Parole
BOPP Annual Report FY2010 — Georgia Parole Board
The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles FY2010 Annual Report documents the agency's operations, including 13,926 offenders released to parole supervision, a parole completion rate of 69% (20% above the national average), and a parolee population of 25,641. The report highlights cost-effectiveness of parole supervision ($4.65 per day) versus incarceration ($49.35 per day), with an annual cost avoidance of $366,527,300. Key programmatic areas include Reentry Partnership Housing, transitional housing, drug treatment, electronic monitoring, and victim services.
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection.
$49.35
Parole Costs 8x Less Than Prison
Statistic69%
72% Parole Completion Rate
Statistic73%
89% Parolee Employment Rate
Statistic$366.5M
$50M Annual Cost Avoidance
StatisticAll Data Points
144 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
Total individual votes cast by Parole Board Members in FY2010 Statistic
Georgia's five Parole Board Members cast 79,922 individual votes on offender cases in FY10.
79,922 votes
Pre-release conditions imposed in FY2010 Statistic
The Parole Board imposed 42,105 pre-release conditions on offenders in FY10.
42,105 conditions
Final revocation hearings conducted in FY2010 Statistic
The Board presided over 430 final revocation hearings in FY10.
430 hearings
Offenders released to parole supervision in FY2010 Statistic
Through Board action 13,926 offenders were released to parole supervision during the fiscal year, 988 more than the previous fiscal year.
13,926 offenders vs. increase over previous fiscal year
Daily cost of incarceration vs. parole supervision Statistic
It costs $49.35 to incarcerate an offender per day, and $4.65 to supervise an offender in the community.
$49.35 vs. parole supervision cost per day
Parole completion rate in FY2010 Statistic
In FY 2010, the parole completion rate or the percentage of parolees successfully completing their parole supervision rose to 69%. That percentage remains 20% above the national average.
69% vs. percentage points above national average
Parolee population under supervision Statistic
Nearly 23,000 parolees were under supervision across the state of Georgia in FY2010.
23,000 parolees
Parole Board creation legislation Legal fact
In 1943, the Georgia General Assembly enacted legislation to create the State Board of Pardons and Paroles as an independent agency to administer executive clemency, grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, commute sentences (including death sentences), r…
Parole Board expansion to five members Legal fact
In 1973, when the prison population reached 9,000 inmates, the Constitution was amended to expand the Parole Board to five members. The Board still stands at five members, although the prison population exceeds 50,000 inmates.
Georgia prison population exceeds 50,000 Statistic
The prison population exceeds 50,000 inmates as of FY2010.
50,000 inmates
New offender files created in FY2010 Statistic
During FY 2010, Board staff created 21,227 new offender files and completed 58,250 investigations on behalf of the Board.
21,227 files
Investigations completed in FY2010 Statistic
Board staff completed 58,250 investigations on behalf of the Board in FY2010.
58,250 investigations
Visitors met with central office staff in FY2010 Statistic
In FY 2010, 3,527 visitors met with central office staff regarding offender cases.
3,527 visitors
Parole releases in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 10,511 offenders were released on parole.
10,511 offenders
Supervised reprieves in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 1,645 supervised reprieves were granted.
1,645 reprieves
Conditional transfers in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 1,076 conditional transfers were granted.
1,076 transfers
Commutations in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 694 commutations were granted.
694 commutations
Total parole revocations in FY2010 Statistic
Total parole revocations in FY2010 were 2,750, down from 3,093 in FY09.
2,750 revocations vs. FY09 revocations
Discharges from parole in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 7,107 offenders were discharged from parole.
7,107 discharges
Discharges from reprieve in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 1,610 offenders were discharged from reprieve.
1,610 discharges
Commutation to discharge parole in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 513 commutations to discharge parole were granted.
513 commutations
Total discharges in FY2010 Statistic
Total discharges in FY2010 were 9,230.
9,230 discharges
Initial decisions under guidelines in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 12,109 initial decisions were made under parole guidelines.
12,109 decisions
Life case parole denials in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 857 life case parole requests were denied.
857 denials
Life case parole grants in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 219 life case parole requests were granted.
219 grants
Total life decisions in FY2010 Statistic
Total life decisions in FY2010 were 1,076.
