Career, Technical and Higher Education Certificates Reach All-Time High

Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Achievements Support Reentry Commitment

FORSYTH, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Career, Technical and Higher Education (CTHE) certificates have surpassed its fiscal year (July 1, 2018- June 30, 2019) goal of 11,000 by achieving 18,659 certificates earned.  The CTHE program completions have exponentially increased by 206%, since fiscal year 2017, yet another accomplishment in GDC’s continuing commitment toward effective offender management and successful reentry. 

“Thanks to community partnerships, CTHE affords offenders an opportunity to obtain valuable skills,” said Commissioner Timothy C. Ward. “Upon earning their CTHE certificates, offenders are provided the knowledge, support and assistance that will benefit them in finding gainful employment.”

To ensure offenders have access to programming that will aide in successful reentry, the GDC partnered with Wiregrass Technical College and the Technical College System of Georgia to establish mobile classrooms throughout the state.  The mobile classrooms are moved to a different state facility each 6 weeks and provides offenders an opportunity to earn certificates in Welding and Electrical repair.  In our Transitional Centers, residents are provided with opportunities to earn Forklift Management, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and ServSafe certificates. 

The GDC currently provides seven Education Program Specialists throughout the state who are dedicated full-time to support CTHE, in each of the GDC’s three regions.  The GDC offers a vast array educational opportunities in CTHE, for more information please click here .

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.