Juvenile Probation/Parole Officers also graduate

Atlanta, GA– Seven new state parole officers graduated an eight week basic training course today, Friday, August 1, 2014.

The new officers will be working in the following locations: Atlanta, Carrollton, Clarkesville, Conyers, Douglasville, Marietta and Savannah, Georgia.

Terry Barnard, Chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, delivered remarks to the graduates. Barnard told the new parole officers that they are holding a unique law enforcement position.

“You have earned the right to wear the parole uniform and carry the badge that sets you apart from all others in the state. Not only will you have the responsibility to protect the greater public, but you will find yourself providing your parolees with counseling, advice and discipline,” said Barnard.

Barnard urged the officers to make parole a career and start by mastering every part of being a parole officer. “Become an expert in your field,” he added. 

The Basic Probation/Parole Officer Training Course (BPPOTC) is an eight week training course resulting in all new officers being certified as Probation/Parole Officers by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (P.O.S.T.).

For the first time, the Parole Board’s basic training class included 12 Juvenile Probation/Parole Officers who work for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). DJJ Commissioner Avery Niles also delivered remarks to the graduates.

The basic training course work includes supervision techniques, investigation procedures, intervention strategies, Georgia law, policy and procedure, interview skills, physical fitness, arrest procedures, defensive tactics, computer interaction, firearms qualification and crisis mediation skills.

The Parole Board employs approximately 300 officers. The average parole caseload of offenders is 90.

Georgia parole utilizes a “Virtual Office.” As a result, Georgia’s parole officers are supervising offenders in the community, full-time. The state vehicle serves as the parole office and is equipped with all necessary technology. Parole officers no longer report to a physical office location.

The graduation ceremony was held at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) in Forsyth.

For more information on the Parole Board please visit our website at www.pap.georgia.gov.

           

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