Atlanta – The State Board of Pardons and Paroles announced today that it has approved a new Mission Statement.

July 1, 2015 marks the beginning of operations for the Department of Community Supervision which now oversees the field supervision efforts of parolees in Georgia. As a result, the Georgia Parole Board revised its Mission, Vision and Values, adopting statements which reflect the agency’s commitment to public safety, victims and offenders.

The Parole Board’s Mission is to serve the citizens of Georgia by exercising the constitutional authority of executive clemency through informed decision-making, thereby ensuring public safety, protecting victims’ rights, and providing offenders with opportunities for positive change.

Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard says the board’s Mission Statement clearly defines the agency’s objective.

“The board makes informed parole decisions focusing on public safety as it relates to those who are granted parole,” Chairman Barnard stated.

Chairman Barnard says public safety has always been the board’s number one priority and that will not change with the field supervision efforts of parolees transferring to the Department of Community Supervision.

“The Parole Board will continue to make data driven, evidence-based decisions regarding which offenders can be safely returned to society. The information the board utilizes to make these critical decisions will include input from victims and law enforcement, as well as risk assessment instruments and the board’s parole decision guidelines,” stated Chairman Barnard.

The Parole Board supported the creation of the new Department of Community Supervision as another step in Governor Deal’s criminal justice reform efforts. Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard and Vice Chairman James Mills are members of the new Board of Community Supervision which will oversee the new offender supervision agency. The Board of Community Supervision is conducting its first meeting in Atlanta today.

Please see the Download this pdf file. Mission Statement and the included Vision and Values of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

The Parole Board is working on a new agency strategic plan to be unveiled in the near future.

For more information on the Parole Board visit pap.georgia.gov or contact Steve Hayes, Director of the Office of Communications, at 404-657-9450.