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
New Warden Named at Telfair State Prison - William Danforth Assigned
FORSYTH, Ga. – Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens announces the assignment of William Danforth as Warden of Telfair State Prison effective August 1, 2012. Danforth will be responsible for overseeing 305 staff members and 1,408 male inmates at the facility located in Helena.
"Warden Danforth has been a part of our Department for more than 20 years," said Commissioner Owens. "He is an asset to the Department and leads with our mission, vision and core values at heart."
He joined the GDC in 1988 as a Correctional Officer at Valdosta State Prison and has served in numerous positions including Sergeant, Lieutenant and Tactical Squad Commander. Danforth was appointed Unit Manager at Macon State Prison in 1998 and was named Deputy Warden of Security at Dooly State Prison in 2002. He was promoted to Warden and transferred to Homerville State Prison in 2005. He was later named Warden at Valdosta State Prison in 2008, where he most recently served.
Danforth attended the Correctional Leadership Institute at the University of Georgia and the Professional Management Program at Columbus State University.
The GDC is the fourth largest prison system in the U.S. 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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