Corrections_Today_January_February_2019

nEWS & vIEWS

View from the Line

Georgia’s re-entry efforts By DeLana Powell and Janine Robinson

G eorgia has long been on the forefront of correction re- form, focusing on reducing recidivism and promoting success- ful re-entry within our correctional system. In 2011, Georgia’s General Assembly passed HB 265. This reso- lution, signed by Governor Nathan Deal, created the bipartisan, inter- branch special council on criminal justice reform. Georgia is now widely recognized as a national leader in implement- ing evidence-based criminal justice reforms which are providing a higher level of public safety at a lower cost. One of the most recent impacts from HB 265 is the State of Georgia (SOG) Re-entry Summit. The SOG 2 nd Annual Re-entry Summit was held on June 19, 2018 and welcomed over 600 attendees. The goal of the re-entry summit was to network and interact with stakeholders from across the state to discuss and further develop ongoing re-entry initiatives. Georgia Correctional Industries (GCI) participated as a vendor, and staff attended the plenary and workshop sessions throughout the day. GCI is committed in developing offend- ers’ job skills needed for successful re-entry into society while providing quality products and services for our customers through manufacturing,

state employment. Local counties, in addition to some private sector companies, have also adopted this policy. Georgia Justice Project (GJP) is working to improve Georgia’s leg- islation regarding criminal records as well as advocate for employment opportunities. GJP also represents individuals that have a Georgia criminal record and individuals that have a pending criminal case in the metro Atlanta area.

food service and agribusiness opera- tions. GCI is an integral part of the success of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) operations with approximately 1,800 offenders who participate in GCI operations. By working within GCI during their incarceration, they learn work ethics and job skills, and have the option to enroll in on-the-job training, which results in earning valuable certificates and receiving wages under the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP). The re-entry summit allows GCI and others, whose primary mission is to enhance the lives of offenders, a valuable forum to share, learn and grow. Engaging employers The discussion on engaging employers focused on developing strategies, business cases and best practices for encouraging private sector employers to hire individuals with a criminal record and support policy reform to reduce barriers for re-entry. The state of Georgia is committed to increasing employment opportunities for individuals with prior convictions. “Ban the Box” was signed into executive order in 2015, removing criminal history ques- tions from initial applications with

Our program teaches

responsibility, work ethic and encourages them to produce a quality product they can be proud of.

GCI provides important on-the- job training to offenders in order to improve one’s marketable skill sets, thereby increasing the chance for post-release employment and

18 — January/February 2019 Corrections Today