Writer: Staff Reports
Published August 8, 2021
Johnson City Press
Georgia’s five-member parole board has completed training delivered by the Center for Effective Public Policy and the Carl Vinson Institute. The training was conducted at State Offices South at Tift College in Forsyth, at the Georgia Department of Corrections’ headquarters.
Richard Stroker, a senior associate with the Center for Effective Public Policy and director of the National Parole Resource Center, led part of the training focusing on national trends, Georgia’s inmate population and the Parole Board’s guidelines system.
Stroker said Georgia’s guidelines system shows “transparency” in decision-making.
“Your board is a leader among parole boards, among the best in the nation,” he said.
Discussions included how the guidelines might be enhanced.
Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard and the entire board attended the training.
As a paroling authority, we will always look for information that can make our scientific, data-driven decision-making system even better,” Barnard said. “We must continue to focus on enhancements that can result in more positive outcomes.”
When considering parole for statutorily parole eligible offenders who are serving less than a life sentence, the board reviews a parole recommendation obtained from the Parole Decision Guidelines system, which accounts for the severity of the crime and the offender’s risk to re-offend.
Georgia’s parole completion success percentage annually surpasses the national average. The Georgia success rate of 73% outpaced the overall national average of 63%, according to Stroker.
The board also received training from Michael Hourihan with the Carl Vinson Institute regarding ethics and parole decision-making. Hourihan guided the board through a discussion looking at parole decisions in other states.
Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett said continued training is critical to public safety.
“As a public safety agency, we must stay informed regarding national trends and review the processes of other paroling authorities,” Barnett said. “Although most states operate differently, we must research ways to make our system more efficient and effective.”
