973 Finding
In 1943, when the Board was created, it had three members. In 1973 when the prison population reached 9,000 inmates, the Constitution was amended to expand the Parole Board to five members. Today, despite the increasing demands of a prison population of almost 50,000, the number of Parole Board members remains at five.
Prison population growth since 1973 Statistic
Statistics from the Department of Corrections indicate that there are almost 50,000 inmates serving in Georgia's prisons, equivalent to a 470% increase since the Board was made a five-member body in 1973.
470%
Parolee population under supervision Statistic
The Field Operations Division employs parole officers and field staff responsible for the daily supervision of approximately 21,000 parolees in Georgia.
21,000 parolees
Total agency employees Statistic
The Parole Board had 729 total employees in FY2004.
729 employees
Employee gender distribution Statistic
Agency employees by gender: Males 361 (50%), Females 368 (50%).
361 male employees vs. 368 female employees
Employee race distribution Statistic
Agency employees by race: White 470 (65%), Black 251 (34%), Hispanic 2 (0%), American Indian 2 (0%), Asian 4 (1%).
470 white employees vs. 251 black employees
G-8 Summit security deployment Case detail
More than 250 Parole Board employees provided security for the historic G-8 Summit, held on Sea Island, Georgia from June 8-10, 2004. Parole officers, chief parole officers and others worked at prisoner processing sites, venue security, on intelligence details and tactical riot squads during the summit.
G-8 Summit training hours Statistic
In preparation for the G-8 Summit, parole staff attended a total of 8,500 training hours, learning skills ranging from intelligence techniques to riot control tactics.
8,500 training hours
G-8 Summit largest security initiative since 1996 Olympics Finding
The 2004 G-8 Summit was the largest statewide security initiative since the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Faith-based initiative volunteers trained Statistic
Throughout FY04, 31 volunteers were trained and 33 parolees were matched to receive faith-based services under the Parole Board's faith-based initiative.
31 volunteers trained vs. 33 parolees matched
Faith-based initiative video production Policy
The Board produced a 12-minute video that was distributed to faith-based organizations across the state to encourage member participation in the faith-based initiative.
Day Reporting Center program description Policy
The nine-month DRC program targets offenders in the community who are failing to abide by the conditions of their parole or probation, primarily due to drug use. Offenders are allowed to continue living with their families but required to spend all day at the center to attend intensive drug treatment, thinking and problem solving skills counseling, and job skills training. Offenders are drug-tested three times each week.
Atlanta Day Reporting Center graduates Statistic
By the end of FY04, the Atlanta Day Reporting Center (ADRC) had graduated more than 165 offenders with only six being rearrested for new felony charges.
165 graduates vs. 6 rearrested for new felony charges
New Day Reporting Centers planned for FY05 Policy
In FY05 new Day Reporting Centers will open in Jonesboro, Macon, Rome and Tifton.
TPCI Initiative selection Policy
In March 2004, the State of Georgia was selected as one of nine states for participation in the Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative (TPCI), a federal/state partnership focusing on prisoner reentry into the community. Other states chosen include Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island and potentially the District of Columbia.
Victim Services correspondence volume Statistic
In FY04, the Office of Victim Services mailed approximately 4,425 letters to victims or victims' family members who registered with the Board for parole notification on specific inmate cases.
4,425 letters mailed
Victim Services caller assistance Statistic
During FY04 the Office of Victim Services provided assistance to more than 6,000 callers.
6,000 callers assisted
Chief parole officer assessment center project Policy
In FY04 the Parole Board partnered with the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government to develop an assessment process for the position of chief parole officer.
New managers training course Policy
The Board's personnel department established a training course for all new managers during FY04. The program is a three-module course designed to cover management basics, offered once each year.
New PC tablets distributed to parole officers Statistic
By the end of FY04, 165 new computers were distributed to officers across the state. An additional 140 computers have been purchased and are being distributed during the beginning of FY05.
