Tougher Parole Laws in Georgia

A hot topic within the Georgia prison system these days is tougher parole laws.  Georgia has the fifth largest incarcerated population in the country and that population is growing.  No new prisons are in the works, only wings built on to existing prisons where possible.  Where will the inmates, with the ever-increasing rate of convictions, go?

Georgia has a ‘guidelines system’ in place already which, from my understanding, is the norm for most state prison systems.  Basically when an inmate enters the prison system, they are evaluated based on their education, job background, family support, living situation and, most importantly, past convictions, charges and incarcerations.  After an evaluation, the parole board will determine the inmate’s Temporary Parole Month(TPM) for release, or close the file for another six months to a year if they feel the inmate is not ready for parole.  How accurate is this system?  Who knows.  I’ve done a lot of research but very little information is made public on how exactly the system works to determine parole.

Because of tougher mandatory sentences and the growing population, Georgia has decided to target violent offenders, especially violent repeat offenders.  I personally think this is long overdue.

It’s no secret that drug crimes make up the bulk of the incarcerated population.  With that are crimes related to drug activity (breaking and entering, robbery, shootings, etc.).  It’s been my experience that those convicted of only drug possession, intent to distribute and trafficking parole much quicker than other crimes.  I served two years in Georgia’s prison system, and I saw some girls more than once during that time, all possession charges.  Some return within days of release.

I honestly believe this is a step that is long overdue for Georgia’s system.  Of any offender, the violent offender is the one that needs to be behind bars for longer sentences.  Especially in a system that clearly states that prison is not meant for rehabilitiation, but instead for punishment and to keep the public ’safe’.  If that is indeed the purpose of prison in this state, then yes, violent offenders should have stricter parole rules.  Parole is a privelege, not a right.

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not hold a grudge against the system for my experience.  But to this day I don’t understand why I served every single day of my two-year sentence while I watched violent offenders leave after serving only one-third of their sentence.

My ‘guidelines’ would show that I was very stable.  I was employed, making very good money.  I had my own apartment, my own car.  I was a contributing member of society, paying taxes loyally, and going to college to improve my future.  I had a very large network of support made up of friends and family.  My charge was forgery, which is a serious crime but by no means violent.  My record was clean – I had never even had a speeding ticket before I was charged with forgery.  The point is, my guidelines should’ve shown that my chances of recidivism were quite low.  I would’ve been better off as a contributing, tax-paying member of society rather than soaking up other taxpayers’ dollars.

I do not feel that I should’ve been an exception, nor did I ever ask for special treatment.  I took a plea bargain and was sentenced, so yes, I deserved to be punished.  But I can’t logically figure out why inmates like myself, who have made a bad decision somewhere along the way, spend more time in a cell than others who are a much, much bigger threat to society.  There is a big difference between someone who makes a mistake or a bad choice one and needs to learn from it and someone who leads a consistent life of crime.

The three probation officers I’ve had since my release have constantly reminded me that being on supervised probation is still like being in prison, I just have the freedom to function in the real world.  I disagree with that, by the way, but that is neither here nor there.  If that’s the case, wouldn’t have been a better judgement to save tax dollars and instead have me stay on supervised probation, where I actually have to pay someone to supervise me?  I would’ve been one less mouth to feed and one less bed to fill in our overcrowded system.

But I served every single day of my sentence, despite being told by every attorney, court clerk and Deputy that crossed my path that I would serve no more than one-third of my time or less.  I had the cleanest record of any inmate I served time – I was never reprimanded for behavior.  I kept my head down and stayed away from trouble.  I kept to myself and faded into the background as best I could. 

I excelled and pushed myself to achieve the impossible while I was incarcerated.  I became one of the first female inmate firefighters in the state of Georgia.  I went on to a work release program and became the first inmate to work for the Governor.  Despite my good behavior and proof that I do not lead a life of crime, I served every single day of my crime sentence while watching violent offenders go home.

I’m still not bitter.  I would never take back a single day of the time I served.  On this side of it, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I was given while incarcerated that have pushed me to reach for bigger and better things, to keep on accomplishing the impossible. 

I often think true fairness will probably never happen within our system, but hopefully this will put Georgia a little closer.