Commissioner : Homer Bryson

Director of Public Affairs : Joan Heath

Inaugural class graduates at Burruss Correction Training Center

FORSYTH, GA – On March 8, a graduation was held for the inaugural Automotive Service of Excellence (ASE) class at Burruss Correctional Training Center in Forsyth, GA. Five inmates received their ASE certification for the Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair program (ALR-1) from Central Georgia Technical College.

“There is a sense of engagement, there is a sense of pride, there is a sense that every one of you can tell me what you have learned along the way,” said keynote speaker, Assistant Commissioner Dr. Buster Evans, to the graduating class. “Not only will this certificate reduce the probability that you will ever come back to be incarcerated, it will increase your earning potential.”

The ALR-1 is an entry level Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) educational program designed to teach the essential skills necessary to enter the automotive technician workforce.  The program is modeled after the NATEF (National Automotive Technicians Educational Foundation) and ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) standards. The course takes approximately six months to complete and upon graduation, offenders are awarded 20 credit hours. The types of jobs available with the ALR-1 certificate include tire changing and balancing, working at oil change centers or brake and muffler shops, and many other entry-level positions.

“The most appropriate ASE rating that the students might study for, and possibly achieve at some point, is the G-1 certification,” said course instructor Ron Mass. “Our college material and curriculum is essentially based around that certification.”

The 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.