165 computers distributed vs. 140 additional computers purchased
FY04 initial budget reduction Statistic
The Board began FY04 with a $1.5 million reduction in funding. The majority of this cut ($1.2 million) was made in the area of personal services. The remaining balance was cut in the areas of regular operating, travel and real estate, each cut by $100,000.
$1.5M vs. 1,200,000 personal services cut
FY04 additional budget reduction Statistic
In the first quarter of FY04, the agency was required to reduce its funding again by 2.5 percent, taking $1.2 million more from the agency's coffers.
$1.2M vs. 2.5 percent reduction
FY04 supplemental budget authorization Statistic
In the supplemental budget for FY04 the General Assembly and the Governor approved the $1.2 million reduction, but also authorized additional funding of $300,000 to fill vacant parole officer positions.
$300,000 vs. 1,200,000 approved reduction
FY04 net budget reduction Statistic
Taking the additional funds into consideration, the Parole Board's budget was reduced by a total of $887,427. By the end of FY04, the agency's budget had dropped from $47,497,086 to $46,609,659.
$887,427
FY04 total expenditures Statistic
Total expenditures for FY04 were $47,434,074.69 (state & other).
$47.4M
FY04 personal services expenditures Statistic
Total personal services expenditures for FY04 were $38,248,982.72, including salaries of $28,859,465.10 and fringe benefits of $8,905,516.47.
$38.2M
FY04 regular operating expenditures Statistic
Total regular operating expenditures for FY04 were $2,632,756.84.
$2.6M
County jail subsidy for parolees Statistic
County Jail Subsidy for Parolees expenditure in FY04 was $657,495.00.
$657,495
Travel reimbursement processing time reduced Finding
The cycle for completing travel reimbursement payments, which once took weeks or months, is now one business day due to automation.
Georgia prison population ranking Statistic
With approximately 49,000 inmates, Georgia has the sixth largest prison population in the U.S. and is expected to surpass Michigan to become the fifth largest during FY05.
49,000 inmates vs. 6 national ranking
Georgia parole population ranking Statistic
Georgia has the seventh largest parole population in the nation with more than 21,000 offenders under supervision in the state and over 2,000 under supervision out-of-state.
21,000 parolees in state vs. 7 national ranking
Total Georgia correctional population Statistic
Georgia's total correctional population in FY2004 was 200,494, including 128,866 on probation, 48,623 inmates, and 23,005 parolees.
200,494 offenders
Inmates awaiting transfer to state prisons Statistic
The inmate population does not include over 2,000 offenders in county jails awaiting transfer to state prisons.
2,000 offenders in county jails
Out-of-state parolees supervised by Georgia Statistic
Out-of-state parolees supervised by Georgia: 590.
590 parolees
Georgia parolees supervised by other states Statistic
Georgia parolees supervised by other states: 2,242.
2,242 parolees
Interstate Compact Unit downsizing Statistic
In FY04, the Parole Board's Interstate Compact Unit downsized by three positions as a result of the tightening budget.
3 positions eliminated
Electronic interstate case transfer system Policy
The Interstate Compact Unit developed and adopted a process by which paperwork for interstate offenders can be transferred electronically to field offices and other states. The new electronic system is now being used as a model for similar cases across the country.
Misdemeanants under private probation Statistic
More than 263,000 misdemeanants serve their probation with private probation authorities contracted by county or city governments.
263,000 misdemeanants
Parole releases by crime type Statistic
More than 73% of parole releasees in FY04 were convicted of crimes relating to property offenses, drug possession or drug sales. Violent and sex offenders usually serve most, or all of their court-imposed sentences.
73%
Total parole releases FY04 Statistic
Total parole releases in FY04 were 12,589.
12,589 releases
Total prison max-outs FY04 Statistic
Total prison max-outs in FY04 were 5,328.
5,328 max-outs
Parole population stability trend Trend
At the close of FY04, the parolee population stood at 23,595. While the inmate population has grown each year since 1992, the parole population has remained stable or has slightly fallen.
