New Statewide Mental Health Director

Kathryn Haynes Owen Appointed

FORSYTH, Ga. –  The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced the appointment of Kathryn Haynes Owen, Ph.D. to statewide Mental Health Director, effective June 1, 2025.  As the statewide Mental Health Director, Dr. Owen is responsible for planning and assisting in the development and implementation of mental health related policies and procedures. In addition, she will assist in planning, organizing, directing and coordinating the delivery of mental health services in GDC facilities. Furthermore, she will oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the GDC’s robust mental health programs.

"Dr. Owen brings a wealth of experience in delivering mental health services within correctional facilities," said Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. "We are pleased to welcome her expertise as we enhance our mental health programs, confidently ensuring they meet and exceed both community and national standards.”

Dr. Owen has held various clinical positions in the private sector and federal government. In 2016, she completed a pre-doctoral psychology internship with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) at the Federal Medical Center-Carswell, in Fort Worth, Texas. The following year, in 2017, she became the Program Director at New Friends Life, where she supervised master's-level clinicians providing therapeutic services for women who had been victims of sex trafficking. In 2018, Dr. Owen returned to the Federal sector, working with the BOP at the Federal Correctional Complex - Forrest City, Arkansas, as a Staff Psychologist. In 2019, she transitioned to the role of Drug Abuse Program Coordinator and Acting Chief Psychologist at the same facility. In 2024, she was promoted to Chief Psychologist, where she supervised psychologists, master 's-level clinicians, and administrative staff, where her responsibilities included overseeing residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and care for individuals with severe mental illness.

Dr. Owen holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Education in Human Development Counseling, and a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology. She holds a license in Psychology from Alabama and is a member of the American Psychological Association and Psychologists in Public Service. 

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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 approximately 49,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 9,000 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit http://www.gdc.ga.gov.