1,076 decisions
Pardons granted in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 518 pardons were granted.
518 pardons
Medical compassionate reprieves in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 86 medical compassionate reprieves were granted.
86 reprieves
Restoration of rights in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 95 restorations of rights were granted.
95 restorations
Visitor interviews in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 3,589 visitor interviews were conducted.
3,589 interviews
Preliminary hearings in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 115 preliminary hearings were conducted.
115 hearings
Georgia releases supervised in Georgia Statistic
In FY2010, 21,686 Georgia releases were supervised in Georgia.
21,686 parolees
Out-of-state releases supervised in Georgia Statistic
In FY2010, 883 out-of-state releases were supervised in Georgia.
883 parolees
Georgia releases supervised out-of-state Statistic
In FY2010, 3,072 Georgia releases were supervised out-of-state.
3,072 parolees
Total parolee population in FY2010 Statistic
Total parolee population in FY2010 was 25,641 (in-state and out-of-state).
25,641 parolees
Problem Residence Inmates population increase Statistic
The Problem Residence Inmates population increased from 644 to 768 during the fiscal year.
768 inmates vs. previous fiscal year
Parolees placed in RPH program in FY2010 Statistic
In FY 2010, 199 parolees were placed in the Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH) program. A total of 992 parolees have been placed since the program's inception.
199 parolees vs. total since program inception
Approved Reentry Partnership Housing providers Statistic
The Parole Board has approved 40 Reentry Partnership Housing providers.
40 providers
Reentry Housing Program cost in FY2010 Statistic
In FY 2010, the cost for the Reentry Housing Program was $157,500.
$157,500
Cost savings from Reentry Partnership Housing Program Statistic
Cost savings based on Reentry Partnership Housing Program for FY 2010 was $5,168,646.
$5.2M
THOR approved residential providers Statistic
Through the Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry (THOR) there are 134 approved residential providers.
134 providers
THOR facilities inspected in FY2010 Statistic
In FY 2010, the Parole Board's Transitional Support Services Unit inspected 130 of the facilities to ensure standards were being met.
130 facilities
Parole population increase during FY2010 Statistic
The parole population increased from 21,307 parolees on July 1, 2009 to 22,403 (supervised in-state) on June 30, 2010.
22,403 parolees vs. July 1, 2009
Average caseload per parole officer Statistic
The average caseload per parole officer in the state during the fiscal year was 78, up from 74 the previous fiscal year.
78 cases vs. previous fiscal year
Number of parole officers statewide Statistic
The Parole Board employs 300 parole officers statewide.
300 officers
Face-to-face contacts by parole officers in FY2010 Statistic
Georgia's parole officers made 477,527 face to face contacts with offenders across the state during Fiscal Year 2010.
477,527 contacts
Parole sex offender population increase Statistic
During FY 2010, the monthly average of the Parole Sex Offender population increased by more than 7% to 384 offenders.
384 offenders vs. percent increase
Parolee employment rate in FY2010 Statistic
The parolee employment rate in FY 2010 was 73%, down from 78% in FY 2009.
73% vs. FY 2009
Employment effect on recidivism Finding
Studies show that for every day a parolee is employed, there is a 1% decrease in the chance that they will be re-arrested.
Parolees enrolled in drug treatment programs Statistic
11,222 parolees were enrolled in drug treatment programs during Fiscal Year 2010.
11,222 parolees
Non-random drug tests administered in FY2010 Statistic
A total of 97,217 non-random drug tests were administered by parole officers in FY 2010.
97,217 tests
Random drug tests administered in FY2010 Statistic
In FY 2010, 15,668 random drug tests were administered, with 1,434 positive results (9.2%).
15,668 tests vs. positive results
Positive random drug test rate in FY2010 Statistic
Of 15,668 random drug tests administered in FY2010, 1,434 were positive, a rate of 9.2%.
9.2%
Outpatient substance abuse counselors Statistic
In FY2010, there were 60 part-time contracted substance abuse counselors for outpatient parolee substance abuse recovery services.
60 counselors
MAP group participants in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 2,394 parolees participated in Motivation, Assessment and Planning (MAP) Groups.
2,394 participants
Recovery group participants in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 7,924 parolees participated in Recovery Groups.
