Commissioner : Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs : Joan Heath

Valdosta State Prison Hosts Graduation Ceremonies

FORSYTH, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Education staff at Valdosta State Prison, hosts a weekly graduation ceremony, recognizing offenders completing the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program. Sixty-five offenders have completed this intense program since July 2016.

“We are proud of the 65 men who have completed the RSAT program at Valdosta State Prison,” said Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier. “With the help of our dedicated GDC staff and volunteers, these men now have the tools they need to be successful when they re-enter society.”

This nine-month program promotes recovery from both addiction and crime, by addressing the behavioral challenges of incarcerated individuals with a history of alcohol and drug abuse. Participants receive 18 hours of direct treatment in the following courses: Relapse Prevention, Anger/Stress Management, Family Roles/Building Relationships, Recovery Building Blocks, Core-Skills, Principles of Recovery, Criminal Addictive Thinking, Introduction to Therapeutic Community, Problem-Solving, Health/Wellness, Family Dynamics, Continuing Recovery Planning, Parenting, Job Readiness, and Time Out for Men.

Upon returning to the community, participation is required in a local Substance Abuse Aftercare Services (SAAS) Program for a minimum of six months. Click here for more information on GDC’s substance abuse treatment programs

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 478-992-5248 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.