NCJ Number
74946
Date Published
Unknown
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Information reflecting activities of Georgia's State Board of Pardons and Paroles from July 1, 1978, through June 30, 1980, is presented.
Abstract
Introducing parole decision guidelines and holding the line against prison overcrowding were the two major accomplishments of the board during fiscal years 1979 and 1980. In response to prison overcrowding, the board decided to consider for release all inmates who were within 6 months of their discharge dates. No inmate selected during this special screening had served less than 3 months, and no inmate had more than 6 months remaining to serve. Through November 1980 the screening led to 3,415 special releases. More permanent relief from the overcrowding materialized during fall 1980, when a 420-bed prison opened near Atlanta. A new facility of comparable size is scheduled to open in Savannah in 1981. The parole decision guidelines which were implemented in October 1979 were created to help the board make consistent, prompt, and explainable parole decisions with regard to inmates serving felony sentences of less than 21 years. Using recognized statistical procedures, board researchers isolated parole success factors with proven predictive value in selecting candidates for parole. Success factors and severity levels were combined into a time-to-serve chart, which indicates how long inmates should serve. During this reporting period, the field operations division performed more demanding duties because of the parole decision guidelines and because of special releases. The division emphasized staff training and college recruitment and continued to make special efforts with regard to equal employment opportunities. Of Georgia parolees, 89 percent completed parole successfully, and of the 11 percent who failed on parole, all had paroles revoked for serious technical violations, not for committing new offenses. A map, chart, and table are included.