New Deputy Director of Probation Operations Named

Commissioner : Brian Owens

Director of Public Affairs : Joan Heath

Oglethorpe County Native Sandra Thomas

FORSYTH, Ga.— Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens announced the promotion of Sandra Thomas as Deputy Director of Probation Operations effective November 16, 2014.  In this capacity, Thomas will assist the Director of Probation Operations in overseeing the Department’s probation officers and more than 160,000 state probationers.

“Sandra has demonstrated outstanding skills and dedication since she started with the department 23 years ago,” said Commissioner Brian Owens. “I am confident she will excel in her new position.”

Thomas began her career with the Department in 1991 as a Probation Officer I in the Lawrenceville Probation Office. In 1999, Thomas was promoted to Probation Officer III in the Lawrenceville Probation Office, serving there until 2004 when she was promoted to Chief Probation Officer of the Piedmont Judicial Circuit. In 2007, Thomas was reassigned to the Gwinnett County, serving as Chief Probation Officer and in 2009, she was appointed to Field Operations Manager of the Northwest area until the realignment in July 2014, when she assumed management over the Northeast area, where she most recently served.

Thomas earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of West Georgia, Master’s degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University, and is also a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College. Thomas is a member of the Georgia Probation Association, Southern States Correctional Association and Association of Women Executives in Corrections. She holds a peace officer’s certification from the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) and she is also a POST General Instructor. Thomas serves on the County and Municipal Probation Advisory Council as Chairman.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 55,000 state prisoners and more than 160,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 12,000 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5247 or visit http://www.dcor.state.ga.us.