Lee State Prison inmate gets parole at ‘Evidence-Based Program’ graduation

LEESBURG — A state inmate who graduated from a Georgia Department of Corrections program on Friday is now a “returning citizen” after the State Board of Pardons and Paroles granted him parole during the ceremony, officials with the board said.

Kenneth Geiger was among the inmates to graduate from Lee State Prison’s first “Evidence-Based Program” before leaving the prison on parole Monday.

Officials said the board’s purpose of delivering the parole certificate in person was to send the message to state inmates that it is up to them to make themselves “parole ready.”

Executive Director of Parole Chris Barnett said the board reviews, among other things, an offender’s prison program completions when determining whether he or she will be granted parole.

“The board wants parole eligible offenders to prepare themselves for re-entry,” Barnett said. “By completing necessary programming, these offenders are better prepared to be successful back in the community. The offender population needs to understand that these are necessary steps in order to be paroled.”

Officials said Geiger was among the more than 60 inmates graduating from programs at the prison in Leesburg on Friday. The Evidence-Based Program is a two-year commitment using evidence-based practices to determine training and programming for offenders.

Welding and GED program graduates also were recognized, and several inmates graduated from more than one program, the board said.

Geiger received parole after serving 19 months of a two-year sentence for convictions for theft, burglary and motor vehicle theft in Paulding County.

The Parole Board is made up of five board members who are full-time state employees. They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate and serve seven-year staggered terms. The members determine which parole-eligible inmates are granted parole and make decisions on pardons as well as clemency requests for death row inmates.

In Georgia, eligible inmates are automatically considered for parole. If released on parole, offenders who violate their release conditions may be returned to prison by the board.

For more information about the Georgia Parole Board, visit www.pap.georgia.gov. For more information about the Georgia Department of Corrections, visit www.gdc.georgia.gov.