Rehabilitation Gains Favor in Georgia's Prisons
James Donald, the new Department of Corrections commissioner for
Georgia, is committed to getting prisoners out of jail through rehabilitation
programs, the Macon Telegraph reported June 1.
"What we're looking for is an opportunity to get you home,"
Donald told about 100 inmates in a minimum-security prison. "It's
about redeeming you back to the family."
In a state not known for a progressive attitude toward prisoner
rehabilitation, Donald plans to work in getting nonviolent offenders
released by introducing a drug-treatment plan. The program, said
Donald, would reduce recidivism by getting inmates off drugs by
the time they leave prison.
Currently, there is no residential addiction treatment center for
women in the state system. Donald plans to open one, as well as
four day-reporting centers that would allow offenders to stay out
of prison by staying off drugs and learning life skills. Donald's
plan would also enlist churches to help those released from prison
stay out of trouble.
Donald said the rehabilitation programs are also needed to free
up prison space. Currently, about 4,000 inmates are housed in county
jails at the state's expense, because the state prisons are at 102
percent of capacity |