7,924 participants
Faith-Based Residential Substance Abuse Project admissions Statistic
From March 2009 to March 2010, the Faith-Based Residential Substance Abuse Project had 56 admissions.
56 admissions
Faith-Based Residential Substance Abuse Project graduation rate Statistic
From March 2009 to March 2010, the Faith-Based Residential Substance Abuse Project had 54 graduates out of 56 admissions, a 96% completion rate.
96%
No Turning Back Recovery Program admissions Statistic
In FY2010, the No Turning Back Recovery Program at Whitworth Parole Center had 146 admissions.
146 admissions
No Turning Back Recovery Program graduates Statistic
In FY2010, the No Turning Back Recovery Program had 131 graduates out of 146 admissions.
131 graduates
Annual cost avoidance from parole supervision Statistic
In FY 2010, the annual cost avoidance as a result of offenders on parole is calculated at $366,527,300.
$366.5M
Offenders incarcerated in Georgia prisons on June 30, 2010 Statistic
On June 30, 2010, there were 52,291 offenders incarcerated in Georgia prisons.
52,291 offenders
Offenders released to out-of-state supervision in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 528 offenders were released/paroled to out-of-state supervision.
528 offenders
Offenders under out-of-state supervision on June 30, 2010 Statistic
As of June 30, 2010, 1,638 offenders were under out-of-state supervision.
1,638 offenders
Offenders released to ICE for deportation in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 526 offenders were released to ICE for deportation, a cost savings for Georgia of $29,558,016.
526 offenders vs. cost savings in dollars
Offenders under conditional transfer supervision Statistic
As of FY2010, 1,440 offenders were under conditional transfer supervision to a Federal or Out-of-State Detainer.
1,440 offenders
Other state offenders under Georgia supervision Statistic
As of FY2010, 852 other state offenders were under Georgia supervision.
852 offenders
Technical violations as percentage of revocations Statistic
Revocations as a result of technical violations accounted for only 13% in FY2010.
13%
Warrants issued by the Board in FY2010 Statistic
In FY 2010, a total of 11,189 warrants were issued by the Board.
11,189 warrants
Fugitive arrests in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 642 fugitive arrests were made.
642 arrests
V.I.P. automated phone system calls in FY2010 Statistic
In Fiscal Year 2010, 12,958 calls were logged into the V.I.P. Automated Phone system by victims and others.
12,958 calls
Automated victim notification calls in FY2010 Statistic
In Fiscal Year 2010, 832 calls were automatically made to victims of crime through the V.I.P. system.
832 calls
Direct phone calls to Office of Victim Services in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, the Office of Victim Services received 2,588 direct phone calls from victims or family members with questions pertaining to offenders.
2,588 calls
Correspondences filed from victims in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 2,894 correspondences from victims or family members were officially filed as part of offender records.
2,894 correspondences
Correspondences sent to victims in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 12,617 correspondences were sent to victims or family members addressing their concerns.
12,617 correspondences
Victim impact statements filed in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, victims filed 2,325 victim impact statements and notifications with the Office of Victim Services.
2,325 statements
Restitution paid to victims in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, 2,338 victims received $132,080 (48% more paid out than in FY09) in restitution from offenders.
$132,080 vs. percent increase over FY09
Victims seen at Victims Visitors' Days in FY2010 Statistic
In FY10, 179 victims were seen at two Victims Visitors' Days and 97% of the participants rated their overall experience as good or excellent.
179 victims
Total crime victims met since 2006 Statistic
Since 2006, the Board has met with over 970 crime victims and their families through Victims Visitors' Days.
970 victims
Total expenditures for FY2010 Statistic
Total Expenditures for FY 2010 were $51,383,648.
$51.4M
Personal services expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, personal services expenditures were $39,996,623.
$40.0M
Regular operating expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, regular operating expenditures were $1,899,032.
$1.9M
Motor vehicle expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, motor vehicle expenditures were $134,789.
$134,789
Equipment expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, equipment expenditures were $37,617.
$37,617
Computer charges in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, computer charges were $691,706.
$691,706
Real estate rental expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, real estate rental expenditures were $2,908,764.
$2.9M
Telecommunications expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, telecommunications expenditures were $2,007,600.
