Hi,


This morning I read a posting here "somewhere" relating to a recent interview with Department of Corrections Commissioner Donald being available at the GPTV website. I'm new to this site and just getting the hang of how it works....so please bear with me.

Can anyone point me in the right direction on this. I went to the GPTV website and was unable to find the mentioned recording. The interview and possibly it's contents are really important to me,the organization for reform I'm with, reform initiatives here in Georgia, and all affected.

Thanks !

Mark

I believe this is it. I can't get it to play.

http://www.gpb.org/gptv/georgiaweek/

http://www.gpb.org/gptv/georgiaweek/

Under "Transforming Georgia's Prisons"

just click watch online

May 21, 2004
Friday, May 21, 7 PM
Sunday, May 23, 1 PM

Transforming Georgia's Prisons

Georgia now has the unwelcome distinction of being the state with the fastest growing prison population in this country. Over the past 10 years we have doubled from 25,000 to 50,000 inmates in our state prisons alone. The cost of this growth is like a ball and chain on Georgia’s budget and hence its future.

Our guest this week is a recently retired Major General in the U.S. Army who was responsible for the well-being of hundreds of thousands of service men and women under his watch. After less than six months on the job as head of the Georgia Department of Corrections, Commissioner James Donald has some big ideas on dealing with Georgia’s prison crisis. He will discuss his "Transformation Plan" with show host Susan Hoffman.

Reporter David Zelski provides a background look at the new commissioner as he travels to two prisons in southwest Georgia. Next Week: Georgia Valor In honor of Memorial Day weekend, we will air "Georgia Valor," GPB Television's recent documentary on the state's courageous Medal of Honor winners. Georgia Week in Review returns on Friday, June 4 at its regular time.

That information was great. I found it very interesting! They mentioned about the Day Reporting Centers similar to the transition centers. They also talked about the Probation Management Act - Pilot Program that includes the transition and diversion centers in the state. They stated that their will be 10 new prisons being built by year 2008 that will cost 52 million to build. That will happen after they get all the inmates that are elligle for release, out of the prisons. They only inmates that are not elligable for release are the ones that have commited one of the 7 deadly sins that have not served at least 10 years. After 10 years they are elligible for parole consideration. They are not elligible for a transition center or diversion center.

It costs $45 to house a prisoner a day, $18,000 per year. Commissioner Donald mentioned that he will be visiting all of the Goergia prison in the next few months so tell your loved ones to be on a look out. Currently their are 30,000 violent and 20,000 non-violent inmates incarcerated in GA. He sums it up like this; their will be many changes very soon. He said we have so many inmates waiting for a bed that it is stupid to keep the ones that will be fine to transition into society and become a member of society where they belong and to start being a tax payer!

I honestly think we will see many changes happening very soon! This is a great opportunity for a lot of us! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!