James Mills Elected Chairman
Braxton Cotton Elected Vice Chairman
The State Board of Pardons and Paroles has elected a new chairman, the first change in the leadership position in three years.
James Mills was elected chairman of the Parole Board for Fiscal Year 2018 at the Board's June 2017 meeting. Mills will assume the leadership role on July 1, 2017.
Mills has served as vice chairman for the past three years and succeeds Terry Barnard. Barnard was the first Board Member to serve more than two consecutive years as chairman since 2006.
Mills was appointed to the Parole Board in November of 2011.
“I want to first thank Terry Barnard for his excellent leadership these past three years. His experience, including his legislative background, has proven extremely valuable as our agency has completed necessary transitions resulting in a better prepared agency in order to meet challenges to public safety,” stated Mills.
“Chairing this Board is an awesome responsibility and I say with confidence that we are an agency of caring and committed employees who are ready to ensure the Board Members continue receiving accurate data in order to keep the public safe through scientific data driven parole decisions,” added Mills.
During the meeting Mills thanked the Board for entrusting him with the position.
"Georgia’s greatest asset is the people of the state of Georgia. We have some great people in Georgia. That’s what this business is about to me. Every decision we make changes a person’s life; every decision that this board makes. I hope we never forget we are here for others," stated Mills.
The Board Members elected Braxton Cotton as vice chairman for FY 2018. Cotton was appointed to the Board in November of 2013.
Cotton said he was thrilled to be serving Georgia as a member of the Parole Board and promised to continue the work of the Board over the past several years.
Terry Barnard ended three consecutive years as chairman, a longer tenure as chairman than anyone for a decade. Barnard says today the public better understands the Board's work.
"The decisions that you’ve made, you’ll find out that this Board has accomplished some amazing things when it comes to releases, and also releasing what we would expect to be the correct people. Look at the recidivism rate. It speaks all."
Chairman Barnard (2014 - 2017)
•Notifications and solicitation of information regarding parole cases go beyond statutory requirements;
•Increased access for victims;
•Updated Parole Decision Guidelines;
•Agency reorganization due to the creation of the Department of Community Supervision.
9
Georgia Parole Review