Parole population exceeds prison population in early 1990s Trend
In the early 1990s, the parole total exceeded the prison population. By FY2004, the prison total was more than double the parole population.
No inmate entitled to parole Legal fact
In Georgia no prison inmate is entitled to parole. Most, however, by law are eligible to be considered for parole at some point, usually after serving one-third of the prison sentence.
Tentative parole month process Policy
A favorable parole decision results in the Board establishing a 'tentative parole month' (TPM) for the inmate, contingent on positive progress reports and other information received during the intervening months or years. A tentative parole may be withdrawn by the Board at any time prior to the scheduled prison release date.
Parole consideration investigation process Policy
When an offender enters the prison system, parole investigators begin studying arrest and court records and talking with arresting officers, victims and witnesses to determine the details of the offender's crime. A parole investigator interviews the inmate in prison to gather information about personal history. A Board employee conducts interviews with family members, former employers and friends.
Crime severity levels in parole guidelines Policy
The crime severity level begins at level one with offenses such as shoplifting, to level seven, which includes crimes such as kidnapping or armed robbery.
Board vote majority requirement Policy
Board members independently review the inmate's file. The file travels individually to each Board member until a majority of three agree upon the final parole determination.
Parole Decision Guidelines implementation year Policy
Since 1979 the Parole Board has reviewed non-life sentence cases under 'Parole Decision Guidelines,' one of the country's first standardized methods of predicting an offender's success on parole.
Parole guidelines review in FY04 Policy
During FY04, the Board reviewed the Parole Decision Guidelines. Although no official guideline changes were made in FY04, over the next year, staff members plan to make recommendations on changes in the system to more accurately reflect current voting patterns.
Life sentence parole eligibility requirement Legal fact
Georgia law requires that inmates serving life sentences for violent offenses who were convicted after January 1, 1995 be considered for parole after serving 14 years in prison. Those who are denied parole are legally entitled to reviews at intervals not exceeding eight years.
Life-sentenced inmates in Georgia Statistic
In FY04 there were more than 6,000 inmates serving life sentences in Georgia. More than 3,000 of those life-sentenced inmates have been considered and denied parole at least once.
6,000 inmates serving life sentences vs. 3,000 considered and denied at least once
90 percent policy implementation Policy
In January 1998, the Parole Board implemented a new guideline policy that recommends inmates convicted of one of 20 violent crimes serve ninety percent of the court-imposed sentence before release to parole supervision.
90 percent policy case processing totals Statistic
Total number of 90% cases processed since January 1998 = 12,790. 37% of all cases to serve 100% of sentence (5,057 cases), 6% serve between 90% and 100% (768 cases), 48% serve 90% of the sentence (6,613 cases), 3% serve less than 90% (352 cases).
12,790 cases processed
90 percent policy deviation rationale Policy
In a small number of carefully selected cases, the Board voted to release the inmate prior to ninety percent so that the offender would have up to one year of supervision under the strict eye of a parole officer.
FY04 parole releases Statistic
Parole releases in FY04: 9,565.
9,565 releases
FY04 supervised reprieves Statistic
Supervised reprieves in FY04: 1,981.
1,981 reprieves
FY04 conditional transfers Statistic
Conditional transfers in FY04: 1,041.
1,041 transfers
FY04 commutations Statistic
Commutations in FY04: 2.
2 commutations
FY04 total parole revocations Statistic
Total parole revocations in FY04: 3,363.
3,363 revocations
FY04 discharges from parole Statistic
Discharges from parole in FY04: 5,839. Discharges from supervised reprieve: 1,449. Commutation to discharge parole: 199. Total discharges: 7,487.
7,487 total discharges
FY04 decisions under guidelines Statistic
Total decisions under guidelines in FY04: 13,548.
13,548 decisions
FY04 life sentence decisions Statistic
Life decisions in FY04: Deny Parole to Life Cases: 755. Grant Parole to Life Cases: 134. Total Life Decisions: 889.
