Pelham - The man who is in charge of all Georgia prisons visited two of the four state prisons in south Georgia. He commended the staff on a job well done, but also listened to their concerns.

Inside the helicopter is a man determined to touch down at every prison in Georgia. James Donald is the new Department of Corrections Commissioner.

On Thursday, he not only met employees, but he shook hands with inmates at Autry State Prison.

Underneath the firefighter suits are also prisoners. Donald says, "What I would like to see happen as part of the transformation, is to step it up a notch and begin to address substantial changes in the behavior and conduct of inmates, so they don't come back into the institution."

The commissioner encouraged them to follow a good path, step past the razor wire for good. Donald adds, "Three out of 10 inmates come back into the institution with another crime."

It is a rare occasion for the boss of all prisons to actually walk through, but the commissioner wanted to dig a little deeper by hearing about their needs. Warden Frederick Head says they have a nursing shortage at the jail. Right now, they have 10 vacancies, which is a problem nationwide.

There are 120 facilities in Georgia. Commissioner Donald has stopped by 35, but he has only been in office for 90 days.

Commissioner Donald also visited Calhoun State Prison.

job well done!! Now that is the kind of stuff that I like to hear! And then to actually shake hands with the inmates!! I am very very pleased! I just hope that he not only hears some of the complaints but actually try to help relieve the situations.

Nusing positons? Hummmmm,,,,,,if it paid good enough I would go. Hope he really does some good for our inmates and isn't just blowing sunshine! I fell that alot of our loved ones would make it on the outside if they had a positve attitude shown to them.

Wow - I am impressed. Maybe this will translate to some action. Thanks for info.

Pelham - The man who is in charge of all Georgia prisons visited two of the four state prisons in south Georgia. He commended the staff on a job well done, but also listened to their concerns.

Inside the helicopter is a man determined to touch down at every prison in Georgia. James Donald is the new Department of Corrections Commissioner.

On Thursday, he not only met employees, but he shook hands with inmates at Autry State Prison.

Underneath the firefighter suits are also prisoners. Donald says, "What I would like to see happen as part of the transformation, is to step it up a notch and begin to address substantial changes in the behavior and conduct of inmates, so they don't come back into the institution."

The commissioner encouraged them to follow a good path, step past the razor wire for good. Donald adds, "Three out of 10 inmates come back into the institution with another crime."

It is a rare occasion for the boss of all prisons to actually walk through, but the commissioner wanted to dig a little deeper by hearing about their needs. Warden Frederick Head says they have a nursing shortage at the jail. Right now, they have 10 vacancies, which is a problem nationwide.

There are 120 facilities in Georgia. Commissioner Donald has stopped by 35, but he has only been in office for 90 days.

Commissioner Donald also visited Calhoun State Prison.