Georgia Department of Corrections
James E. Donald, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (404) 656-9772
For Immediate Release
Headquarters Relocation On Track for Department of Corrections
Phase Two Set to Begin
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Corrections announced today plans to begin implementing Phase Two of its renovation of the historic Tift College campus, in preparation for relocating its Atlanta headquarters to central Georgia. The second phase will include renovation of the Roberts and Vinzant buildings, the Hardin Library and Fine Arts building, and completion of the Training Academy.
The Department’s inmate labor force recently helped complete the initial phase of the project, which included abatement, site work, renovation of three dormitory buildings and the Rutland Student Center, and preparation for relocation of the Training Academy, which is scheduled to open on the Tift Campus in Winter 2009. The Academy provides training to correctional officers and other employees. Currently housed at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), this move will free critically needed space at GPSTC for use by other law enforcement entities.
Announced in 2006, the relocation will move the Department closer to the center of its operations. Thirty-five of its prison facilities are located south of Atlanta, while only five are north of the city. Consolidation and reduced rent payments will save the department $4 million annually, another significant benefit of the planned move.
With phase two underway, relocation of the central office headquarters are planned for Fall, 2010. The Department also plans to relocate approximately 400 central office staff positions, representing an approximate annual payroll of $25 million.
"We are excited to announce this significant step in our progress, and we are thankful for the ongoing support of the local community and for the assistance of our legislators,” said Commissioner James E. Donald. “We are also thankful to be a part of the Governor’s original vision of “state offices south”,” added Donald.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 15,000 employees.
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