Georgia State Board of Pardons & Paroles

09/12/2026

At a special event at the State Capitol POST certified parole investigators were recognized for volunteering to support local, state, and federal law enforcement during the FIFA World Cup games in Atlanta.
Thirty-eight (38) parole investigators received the recognition from the Georgia Parole Board, the Governor's Office, and the Atlanta Police Department.
“Our staff stood shoulder to shoulder with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners from across the country. They did it with professionalism, pride, and with a great attitude,” stated Chris Barnett, Executive Director of the Parole Board.
“The Parole Board stands firmly with our public safety partners and the stakeholders we work with every day,” said Parole Board Chair Joyette Holmes. “We believe the most important thing in public safety is community.”
Governor Brian Kemp's Chief of Staff Lauren Curry and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum also spoke at the event.
Read more:
https://pap.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-09-11/fifa-recognition-event-capitol
American Probation and Parole Association
Association of Paroling Authorities International
City of Atlanta Police Department
Correctional Leaders Association
Atlanta City Council
Georgia Office of Victim Services
Governor Brian Kemp

09/11/2026

On this 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, we honor the lives lost, the heroes who sacrificed everything, and the resilience of their loved ones. Today we reflect on this solemn day and hold the victims, their families, and our courageous heroes close in our thoughts and our continued prayers. We will never forget what occurred that day. We will remember you always.

We honor and remember the passengers and crew of Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania stopping the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

We honor and remember those lost when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.

We honor and remember the lives lost when American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 struck the World Trade Center.

We honor and remember those who suffered and lost their lives in the following years.

September 11 is recognized as Patriot Day, a time to honor the incredible courage, unity, and strength that brings our nation together.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum
9/11 Day
Flight 93 National Memorial
Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Georgia National Guard

09/08/2026

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles was proud to support the Georgia Professional Association of Community Supervision (GPACS) at the annual summer training conference. GPACS membership consists of staff from several agencies including the Parole Board.
The 5-member Parole Board engaged GPACS during a panel discussion and parole staff were featured presenters at two other training sessions during the conference.
Parole Board Chair Joyette Holmes says the focus of the parole board panel was to strengthen communications with the community supervision officer.
"The Board Members rely on the supervision officer to not only supervise individuals in the community but to bring information to the Board about how successfully individuals are transitioning back into the community. I believe the panel objective was achieved in that the Board and the supervision officer have an even stronger understanding of how our roles support public safety for our communities," said Holmes.
The Board’s District Operations Managers (DOMS) who work in the Post-Release Considerations Division are the liaisons between the Board Members and the community supervision officers. A training session involved a panel of Board DOMS engaging Georgia Department of Community Supervision Officers covering information about how their roles support the others and public safety.
The Board’s Pre-Release Considerations Division conducted a third training session at the conference. Several parole staff were also recognized for their contributions to public safety and to GPACS.
“The Parole Board is very proud of the parole staff who are excelling in leadership roles for GPACS. This was a remarkably successful training conference providing many opportunities for GPACS members to engage each other in meaningful sessions,” stated Holmes.
Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
American Correctional Association
Southern States Correctional Association-SSCA
Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety
Center for Effective Public Policy - CEPP
Georgia Department of Community Supervision

09/07/2026

Congratulations to former Georgia Parole Board staff member Amina Rowe on graduating from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision’s 68th Basic Community Supervision Officer Training Class. Rowe served as the class leader for the graduating group and was awarded the Leadership Award. Georgia Parole Board staff and leadership attended the ceremony in support of Rowe who served in several capacities at the Parole Board. Rowe joins the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Congratulations to all the graduates.

Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety
GPACS
American Probation and Parole Association
Association of Paroling Authorities International
Correctional Leaders Association
American Correctional Association

09/05/2026

Happy Labor Day weekend! The State Board of Pardons and Paroles hopes everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday weekend. The Parole Board’s office will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.


Georgia Department of Labor
Georgia Department of Administrative Services

09/04/2026

Georgia's Parole Board engaged public safety professionals at the Georgia Professional Association of Community Supervision (GPACS) Summer Training Conference this week.

