Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (404) 656-9772
For Immediate Release
Change of Responsibility Ceremony Held at Smith State Prison
Atlanta – Department of Corrections’ staff and local dignitaries attended a Change of Responsibility ceremony on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. During the ceremony, Warden Dannie Thompson received responsibility for Smith State Prison in Glennville, Georgia. Warden Thompson will oversee 1,375 inmates and 370 staff members.
“Warden Thompson has been a great asset to the Department since joining in 1987,” said Commissioner Brian Owens. “He has worked his way up through the ranks and I am honored to give him responsibility of Smith State Prison.”
Warden Thompson began his career with the Department as a Correctional Officer. He was promoted to Canine Handler in 1989 and Training Instructor in 1992. In 2000, Thompson was promoted to Captain at Montgomery State Prison. He was promoted to Warden at Wayne State Prison in 2002 and later served as Warden at Coastal and Calhoun State Prisons.
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 160,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 15,000 employees.
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