MACON DAY REPORT CENTER PLANNED FOR THE MCKENNA ARMORY

Since there has been much discussion about the new Day Report Center
planned for the McKenna Armory, I have been asked to explain the concept on
behalf of Corrections' Commissioner James Donald.

Incredibly, one in every 15 adult Georgians is under some form of
correctional supervision, and we know why. Approximately three-fourths of
the adults incarcerated, or on probation or parole are there because of
illegal drug use and the crimes they committed to support their addiction.

With one in every 15 adults under some form of correctional oversight, no
Georgian is untouched by this crisis. These people are our sons and
daughters, our extended family members, friends and neighbors, and they
were raised and live in every community across this state.

We cannot continue to take a one "size fits all" brick and mortar approach
as we did in the past 10 years when our prison population doubled from
25,000 to 50,000 inmates. We must look for alternative solutions that
target the disease rather than the symptoms. Day Report Centers are just
one of many types of alternative solutions that avoids locking up so many
of our young people who have made terrible mistakes in judgment.

Our core mission is public safety. That mission is non-negotiable. We must
determine who we're afraid of and who we're just mad at. If they are
repeat, violent or predatory offenders, we need to lock them up. If we're
just mad at them but not afraid of them, we need to address the root causes
of their illegal behavior.

Offenders targeted for Day Report Centers fall into the "mad at" column.
These otherwise prison-bound people report daily to the center to receive
intensive services. A "no show" draws an immediate visit from a parole or
probation officer or local law enforcement officer.

Surveillance officers check in with them when they are at home with their
families at night. Services provided at the center include substance abuse
intervention, educational and vocational opportunities, job placement and
retention services and family support. Participants are also drug-tested
every other day.

The Macon Day Report Center is modeled after our Atlanta Center. The local
community to include churches, small business groups, the NAACP, local
health care providers and others, has literally adopted the Atlanta Center.

The participants in the program are raised in the community, and the
community must play a central role in their redemption back as citizens.

The results are still early at the Atlanta Day Report Center but we know
that after nearly three years of operation, less than one in 10 program
graduates has been convicted of a new felony. We also know that three in 10
inmates released from prison will receive a new felony conviction within
three years of their release.

The Department of Corrections must also exhibit the best principles of
stewardship of public funds. By placing the Macon Day Report Center at the
state-owned McKenna Armory, we can save the thousands of taxpayer dollars
that are required each year to lease a private facility.

Finally, we all know how the Georgia prison population grew to be the sixth
largest in the United States, but at this point the issue is moot. We have
an opportunity before us now to begin to transform the adult criminal
justice system in Georgia.

Brian Owens is the executive assistant to the commissioner of the
Department of Corrections.