Georgia Parole Board Member Timothy Ward has received the P.C. Shields Award from the Southern States Correctional Association (SSCA).

Ward, a longtime member of SSCA, was recognized for his years of service to the organization and his continuing support of SSCA throughout his career in corrections. Ward attended SSCA's 53rd Annual Summer Conference in Norfolk, Virginia this week. The SSCA Award Nomination spoke specifically to Ward's unwavering support of SSCA during the pandemic.

"The Southern States Correctional Association is such a great organization for training and support of correctional professionals. I give a great deal of credit to SSCA over the years for my professional development. I am truly humbled and appreciative of the award," said Ward.

Ward is a career Georgia corrections official who began with the Georgia Department of Corrections in 1992 as a correctional officer and eventually rose to Chief of Staff in 2016. He was appointed Commissioner in 2019 by Governor Brian Kemp. In January of this year, he was appointed to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

P.C. Shields was a member and past president of the Southern States Correctional Association. A Virginia probation and parole official, Shields served on the Virginia Parole Board and as its chairman. He passed away in 2016.

SSCA brings correctional and probation and parole professionals together for training and sharing of best practices. The conference included presentations by NOVA, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, and on Re-Entry, and staff wellness among many others.

SSCA includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

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