Facility Remissioning
In the course of FY 2015, three facilities were remissioned and planning stages for another began.
Lee Evidence-Based State Prison
Through the collaboration of the Facilities Division, Transitional Services unit, and the Governor’s Office of Transition, Support, and Reentry (GOTSR), the agency implemented it’s first Evidence-Based
Prison at Lee State Prison in Leesburg, Ga. The project was defined
within a federal grant that the agency received in October 2014. The
concept is an innovative, experimental project design, based on the
most current research on evidence-based practices within correctional facilities. The program consists of four, six-month phases where
offenders are provided cognitive-based programing and a variety of
elective courses designed to challenge their thinking and provide skills for successful reentry. Staff received Effective Communication Training and Cognitive Leadership Training as foundations for evidence-based offender
supervision practices. The goals are to provide better offender supervision, reduce recidivism and assist offenders
in making positive changes. In preparation for developing Lee State Prison into a learning site, staff collaborated
with the State Penitentiary of Louisiana (Angola) to learn of the development of a similar missioned facility—
now 20 years of success. Classes began on June 1, 2015 with a total of 100 participants.
Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities
Bleckley Probation Detention Center (PDC) was remissioned to a female Probation Residential Substance Abuse
Treatment (RSAT) facility and Paulding PDC to a male Probation RSAT facility. This reduced the female RSAT
waiting list to zero, cut the male RSAT waiting time by 40%, and created an additional 400 Residential Substance
Abuse programing beds as sentencing options for judges.
Faith & Character Based Prison for female offenders
Lastly, the agency began planning for the establishment of a reentry/faith and character prison for women at
Emanuel Women’s Facility in Swainsboro, Ga. This prison will provide programs, services, and reentry assistance
uniquely designed for female offenders. This will be a replica of the Walker Faith & Character Based Prison.
Chaplaincy and Volunteer Services
Another area of focus the agency saw an increase and growth in
was Chaplaincy and Volunteer Services. There was an increase in
partnerships with Kairos Prison Ministry, Bill Glass Behind the
Walls, Gideons International, In-Touch Ministries, Prison Fellowship, and Ye Visited Me Ministries. Additionally, the agency added six positions within Chaplaincy Services and added a total of
415 volunteers.
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Report FY 2015