All five members of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles engaged GPACS members through a panel discussion. The Parole Board's District Operations Managers engaged GPACS members during another panel discussion.

Parole Board Executive Director Chris Barnett says the GPACS conference provides opportunities to enhance public safety.

"The GPACS conference creates an atmosphere of cooperation and fosters continuous dialogue among the professionals from the various agencies represented. Those discussions result in improved public safety," states Barnett.

Parole staff were recognized with several awards by GPACS. (Please see the photos and captions)

GPACS membership consists of more than six hundred members of the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Georgia Department of Corrections, County Misdemeanor Probation, and law enforcement across the state.
GPACS
American Probation and Parole Association
Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Correctional Association
Southern States Correctional Association-SSCA
Southern States Correctional Association- Georgia Chapter
UNG Public Safety Academy
Macon Regional Crimestoppers

09/02/2026

Georgia Parole Board Member Kimberly McCoy and parole staff attended the Georgia Commission on Family Violence annual conference this week. The theme for the 32nd Annual Statewide Family Violence Conference is "Georgia in Action, Connecting For Change."
Practitioners and advocates from across Georgia attended the conference held in Athens.
"This conference is so important to continuing the work of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. It's my pleasure to be a part of the goal to end domestic and family violence in Georgia," stated McCoy.
Georgia Parole Board Executive Director Chris Barnett attended the conference.
"The Commission is a valuable public safety partner of the Parole Board and our support is unwavering," says Barnett.
Parole staff including Pre-Release Considerations Division Director Crystal Moon and Georgia Office of Victim Services Director Keir Chapple attended the conference.
Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety
Georgia Office of Victim Services
Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563239175953
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
CAREing Paws
Mountain Judicial Circuit Family Violence Task Force
Toombs Circuit Family Violence Task Force
Cherokee County Domestic Violence Task Force
Cobb County Domestic Violence Taskforce
Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
CAREing Paws

08/31/2026

The 2026 Summer Edition of the Georgia Parole Review is published. Flip through pages of highlights of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles from the last several months.
https://joom.ag/zOUd

Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
American Correctional Association
Georgia Office of Victim Services
Georgia Department of Corrections
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
GPACS
Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia
Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia
Georgia Public Defender Council

Joomag digital interactive publication

08/30/2026

Staff from the Georgia Parole Board's Pre-Release Considerations Division led a powerful self-care workshop for criminal justice professionals at the American Probation and Parole Association’s 51st Annual Training Institute in Chicago. Hearing Examiners Kristen Brooks and Rasheda Castleberry’s engaging workshop, “From Burnout to Balance,” highlighted the importance of maintaining a sustainable self-care routine, especially in law enforcement careers. The workshop emphasized the importance of both physical and mental health, particularly in high-stress environments such as law enforcement. Thank you Kristen and Rasheda, for bringing awareness to this important topic and representing the agency with professionalism.

American Probation and Parole Association
Association of Paroling Authorities International
Correctional Leaders Association
American Correctional Association
Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety
Southern States Correctional Association-SSCA
GPACS

08/28/2026

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles continues to ensure crime victims have their voices heard and remain a part of the parole decision-making process. Victims met with Georgia Parole Board Member and Vice Chair Wayne Bennett in Waycross this week. The Georgia Parole Board and the Georgia Office of Victim Services collaborate with the District Attorney to select cases of parole eligible offenders who have registered crime victims. The Victim Impact Sessions allow victims to speak directly with a Parole Board Member and provide information that will be added to the parole case files. The information is then available to the entire Parole Board at the time a parole decision is made. The Board Members consider all of the information contained in the case file as they make decisions. The Georgia Office of Victim Services provides post-conviction services to registered crime victims. The office is supported by and represents the Board, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Learn more about the process at https://pap.georgia.gov/.
Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Georgia Department of Corrections
National Center for Victims of Crime
NAVAC National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections
National Organization for Victim Advocacy
Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety