Georgia Parole Board celebrates 80th year

ATLANTA — The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

“Enhancing Public Safety through Informed Clemency Decisions, 1943-2023,” was the theme at the operational Parole Board meeting held recently at the Georgia State Capitol.

Parole Board Chairman Terry Barnard sais public safety has remained at the forefront of every decision the board has made over the decades.

“This is a significant milestone for this public safety agency, an agency I’m proud to have been a part of for the past 13 years, and an agency I know my fellow board members are extremely proud to be a part of,” Barnard said.

Former board members and staff were a part of the anniversary celebration. Chris Barnett, the executive director of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, said 80 years of service mark an important milestone for Georgia.

“Voters ratified a constitutional amendment 80 years ago this year following legislative action, creating the Georgia Parole Board,” Barnett said. “Over eight decades, the people who have worked for this agency have dedicated themselves to public service and public safety. This recognition is important.

“The work of our predecessors set the foundation for our operations today. From implementing guidelines to transitioning to electronic processes, past board members, leadership and agency staff have served ethically and with integrity to serve Georgians and enhance public safety.”

Attending the meeting were former board members from five different decades: Cecil McCall (1972-1977), Michael Wing (1982-1989), Tim Jones (1990-1997), Garland Hunt (2004-2010), and Albert Murray (2010-2016).

Jones spoke about the historic implementation of parole guidelines in Georgia.

“In 1980, the legislators codified the parole decision guidelines, a new system of parole decision-making in Georgia,” he said “Parole guidelines revolutionized the decision-making process in the state of Georgia.”

The board utilizes guidelines today that are the basis for its scientific, informed, decision-making process.

Former Board Member McCall remembered his appointment to the Georgia Parole Board in 1972 by thenGov. Jimmy Carter. McCall said Carter was knowledgeable and interested in the board’s operations.

Barnard thanked the former board members for their participation in the meeting, saying, “Gentlemen, you are giants, literally; you are giants.”

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles is a part of the executive branch of state Government. Parole Board members are full-time employees and are constitutional officers.

Contact the State Board of Pardons and Paroles at (404) 657-9450 or email [email protected].

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