Governor Sonny Perdue Hosts Opening of Corrections Centers

Governor Sonny Perdue Hosts Opening of Corrections Centers

Governor and DOC Commissioner Open Wilkes, Lamar, Appling and Turner Pre-Release Centers

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue, Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner James E. Donald and members of the Board of Corrections today hosted opening ceremonies for Pre-Release Centers in Wilkes, Lamar, Appling and Turner Counties.

“The prison beds we are opening today will ultimately increase the safety of Georgia’s communities,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “These centers will transition lower risk offenders back into the community, saving maximum security prison beds for murderers, sexual predators and those who would prey on innocent Georgia citizens. Today’s openings are also creating new jobs for Georgians across the state.”

Each of the four Pre-Release Centers opening today will employ between 45 and 50 staff members, with an estimated annual payroll of approximately $2 million per center. The 200-bed centers will aid DOC’s efforts to transfer state sentenced inmates from county jails into the prison system, thereby reducing county jail backlogs.

The Pre-Release Centers opening today are a result of Governor Perdue’s recommendation of $48 million in the 2006 and 2007 budgets. The Governor’s recommendation will allow DOC to open an additional 4,200 prison beds.

“National and state trends indicate that more than 65 percent of felons commit additional crimes and return to prison within their lifetime. This is unacceptable and we must do more to fight recidivism,” said Corrections Commissioner James E. Donald. “We have an obligation to insure we are doing everything possible to prepare offenders for a law abiding return to our communities.”

Pre-Release Centers are a new concept in Georgia. The centers are designed to reduce inmates’ risk of re-offending by addressing re-entry needs. The facilities will have strict supervision and will house lower risk offenders. Studies show offenders released through transition centers are statistically less likely to commit new crimes than those released directly from prison.

The Georgia Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising more than 55,000 state prisoners and 140,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in Georgia, employing nearly 15,000 Georgians.

The following is information on each of the four Pre-Release Centers opened today:

Appling Pre Release Center

• Appling County; Baxley, Georgia
• A unit of Wayne State Prison
• Designed to house offenders with security classifications of medium, minimum or trustee – Not long-term, close or maximum security inmates
• Will employ 45-50 staff members, with an estimated annual payroll of just under $2 million.
  

Lamar Pre-Release Center

• Lamar County; Barnesville, Georgia
• A unit of the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison
• Designed to house offenders with security classifications of medium, minimum or trustee – Not long-term, close or maximum security inmates
• Will employ 45-50 staff members, with an estimated annual payroll of just under $2 million.
  

Turner Pre-Release Center

• Turner County; Sycamore, Georgia
• A unit of Wilcox State Prison
• Designed to house offenders with security classifications of medium, minimum or trustee – Not long-term, close or maximum security inmates
• Will employ 45-50 staff members, with an estimated annual payroll of just under $2 million.
  

Wilkes Pre-Release Center

• Wilkes County; Washington, Georgia
• A unit of the Whitworth Parole Revocation Center
• Designed to house offenders with security classifications of medium, minimum or trustee - Not long-term, close or maximum security inmates
• Will employ 45-50 staff members, with an estimated annual payroll of just under $2 million.

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