Commissioner: Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

102 female offenders receive certificates

On June 28, Lee Arrendale State Prison hosted a joint GED (General Equivalency Diploma) graduation ceremony with Whitworth Women’s Facility to celebrate surpassing the agency’s Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) goal of 2,000 GED completions. Governor Nathan Deal addressed the graduates, and congratulated them on their extraordinary achievement.

“We hope that when you leave today, that you remember you are leaders and we hope you lead with the confidence you displayed today,” Commissioner Dozier told the graduates. “We are grateful to Governor Deal for what he has done for criminal justice reform and his commitment to ensuring resources are available to make these programs possible,” continued Dozier.

Representatives from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles also attended the ceremony and presented three graduates with their parole certificates, effective June 29. Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard stressed the importance of completing education goals to help with parole consideration and potential early release.

The FY17 goal of 2,000 GED completions was reached in May 2017 at Whitworth Women’s Facility in Hartwell, Ga. As of today, more than 2,300 incarcerated men and women have received their GED, representing more than 750 above last year’s goal.

The Department’s 12-month GED program measures an individual’s aptitude in science, mathematics, social studies, and language arts. Students must pass tests in each basic subject area to acquire their GED. Part-time and full-time GDC staff members, supplemented by instructors from local technical colleges, deliver the classroom-based instruction and administer the GED tests. The program is available in all state and private prisons, boot camps, residential substance abuse treatment centers (RSAT), and transitional centers (TC). 

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.