ATLANTA - The Fulton County Day Reporting Center (DRC) of the Georgia Department of Community Supervision (DCS) will host its 19th commencement ceremony on January 13, 2020, at The Faith AME Zion Church located at 38 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30311 at 6:00 pm. During this special commencement ceremony, 25 participants will be celebrated and recognized for completing this program.

 

“The goals of the DRC program are to provide offenders with access to programs that reduce criminal thinking and behavior, eliminate substance abuse, increase educational levels and employability, and improve compliance with the conditions of the offender’s sentence”, says Vickie Lee, DCS Statewide DRC Manager. Through programming our hopes are to replace criminal behaviors and attitudes with pro-social alternatives that ultimately reduce recidivism, Lee added. 

 

A DRC is a non-residential substance abuse and mental health treatment program designed to offer judges and other criminal justice officials with a viable and cost-effective treatment option for high-risk, high need offenders with substance abuse, cognitive, and/or mental health treatment needs while under community supervision. Participants receive guidance and monitoring in intensive outpatient substance abuse and cognitive restructuring programs. 

 

Georgia’s DRC program has been nationally recognized as an effective method to reduce recidivism rates. Currently, there are 32 judicial circuits across Georgia that are served by a Day Reporting Center.

 

Elizabeth Markowitz of the Fulton County Public Defender's Office will serve as the keynote speaker for the commencement ceremony. 

 

About the Georgia Department of Community Supervision:

 

The Department of Community Supervision is responsible for the community-based supervision of more than 200,000 adult felony offenders, and Class A and Class B designated juvenile offenders.

 

It is the mission of the Georgia Department of Community Supervision to protect and serve all Georgia citizens through effective and efficient offender supervision in our communities while providing opportunities for successful outcomes. DCS employs evidence-based practices to hold offenders accountable and reduce the state’s recidivism rate. For more information, visit dcs.georgia.gov

 

Media Contacts:

 

Brian Tukes, Director of External Affairs

Georgia Department of Community Supervision

[email protected] 

470-217-6539

 

Jamelle Washington, Public Information Officer 

Georgia Department of Community Supervision

[email protected]

404-561-4590