Pubdate: Thu, 06 May 2004 Source: Macon Telegraph (GA) Copyright: 2004 The Macon Telegraph Publishing Company Contact: http://www.macontelegraph.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/667 Author: Brian Owens Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/states/ga/ (Georgia) Note: Headline by MAPEditor MACON DAY REPORT CENTER PLANNED FOR THE MCKENNA ARMORY Since there has been much discussion about the new Day Report Center planned for the McKenna Armory, I have been asked to explain the concept on behalf of Corrections' Commissioner James Donald. Incredibly, one in every 15 adult Georgians is under some form of correctional supervision, and we know why. Approximately three-fourths of the adults incarcerated, or on probation or parole are there because of illegal drug use and the crimes they committed to support their addiction. With one in every 15 adults under some form of correctional oversight, no Georgian is untouched by this crisis. These people are our sons and daughters, our extended family members, friends and neighbors, and they were raised and live in every community across this state. We cannot continue to take a one "size fits all" brick and mortar approach as we did in the past 10 years when our prison population doubled from 25,000 to 50,000 inmates. We must look for alternative solutions that target the disease rather than the symptoms. Day Report Centers are just one of many types of alternative solutions that avoids locking up so many of our young people who have made terrible mistakes in judgment. Our core mission is public safety. That mission is non-negotiable. We must determine who we're afraid of and who we're just mad at. If they are repeat, violent or predatory offenders, we need to lock them up. If we're just mad at them but not afraid of them, we need to address the root causes of their illegal behavior. Offenders targeted for Day Report Centers fall into the "mad at" column. These otherwise prison-bound people report daily to the center to receive intensive services. A "no show" draws an immediate visit from a parole or probation officer or local law enforcement officer. Surveillance officers check in with them when they are at home with their families at night. Services provided at the center include substance abuse intervention, educational and vocational opportunities, job placement and retention services and family support. Participants are also drug-tested every other day. The Macon Day Report Center is modeled after our Atlanta Center. The local community to include churches, small business groups, the NAACP, local health care providers and others, has literally adopted the Atlanta Center. The participants in the program are raised in the community, and the community must play a central role in their redemption back as citizens. The results are still early at the Atlanta Day Report Center but we know that after nearly three years of operation, less than one in 10 program graduates has been convicted of a new felony. We also know that three in 10 inmates released from prison will receive a new felony conviction within three years of their release. The Department of Corrections must also exhibit the best principles of stewardship of public funds. By placing the Macon Day Report Center at the state-owned McKenna Armory, we can save the thousands of taxpayer dollars that are required each year to lease a private facility. Finally, we all know how the Georgia prison population grew to be the sixth largest in the United States, but at this point the issue is moot. We have an opportunity before us now to begin to transform the adult criminal justice system in Georgia. Brian Owens is the executive assistant to the commissioner of the Department of Corrections. - --- MAP posted-by: Thunder