Georgia State Board of Pardons & Paroles

Georgia State Board of Pardons & Paroles The official page of Georgia's State Board of Pardons & Paroles.

The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is a part of the executive branch of Georgia's government, constitutionally authorized to grant paroles, pardons, reprieves, remissions, commutations, and to restore civil and political rights. Parole is the discretionary decision of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to release a certain offender from confinement after he or she has served an appropriate

portion of a prison sentence. Persons on parole remain under state supervision and control according to conditions that, if violated, allow for re-imprisonment.

Today, we celebrate Flag Day and recognize the history, meaning, and values represented by the U.S. flag. Since it was f...
06/14/2026

Today, we celebrate Flag Day and recognize the history, meaning, and values represented by the U.S. flag. Since it was first adopted, there have been 27 official versions of the American flag. Before 1912, the stars were arranged differently based on the flag-maker’s preference. That changed when President Taft standardized the 48-star flag. The current 50-star flag has been in use since July 4, 1960, after Hawaii became the nation’s 50th state.


American Probation and Parole Association
Association of Paroling Authorities International
Correctional Leaders Association
Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Georgia National Guard

Georgia welcomed the National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections (NAVAC) to Savannah this week. Presentatio...
06/12/2026

Georgia welcomed the National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections (NAVAC) to Savannah this week. Presentations and training sessions included those from the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Georgia Office of Victim Services and Executive Director Chris Barnett delivered presentations to NAVAC as did the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia.
"Victim advocates have servant hearts. In Georgia, we are very proud of our advocates and processes for providing victim services. The NAVAC conference affords us all opportunities to network and partner in order to improve victim services where possible," states Chris Barnett, Executive Director of the Georgia Parole Board.
GOVS is a division of the Georgia Parole Board. The GOVS presentation covered several of the victim-centered programs offered.
NAVAC National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections
National Center for Victims of Crime
National Organization for Victim Advocacy
Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
Georgia Department of Corrections
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia
Florida Department of Corrections
South Carolina Department of Corrections
Karin Ho

06/11/2026

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact in public safety? The Georgia Parole Board's Post-Release Considerations Division is seeking a qualified professional to fill a Criminal Investigator III / District Operations Manager (DOM) position. Curious about the role? Watch the video to hear directly from one of our team members.

Apply and learn more at: https://careers.georgia.gov/


Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
Correctional Leaders Association
American Correctional Association
Georgia Department of Labor
GPACS

Many thanks to our criminal justice partner, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), for its ongoing coll...
06/10/2026

Many thanks to our criminal justice partner, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS), for its ongoing collaboration and commitment to public safety.

Recently, DCS leadership provided Georgia Parole Board Members with valuable updates and training on two important initiatives: the Day Reporting Center (DRC) Program and the M.O.R.E. (Max-Out Reentry) Program.

“These are important programs Georgia has implemented to help offenders be successful in their transition back to the community,” said Georgia Parole Board Executive Director Chris Barnett. “The Parole Board is proud to work closely with DCS and the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) to enhance public safety.”

The DRC Program provides an alternative sanctioning option for those under community supervision who are struggling with supervision requirements, but do not pose a threat to public safety. Through counseling, educational services, close supervision, and treatment to address substance use, mental health, and behavioral challenges, participants gain tools to succeed, while remaining under supervision.

The M.O.R.E. (Max-Out Reentry) Program helps prepare incarcerated individuals for a successful return to their communities. Parole-eligible offenders who have previously been denied parole may become eligible for reconsideration after successfully completing the program. M.O.R.E. is a collaborative effort between the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, DCS, and GDC and is operated through the 13 Transitional Centers around the State.

Association of Paroling Authorities International
Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia
Georgia Association of Women in Public Safety
American Probation and Parole Association
Correctional Leaders Association
Georgia Department of Corrections
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
Georgia Office of Victim Services

Congratulations to all the graduates, and especially to Georgia Parole Board Hearing Examiner Sonalli Tucker (third from...
06/09/2026

Congratulations to all the graduates, and especially to Georgia Parole Board Hearing Examiner Sonalli Tucker (third from left) for graduating from the Georgia Department of Community Supervision's POST IT Academy! Completing the POST IT Academy allows individuals who want to teach POST-credit courses to become certified instructors. The POST IT Academy is an intensive 80-hour program that covers essential topics such as instructor liability, instructional system design, and lesson planning.

The Parole Board's Hearing Examiners are a part of the Pre-Release Considerations Division. They prepare the cases to be presented to the Board for parole decisions.

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

06/08/2026

We are hiring professionals who want to play a role in enhancing public safety. Our Pre-Release Considerations Division is seeking to fill one Administrative Support II position within the GPEDS team. Applicants must have effective communication skills. Watch the video to hear briefly about the role from one of our current GPEDS team members.