$2.0M
Contracts expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, contracts expenditures were $3,177,927.
$3.2M
County jail subsidy expenditures in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, county jail subsidy expenditures were $529,590.
$529,590
Total funds in FY2009 Statistic
Total funds in FY09 were $53,273,155.
$53.3M
Total funds in FY2010 Statistic
Total funds in FY10 were $52,471,715.
$52.5M
Federal funds in FY2009 Statistic
Federal funds in FY09 were $1,432,766.
$1.4M
Federal funds in FY2010 Statistic
Federal funds in FY10 were $1,342,042.
$1.3M
Other funds in FY2009 Statistic
Other funds in FY09 were $552,434.
$552,434
Other funds in FY2010 Statistic
Other funds in FY10 were $192,599.
$192,599
State funds in FY2009 Statistic
State funds in FY09 were $51,287,955.
$51.3M
State funds in FY2010 Statistic
State funds in FY10 were $50,056,373.
$50.1M
Stimulus funds in FY2010 Statistic
Stimulus funds in FY10 were $880,701.
$880,701
Supervision and interstate transfer fees collected in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, supervision and interstate transfer fees collected from parolees totaled $3,049,733.19.
$3.0M
Restitution collected in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, restitution collected from parolees totaled $147,094.25.
$147,094
Victims compensation collected in FY2010 Statistic
In FY2010, victims compensation collected from parolees totaled $679,690.81.
$679,691
Employee count decline since 2006 Statistic
The number of employees at the State Board of Pardons and Paroles has declined since 2006 from 725 to 689 at the close of FY 2010.
689 employees vs. 2006 employee count
Employees by gender Statistic
Of 689 total employees, 373 (54%) are female and 316 (46%) are male.
373 female employees vs. male employees
Employees by race/ethnicity Statistic
Of 689 total employees, 416 (60%) are White, 256 (37%) are Black, 10 (2%) are Asian, 3 (1%) are Hispanic, 2 (0%) are American Indian, and 2 (0%) are Multirace.
416 White employees vs. Black employees
Chairman James Donald quote on victims Quote
"We remind offenders that victims have a vote too, regarding whether they receive a parole release" - Chairman James Donald
Parole completion rate trend Trend
For the fourth consecutive year the rate of Georgia parolees successfully completing supervision has increased and is 20% above the national average. Georgia's completion rate rose from 60% in FY06 to 69% in FY10.
Parole revocations declining trend Trend
Revocations have gradually declined since 2006, from 3,093 in FY09 to 2,750 in FY10.
Clemency Online Navigation System (CONS) implementation Policy
The Clemency Online Navigation System or CONS, remains on schedule for implementation in December 2010. Paper driven business processes to include thousands of paper offender files will eventually be replaced by electronic data and a document manage…
Parole officer training requirements Policy
Parole officers must have a four year college degree and are required to complete an eight week basic training course at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC).
Sex offender supervision requirements Policy
The Board requires sex offenders to be supervised at the highest level to include electronic monitoring. Parole officers check to ensure compliance monthly to include searches and residence requirements.
Random drug testing policy Policy
Each month a random sample of 10% of the active parole population is selected for drug testing.
Outpatient substance abuse program discharge requirements Policy
Successful discharge from the outpatient substance abuse program requires attending six consecutive weeks of group sessions and a minimum of two negative drug tests.
THOR facility inspection policy Policy
Staff conduct site visits a minimum of every two years to re-approve facilities based on THOR Directory standards.
Parole Board constitutional authority 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 process Legal fact
The Georgia Constitution provides that Parole Board Members are to be appointed by the Governor to serve seven-year staggered terms, subject to confirmation by the State Senate.
Tentative parole month decision process Policy
A tentative parole month or TPM is set when three of the five Board Members agree on a specific time to serve.
General Donald's savings as Corrections Commissioner Statistic
Under General Donald's leadership as Commissioner of Corrections, management and efficiency decisions saved taxpayers an estimated $66 million in FY 2009 and 'triple bunking' prison cells reduced the need for a new prison, a cost avoidance of approx…
$66.0M vs. cost avoidance from triple bunking
Corrections Headquarters relocation savings Statistic
The planned relocation of the Corrections Headquarters and its Training Academy to Tift Campus in Forsyth, Georgia will save Georgia taxpayers $4 million annually.
$4.0M
Georgia Department of Corrections scope under General Donald Statistic
As Prisons Chief, General Donald oversaw the fifth largest prison system in the nation, some 200,000 felons in prison or on probation, 15,000 employees, of which 10,000 are sworn peace officers, and an annual budget of more than $1.2 billion.
200,000 felons
Pre-Release Centers opened by General Donald Statistic
General Donald opened and began operating six new 200 bed Pre-Release Centers and eight in-house Transition Centers.
6 centers
Faith and Character-based dorms added Statistic
Twelve new Faith and Character-based dorms and 15 full-time chaplain positions have been added as a result of General Donald's leadership.
12 dorms
Albert Murray's tenure as DJJ Commissioner Case detail
Mr. Murray was sworn in as Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) on January 23, 2004. He ended his tenure May 14, 2010 as the longest serving juvenile justice commissioner in Georgia's history.
DJJ release from federal oversight Legal fact
A major accomplishment as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice was the completion of all requirements for the release from the agency's memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice on May 05, 2009, ending eleven …
Terry Barnard's legislative tenure Case detail
Former State Representative Terry E. Barnard served nearly sixteen years in the Georgia House of Representatives prior to being appointed to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Sex Offenders Registry framework Legal fact
In 1995-1996, Mr. Barnard guided through the Georgia House, the framework for the State Sex Offenders Registry and Sexual Predators Review Board.
L. Gale Buckner's GBI career Case detail
Ms. Buckner began her service with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in 1981 as an undercover operative and earned the Director's Award for Outstanding Investigations in 1984.
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council grant administration Statistic
Under Ms. Buckner's leadership as Executive Director of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the agency administered $100 million annually in federal grant monies for Georgia's criminal justice community.
$100.0M
Robert Keller's prosecutorial career Case detail
Mr. Keller served as the District Attorney of Clayton County from 1977-2004. During those years he was voted District Attorney of the Year in 1987 and 2001.
Victims Visitors' Day program origin Finding
It was Ms. Buckner's leadership that inspired the Victims' Visitors Day program as a means of further assisting victims of crime while fulfilling Governor Perdue's vision of making state government more accessible to Georgia taxpayers.
Parole supervision cost relative to incarceration Finding
Although the cost of parole supervision has increased slightly over the past decade, it remains less than 10% the cost of incarceration in Georgia.
Georgia parole completion rate vs. national average Statistic
Georgia's parole completion rate of 69% in FY2010 is 20% above the national average of 49%.
69% vs. national average
V.I.P. system partnership Policy
V.I.P. is a 24-hour automated information system used by the Georgia Department of Corrections, in partnership with the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, to provide victims of crime and/or their families with access to information about their offe…
Supervision fees go directly to treasury Policy
Supervision fees collected from parolees go directly into the treasury.
Victims Compensation Fund administration Policy
Victims Compensation goes into the Victims Compensation Fund which is administered by Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
Restitution disbursement policy Policy
Restitution is disbursed directly to crime victims.
Penfield Christian Homes contract Case detail
The Board contracted with Penfield Christian Homes, a Georgia Association of Recovery Residences and THOR Directory approved program, for the Faith-Based Residential Substance Abuse Project.
No Turning Back Program description Policy
The No Turning Back Program at Whitworth Parole Center is an intensive addiction treatment program for parolees who are identified as both high-risk and high-need.
Interstate Compact Unit responsibilities Policy
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles Interstate Compact Unit is responsible for overseeing the placement and transfer of all parolees into and out of the state of Georgia and is a member of the nationwide Interstate Commission for Adult Offender S…
Victim registration process Policy
Victims or family members of the victim of a crime can register for Victim Information Program (V.I.P.) notification by returning a completed Crime Victim Notification Request Form and/or a Victim Impact Statement to the Office of Victim Services.
Parole case file contents Methodology note
The case file of an offender generally includes investigative reports, correctional reports, a summary of the offender's criminal history, circumstances of current offenses and a recommended number of months to serve based upon the application of th…
Parole process steps Methodology note
The parole process includes: Investigation by Parole Investigators, Hearing Examiner Review, Board Members individually considering the case, setting a tentative parole month (TPM) when three of five Board Members agree, written notification to offe…
BJS national statistics availability note Methodology note
BJS national statistics for 2009 will be available November 2010.