889 total life decisions
FY04 pardons granted Statistic
Pardons granted in FY04: 354.
354 pardons
FY04 medical/compassionate reprieves Statistic
Medical/Compassionate Reprieves in FY04: 97.
97 reprieves
FY04 restoration of rights Statistic
Restoration of Rights in FY04: 255.
255 restorations
FY04 visitor interviews Statistic
Visitor interviews in FY04: 3,123.
3,123 interviews
FY04 revocation hearings Statistic
Revocation hearings in FY04: 550. Preliminary hearings: 86.
550 revocation hearings vs. 86 preliminary hearings
FY04 parolee population breakdown Statistic
Georgia Releases in Georgia: 20,763. Out-of-State Releases in Georgia: 590. Georgia Releases Out of State: 2,242. Total Parolee Population: 23,595.
23,595 total parolee population
Death penalty clemency authority Legal fact
The Parole Board has the sole constitutional authority to reduce capital punishment cases to a sentence of life or life without parole. A majority of three affirmative votes is required to commute a death sentence.
FY04 death case appeals considered Statistic
In FY04 the Board considered the appeals of four death-sentenced inmates. Only one was commuted to a lesser sentence than death.
4 death-sentenced inmates considered vs. 1 commuted to lesser sentence
Death penalty commutations since 1976 Statistic
From Georgia's reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976 until the end of FY04, the Parole Board has considered 47 death-sentenced inmates. Eight have been commuted to a lesser sentence.
47 death-sentenced inmates considered vs. 8 commuted to lesser sentence
FY04 death case inmates Case detail
The four inmates considered by the Board in FY04 were James Willie Brown, Eddie Albert Crawford, Willie James Hall and Robert Karl Hicks. Only Willie James Hall was granted executive clemency. The Parole Board commuted his sentence to life without parole on January 26, 2004. The other three inmates were executed.
Elderly inmate population definition Policy
Georgia defines its 'elderly inmate' population as those who are 50 years of age or older.
Elderly inmate healthcare cost burden Statistic
Elderly inmates comprise almost ten percent of Georgia's inmate population but consume more than 31 percent of the state prison healthcare budget set aside for all inmates.
31% vs. 10 percent of inmate population
Elderly inmate population FY04 Statistic
In FY04, inmates 50 or older made up 9.7% of the prison population (5,075 inmates) and consumed 31.5% of health care dollars spent for hospital and specialist care delivered outside the prison infirmary.
5,075 elderly inmates vs. 9.7 percent of prison population
Medical reprieve process Policy
The Parole Board has the power to grant medical reprieves to inmates who are incapacitated due to age, a health condition, or a terminal illness. Department of Corrections medical staff recommend inmates for reprieve. In FY04, the Parole Board released 97 inmates on medical reprieve status.
Victim compensation fee requirement Policy
Since 1991 the agency has required certain parolees to pay a victim compensation fee. The proceeds of this fee are deposited in the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
Monthly supervision fee Policy
Releasees pay a $30 monthly supervision fee that goes to the state treasury's general fund.
Total parolee payments collected FY04 Statistic
Total parolee payments collected in FY2004: $2,803,572, including $2,085,019 in monthly supervision fees, $508,285 in restitution, and $210,268 in victims compensation fund payments.
$2.8M
Daily parole supervision cost FY04 Statistic
Daily parole supervision cost in FY2004 was $3.78 per day, compared to $47.49 per day for prison incarceration.
$3.78 vs. 47.5 prison cost per day
Field Division mission redefinition Policy
During FY04, the Parole Board's Field Division redefined its mission to 'safely transition offenders into the community,' refocusing field staff towards mission-critical efforts.
New parole officer graduates Statistic
In FY04, ten new parole officers graduated from the agency's Basic Training Academy in Forsyth, Georgia at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC).
10 new parole officers
Parole officer training duration Policy
Parole officers spend eight weeks studying defensive tactics, constitutional law, supervision techniques, victims' rights and other subjects.
