ATLANTA (February 17, 2011) – Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Decatur) has introduced legislation to give juvenile offenders the opportunity for parole. Senate Bill 105 establishes a three-person juvenile parole panel within the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) that will have the authority to establish and maintain parole guidelines for designated felons.
“With limited financial resources and the severe overcrowding in our jails, we must begin looking at alternatives to incarceration. This bill is aimed at juvenile offenders who have committed only designated felonies, a step down from those charged with a serious offense,” said Jones. “A rehabilitation-focused approach to juvenile justice will help improve our public safety while also saving taxpayer dollars.”
Panel members will be appointed by the DJJ commissioner, and will decide which designated felons are eligible for parole. If granted parole, they will remain under the supervision of the DJJ until their maximum sentence expires. Only those who have demonstrated good conduct and completed the educational and program requirements will be considered. The panel will also be responsible for any parole violations, aiding parolees in finding employment and determining which designated felons are fit for relief from the panel.
The law currently requires all children convicted of a designated felony to be confined to a youth development center (YDC) for 12 to 60 months, with no option for parole. This bill deletes any mandatory minimum time of confinement and allows for parole.
Georgia has the fourth highest incarceration rate in the nation, costing taxpayers $1 billion a year.
Jones has noted that the overall purpose of the legislation is geared toward helping children become productive members of society. The bill is a follow up to the law Jones passed last year that curbs the abuse of zero-tolerance discipline policies in schools.
Sen. Emanuel Jones represents the 10th Senate District, which includes portions of DeKalb and Henry counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0502 or via e-mail at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 17, 2011
For Information Contact:
Natalie Strong, Director
Kallarin Richards, Deputy Director
kallarin.richards@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028