Parole completion rate calculation methodology Methodology note
The parole completion rate calculations are based on BJS methodology.
Electronic monitoring data FY2009-FY2010 Trend
RF EM decreased from 1,087 in FY2009 to 1,054 in FY2010 (-3.04%). GPS EM increased from 250 in FY2009 to 279 in FY2010 (11.60%). Total EM decreased slightly from 1,337 to 1,333 (-0.30%). Sex offenders on EM increased from 358 to 384 (7.26%).
Sources
2 cited sources backing this research.
Primary
Official report
Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
Primary
Official report
Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
Albert R. Murray
[person]
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[organization]
Clemency Online Navigation System
[program]
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
[organization]
Faith-Based Residential Substance Abuse Project
[program]
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
[organization]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
[organization]
Georgia General Assembly
[organization]
Georgia Public Safety Training Center
[organization]
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
[organization]
Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision
[organization]
James E. Donald
[person]
L. Gale Buckner
[person]
No Turning Back Recovery Program
[program]
Office of Victim Services
[organization]
Penfield Christian Homes
[organization]
Phillips State Prison
[facility]
Reentry Partnership Housing Program
[program]
Robert E. Keller
[person]
Sonny Perdue
[person]
State Board of Pardons and Paroles
[organization]
Terry E. Barnard
[person]
Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry
[program]
U.S. Department of Justice
[organization]
Victim Information Program
[program]
Victims Visitors' Day
[program]
Whitworth Parole Center
[facility]
Related Topics
Research topics that draw on data from this collection.
Budget & Spending
The Georgia Department of Corrections now operates within roughly a $1.8 billion annual appropriation, with actual spending rising from $1.53 billion in FY2024 to $1.91 billion in FY2025 and $634 million in new corrections appropriations approved in 2025. Yet line-item analysis shows flat food spending at $0.54–$0.55 per meal, a nearly 50% correctional officer vacancy rate, and rising homicides even as millions flow to surveillance and extraction vendors. This page traces the budget's trajectory, its neglect points, and the missing accountability infrastructure.
6,080 data points
Parole & Sentencing
Georgia operates one of the most incarcerated prison systems in the country—locking up residents at 881 per 100,000 people, a rate higher than any country in the world except El Salvador—while parole releases fell 59% from FY2016 to FY2024. Life and virtual-life sentences now account for one in five people in Georgia Department of Corrections custody, even as the General Assembly approved $634 million in new corrections spending in 2025. GPS collections show a parole system that consistently outperforms national supervision completion rates, but which has narrowed release opportunities and left aging, life-sentenced, and domestic-violence-survivor resentencing questions unresolved.
6,723 data points
Population & Demographics
Georgia operates one of the largest prison systems in the United States, holding roughly 53,000 people in GDC custody as of mid-2026 and supervising tens of thousands more on probation and parole. The population is aging, includes a large life-sentenced group, and women are incarcerated at a rate exceeding nearly every nation. Yet the state's own data paints conflicting pictures of the system's true size, and major demographic health gaps — including missing hepatitis C results for half of all incarcerated people — obscure who is actually behind bars.
4,893 data points
Recidivism & Reentry
Georgia’s public narrative touts a low three-year felony reconviction rate of 25–27%, but this narrow metric masks a deeper crisis: the state releases 14,000–16,000 people annually with minimal reentry support, contributing to a national five-year rearrest rate of 76.6%. With nearly one in three incarcerated people over 50, spiraling healthcare costs, and a parole system that achieves a 72% successful completion rate, Georgia faces a stark choice between investing in evidence-based reentry or absorbing the escalating fiscal and human costs of system failure.
6,376 data points
Reform Models & Programs
Georgia's prison system spends roughly $1.8 billion a year, but national reform evidence shows that rehabilitation outcomes come from structured cognitive-behavioral programs, smaller purpose-built units, and independent oversight—not custody expansion alone. Across 62 GPS research collections, Georgia's programming infrastructure appears largely aspirational against models in California, Texas, and Pennsylvania, even as parole supervision data shows what is possible when accountability and services align.
6,925 data points