Parole officer POST certification Policy
Graduates of the rigorous training are certified by the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Council to serve as Georgia Peace Officers sworn to protect the public.
Parole officer education requirements Policy
All parole officers have four-year college degrees and are P.O.S.T. certified peace officers.
Parole violators arrested in FY04 Statistic
During FY04 Georgia parole officers arrested 6,354 parole violators, averaging 530 arrests per month.
6,354 parole violators arrested vs. 530 average arrests per month
Cognitive skills program graduates Statistic
In FY04, 389 parolees graduated from cognitive skills programs.
389 parolees graduated
Substance abuse program completions Statistic
In FY04, 1,925 parolees completed substance abuse programs.
1,925 parolees completed
Mental health counseling referrals Statistic
In FY04, 2,743 parolees were required to attend mental health counseling.
2,743 parolees required to attend
Substance abuse services RFP Policy
At the end of FY04, the Parole Board issued a request for proposals for parolee substance abuse services to obtain one statewide vendor (or up to six regional vendors) to deliver outpatient substance abuse services to offenders identified by the Board.
TAPP program for mentally ill parolees Policy
During FY04, parole officers referred increasing numbers of parolees to the Treatment and Aftercare for Probationers and Parolees (TAPP) program, specializing in treatment for mentally ill offenders. TAPP provides case managers for mentally ill offenders who facilitate mental health treatment, find funding for medication, and help offenders find appropriate housing and other support services.
Female parole population by crime type Statistic
Female parole population by crime type (Total = 2,525): Property 1,152 (46%), Drug Sales 431 (17%), Drug Possession 535 (21%), Violent 279 (11%), Sex 7 (0%), Other 104 (4%), HV/DUI 17 (1%).
2,525 female parolees
Male parole population by crime type Statistic
Male parole population by crime type (Total = 20,480): Property 6,012 (29%), Drug Sales 4,699 (23%), Drug Possession 4,110 (20%), Violent 3,452 (17%), Sex 242 (1%), Other 1,588 (8%), HV/DUI 377 (2%).
20,480 male parolees
Electronic monitoring contract Policy
In August 2003, using the state's competitive bid process, the Board contracted with ADT Security Services to supply electronic monitoring devices at a cost of $2.80 per day per parolee. These costs are paid by the offender.
Electronic monitoring population increase Statistic
During FY04, the Board increased the number of parolees on electronic monitoring from approximately 700 in June 2003, to 862 in July 2004.
862 parolees on electronic monitoring vs. 700 parolees in June 2003
GPS electronic monitoring pilot project Policy
At the end of FY04, the Board began the bidding process for a pilot project to evaluate Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) electronic monitoring in ten cities across the state. Implementation of the program is scheduled for FY05.
Drug screening volume FY04 Statistic
In FY04, more than 74,000 drug screens were completed on parolees throughout the state with 84 percent reporting negative for drug use.
74,000 drug screens completed vs. 84 percent negative
Drug testing episodes FY04 Statistic
Total drug testing episodes in FY2004: 73,138. Negative: 60,650 (84%). Positive: 13,488 (16%). A test episode is 1 set of drug tests for 1 parolee on 1 day regardless of the number of tests conducted.
73,138 test episodes
Parole success rate FY04 Statistic
Percentage of successful completions in FY2004 was 72%, exceeding the national average of 47% (BJS).
72% vs. 47 national average (BJS)
Parole success rate trend Trend
Over the last seven years the Georgia Parole Board's success rate has exceeded the national average by 14% or more. In FY03 the Board began to apply a stricter measure of 'parolee success,' excluding from successful outcomes those parolees in county jail or on absconder status at the expiration of their parole period.
GPS electronic monitoring evaluation Policy
The Board began testing new electronic monitoring equipment using global positioning satellite (GPS) in October 2004. The evaluation period will end in October 2005. A criminal justice professor with Georgia State University will prepare an independent recommendation on the future use of GPS electronic monitoring.
