Georgia Parole Review | Page 14

APPA Training Institute

virtual office presentation

At the American Probation and Parole (APPA) 2015 Winter Training Institute in January, Executive Director of Parole, Michael Nail presented an update on the agency’s virtual office concept. Director Nail began his presentation with an overview as to the importance of virtual offices in the supervision process in Georgia Parole. He cited change in leadership, decreasing budgets and research on community supervision as a few of the reasons that the past process was the making of a “perfect storm.”

One of the driving forces to change was a recommendation from the Georgia Criminal Justice Reform Council that stated, “Where potential savings are achieved, a portion can be reinvested into those options that have proved to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. These include…strengthening community supervision" (Report of the Special Council on Criminal

Justice Reform for Georgians, November 2011).

The Virtual (Parole) Office concept was implemented and piloted with the Albany Parole Office in February 2012. Anticipated outcomes included

consolidated office space (probation and parole); enhanced offender supervision and positive community relations. Today, all parole officers operate from the virtual office.

Director Nail says that since his last APPA presentation on the Virtual Office, the agency has shown statewide outcomes reflecting a 13% increase in face-to-face contacts of higher risk/higher needs cases, 2% increase in acceptable parole completions and a 2% decrease in parole revocations. Expense comparisons between FY12 and FY14 depict a total savings of nearly one million dollars as a result of going to Virtual Offices.

Director Nail not only brought the APPA up to date on the process, but he also revealed the next steps which include rebuilding the agency’s case management system; implementing case management access and report functions in the Agency Portal; obtaining and issuing Google Chromebooks to parole officers and conducting periodic reviews and updates of the Virtual Office process. Assisting with the APPA presentation was Scott Maurer, Director of

Operations.

“I am extremely proud of how our staff embraced this progressive concept,” stated Director Nail. “This represents just one more example of an agency culture of not just focusing on best practices, but also next practices,” added Nail.

The agency thanks Director Nail and his team for their innovative leadership and looks forward to future initiatives as Georgia Parole sets the pace for the nation.

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