September 21, 2015
Deal to Speak at Hall County Prisoner Reentry Meeting
ATLANTA - Governor Nathan Deal will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Georgia Prisoner Reentry Initiative meeting in Gainesville. The Governor’s Office of Transition, Support and Reentry (GOTSR) has extended an invitation to the community to attend the stakeholder meeting to learn more about the new Georgia Prisoner Reentry Initiative (GA-PRI) pilot site that serves Hall County.
Governor Deal says community outreach is key to this reentry initiative. “It is imperative to the long-term success of our state’s criminal justice reforms that we ensure rehabilitated offenders receive support not only while behind bars, but while transitioning back into society,” said Deal. “It is my hope that our state’s reentry program efforts, combined with the input received from this series of events held by the Office of Transition, Support and Reentry, will help to reduce recidivism, save taxpayer dollars and, above all, keep Georgians safe,” added Deal.
“Reaching out to important areas such as Hall County is a critical component in ensuring our reform efforts have long term success,” said Jay Neal, executive director of GOTSR. “Staying involved with the local officials and community is the most impactful way we can ensure strong support for those beginning their reentry,” added Neal.
A local reentry council, in collaboration with GOTSR staff, local corrections professionals, state agency personnel and community service providers will assist returning citizens in navigating the barriers to successful reentry in an effort to ultimately increase public safety and reduce recidivism in Hall County.
Launched in 2014, GA-PRI is a critical component of Governor Deal’s reentry efforts as adopted by the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform. GOTSR staff and their collaborating agencies are committed to bringing Georgia to the forefront as a national leader among states in recidivism reduction. The meeting will be held on October 1, from 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 751 Green Street NW, in Gainesville, GA.