DCS Annual Report 2016 | Page 5

“We see tremendous success in Georgia thanks to criminal justice reform. DCS is thankful for the vision of Governor Nathan Deal , the work of the Criminal Justice Reform Council, and the Georgia General Assembly. This year’s recommendations will significantly impact our ability to reduce officer caseloads.” - Scott Maurer, DCS Assistant Commissioner Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, adipiscing nibh augue, interdum eu ultricies vitae, a Inter- dum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum in enim vel nisl dignissim egestas. 1 in 13 adults are on felony probation in Georgia. This is double the rate in Texas and four times the rate in North Carolina. Research shows that Georgia’s probation sentences are comparatively lengthy, ranging from five to seven-and-a-half years. How does SB 174 help address this? It will reduce recidivism by ensuring that high-risk individuals on probation receive resources in the first two to three years of their probation sentence, when they are most likely to reoffend. How will DCS implement SB 174 ? Implement a notification system to alert officers when offenders are SB 174 eligible 1 2 SB 174 Ensures the sustained success of Georgia’s accountability courts and enhances the state’s probation system so that resources are focused at the front-end of supervision—when chances of recidivism are statistically greatest. SB 175 Aims to reduce juvenile delinquency and protect public safety when a juvenile is deemed incompetent to proceed in the judicial process. It also includes new resources to encourage parental involvement. Automate the referral process to ensure supervised individuals receive timely access to services Prioritize restitution payments to preserve victims’ rights In an effort to reduce unnecessarily lengthy sentences and align Georgia’s supervision practices with national best practices, SB 174 permits DCS to file a petition to the court for early termination of probation sentences after a person serves three years on supervision, if the following conditions apply: Individual under supervision is compliant with special conditions of probation and has no new arrests Any ordered restitution is paid in full 3 SB 176 The individual is sentenced to a non-violent property or drug offense Includes provisions to require that individuals are notified by mail prior to the issuance of a bench warrant for failure to appear for a non-serious traffic offense. 2017 Annual Report 5