Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (478) 992-5248
STATE OF GEORGIA
For Immediate Release
2011 Probation Officer of the Year Named - James Ward
Forsyth - The Department of Corrections honored James Ward of the Greensboro Probation Office as Probation Officer of the Year at the Eighth Annual GDC Awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at State Offices South at Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia.
"James is a dedicated employee who takes pride in his work," said Commissioner Brian Owens. "He exceeds in every aspect of his job," added Owens.
The Probation Officer of the Year award is presented to an officer who consistently demonstrates the ability to prioritize responsibilities, leadership qualities and the appropriate balance between probation’s law enforcement and treatment role.
Officer Ward works in the Greensboro Probation Office as an Intensive Probation Supervision Officer. In June 2011, he requested and was granted permission to start a Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT) class at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department to reduce transportation concerns for probationers. Since its implementation, the MRT class has become the most successful class in the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit. Officer Ward has been the key force in helping his circuit offer more accessible services to probationers.
Several key officials were on hand for the ceremony, which was attended by more than 200 guests. Making the award presentation with the Commissioner were Board of Corrections Secretary Rose Williams, Assistant Commissioner Timothy C. Ward and special guest speaker, State Representative Jay Neal.
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 12,000 employees.
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