Apply and learn more at: https://careers.georgia.gov/


Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
Correctional Leaders Association
American Correctional Association
GPACS
Georgia Department of Labor

Today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. We honor the courage and sacrifice of the American and Allied forces who stormed...
06/06/2026

Today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. We honor the courage and sacrifice of the American and Allied forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, as part of Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious invasion in military history. Nearly 160,00 American, British, and Canadian troops landed across five beaches. Their bravery, sacrifice, and determination helped turn the tide of World War II and secure the future of freedom in Europe. Their legacy will never be forgotten.


The National WWII Museum
Georgia Department of Veterans Service
Georgia National Guard
U.S. Army

Promoting Public Safety Partnerships! Offender Engagement!The Georgia Parole Board highlighted the historic completion o...
06/06/2026

Promoting Public Safety Partnerships! Offender Engagement!
The Georgia Parole Board highlighted the historic completion of visiting and touring 91 facilities in Georgia that house state felony offenders.
Parole Board Chair Joyette Holmes and the full parole board attended the Georgia Department of Corrections Board of Corrections Meeting.
"This initiative provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen an already strong partnership with the Department of Corrections," said Holmes. "Throughout our visits, we witnessed the professionalism, dedication, and commitment of correctional staff who work every day to promote accountability, rehabilitation, and safer communities. Their efforts are making a meaningful difference in the lives of offenders and the citizens we serve.”
Georgia Parole Board Executive Director Chris Barnett described the initiative.
"This was a tremendous undertaking that reflects the commitment of both agencies to work together in pursuit of a common goal," said Barnett. "The Georgia Department of Corrections and the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles are truly better together. By visiting facilities, engaging directly with offenders, and meeting with correctional staff across the state, we reinforced a message of accountability, personal responsibility, and hope."
During each visit, Board Members and leadership met with offenders in both group and individual settings, discussing the parole process, documenting information for case files, and encouraging participation in rehabilitative programming.
Read the Parole Board's press release.
https://pap.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-06-05/parole-tours-prisons
Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
Correctional Leaders Association
Southern States Correctional Association-SSCA
Southern States Correctional Association- Georgia Chapter
Georgia Department of Corrections
Georgia Office of Victim Services
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
Arkansas Department of Corrections
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
American Correctional Association
Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections
GPACS

Engaging stakeholders in the parole process results in enhanced public safety for Georgia communities.In partnership wit...
06/01/2026

Engaging stakeholders in the parole process results in enhanced public safety for Georgia communities.

In partnership with the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles has launched an enhanced fact-finding initiative that directly engages Georgia police departments across the state. At GACP district meetings, the Parole Board’s Investigations Division leadership is explaining the process where police departments receive electronic requests for offender information.

Executive Director of the Georgia Parole Board Chris Barnett says the parole decision-making process always improves by adding available information to the case files.

“The Board is committed to making informed decisions that protect Georgians,” said Barnett. “Local law enforcement agencies often have valuable insight into justice-involved individuals from their communities. Incorporating this information helps ensure the Board has the fullest picture possible when making decisions."

Responses from the police departments are submitted electronically and routed to the Board’s Regional Investigative Coordinators, who ensure the information is incorporated into the official case file. The Board's Investigations Division presented the initiative to police in May at the GACP District 4 meeting in Perry, Georgia and at the GACP District 10 Meeting in Fayetteville, Georgia.
Association of Paroling Authorities International
American Probation and Parole Association
American Correctional Association
Correctional Leaders Association
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
Southern States Correctional Association-SSCA
Southern States Correctional Association- Georgia Chapter
Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police
City of Fayetteville, Georgia - Government
Cochran Police Department
Georgia College Public Safety
Bibb County Sheriff's Office
Macon Regional Crimestoppers
Locust Grove Police Department
Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police

The Georgia Parole Board remains committed to ensuring victim information is a part of the parole decision-making proces...
05/29/2026

The Georgia Parole Board remains committed to ensuring victim information is a part of the parole decision-making process. This week Board Member Josh Waters met with crime victims in Fitzgerald, Georgia.
"We certainly want to thank the victims attending our sessions and the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney's office and its victim services staff for assisting us with these meetings," Waters stated.
Victim Impact Sessions involve a Georgia Parole Board Member, staff from the Board's Pre-Release Considerations Division, and the Georgia Office of Victim Services meeting with a victim or victims from a case. As a part of the parole consideration process for the offender in a case, information from the Victim Impact Session can then be considered when making the parole decision.
Georgia Parole Board Members routinely conduct meetings with crime victims across the state.
When making parole decisions, the Board Members consider all of the information contained in the comprehensive case file maintained on the offender.
Georgia Office of Victim Services
Georgia Department of Corrections
American Probation and Parole Association
Association of Paroling Authorities International
Correctional Leaders Association
National Organization for Victim Advocacy
National Center for Victims of Crime
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
NAVAC National Association of Victim Assistance in Corrections
City of Fitzgerald, GA - Government
Ben Hill County Sheriff's Office

Address

2 Martin Luther King, Jr Drive SE Suite 430, Balcony Level, West Tower
Atlanta, GA
30334

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14046564661

Website

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