Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
STATE OF GEORGIA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Sonny Perdue
GOVERNOR
For Immediate Release
Contact: Office of Communications
Friday, January 15, 2010
(404) 651-7774
New Corrections Division Director Named
Atlanta – Commissioner Brian Owens announced the appointment of Michael Nail as Corrections Division Director effective February 1, 2010. Nail will oversee statewide corrections facilities and their operations, including state, county and private prisons and probation offices. The Corrections Division is one of three divisions in the Department of Corrections. Nail replaces Harris Hodges, who is retiring after 32 years of service to the Department.
“The Department is proud to see another valued employee make their way up through the ranks,” said Commissioner Owens. “The Corrections Division will benefit from Michael’s wealth of knowledge and experience.”
Nail most recently served as Deputy Director of the Corrections Division. He began his career with the Department in 1989 as a Probation Parole Officer. He also served as a Probation Parole Officer, Intensive Probation Officer and Probation Parole Officer III/Office Manager in Cobb, Douglas and Griffin Judicial Circuits. Nail has held other positions, including Assistant Manager of the Probation Training Unit, Manager of the Probation Training Unit, Assistant Director of Probation Operations and Director of Probation Operations.
Nail has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of West Georgia and a Masters degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University.
The Department of Corrections is the fourth 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 13,000 employees.
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