Parole guidelines revision planned for FY05 Policy
In FY05, the Board plans to complete revisions to the parole guidelines system adjusting crime severity levels and time-to-serve recommendations to more accurately reflect current Board decisions.
Day Reporting Center expansion FY05 Policy
The Parole Board will partner with the Department of Corrections in FY05 to expand the day reporting center concept to three new cities: Jonesboro, Macon and Rome.
New database for parole records Policy
During FY05, the Parole Board will begin the process of moving its portfolio of applications from Lotus Notes to a web based application. This long term project is expected to decrease future equipment costs and allow applications to be shared more easily with other agencies.
Personnel assessment center FY05 Policy
During FY05 the Carl Vinson Institute of Government will begin the work of a job task analysis for the position of chief parole officer. The institute will help the Board develop criteria and procedures for using the assessment center to evaluate applicants for job promotions and new hires.
New web site planned for FY05 Policy
The Board plans to revamp its web site during FY05, bringing popular components such as the Parolee Database, Contact Registry, Pardon Application, Parole laws and rules, and the Victim Impact form to the forefront for easier navigation.
Administrative cost percentage Statistic
The Parole Board has maintained low administrative costs of eight percent of the agency's total budget, one of the lowest in state government.
8%
Parole officer caseload levels Statistic
Parole officers supervised caseloads as high as 90 and above, helping parolees find jobs, providing substance abuse counseling and teaching classes to change their criminal thinking patterns.
90 parolees per officer
Chairman Nix appointment details Case detail
Chairman Milton E. Nix, Jr. was appointed to the Parole Board in June 2002 to fill an interim term. He was reappointed to a full seven-year term in December 2002.
Vice-Chairman Hunt appointment Case detail
Vice-Chairman Garland Hunt, Esq. was appointed to the Parole Board in January 2004. Only one month later, Board Members elected Mr. Hunt Vice-Chairman of the Parole Board.
Board Member Hammonds appointment Case detail
Mr. Garfield Hammonds, Jr. of Atlanta was appointed in 1995 and reappointed in 2002. He served as chairman of the Board during 1996.
Board Member Light appointment Case detail
J. Michael Light was appointed to the Parole Board in July 2002, twenty-two years after joining the agency as a parole officer.
Board Member Walker appointment Case detail
Dr. Eugene Walker from DeKalb County was appointed to the Board in May 1999 and reappointed to a full seven-year term in December 1999.
Board Member Buckner appointment Case detail
On December 2, 2004 Governor Sonny Perdue announced that he will appoint L. Gale Buckner to the Parole Board. Subject to confirmation by the State Senate, Ms. Buckner begins her seven-year term as a Parole Board member on January 1, 2005. She succeeds Board Member J. Michael Light.
CJCC annual federal grant management Statistic
Ms. Buckner joins the Parole Board after serving as Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC), the agency that manages $30 million annually in federal grant money for criminal justice projects in Georgia.
$30.0M
Sources
2 cited sources backing this research.
Primary
Official report
Primary
Official report
Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
ADT Security Services
[organization]
Atlanta Day Reporting Center
[facility]
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[organization]
Carl Vinson Institute of Government
[organization]
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
[organization]
Eddie Albert Crawford
[person]
Eugene Walker
[person]
G-8 Summit
[operation]
Garfield Hammonds, Jr.
[person]
Garland R. Hunt
[person]
Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Fund
[program]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia General Assembly
[organization]
Georgia Public Safety Training Center
[organization]
Georgia State University
[organization]
Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision
[organization]
J. Michael Light
[person]
James Willie Brown
[person]
L. Gale Buckner
[person]
Milton E. Nix, Jr.
[person]
Office of Victim Services
[organization]
Peace Officers Standards and Training Council
[organization]
Robert Karl Hicks
[person]
Sonny Perdue
[person]
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
[organization]
TAPP
[program]
Transition from Prison to the Community Initiative
[program]
U.S. Department of Justice
[organization]
Willie James Hall
[person]