Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA (Macon) recently was honored as the only non-law enforcement agency named by the Georgia Department of Corrections as a partner agency of the year. The GDC recently announced the awards during the 11th Annual GDC Awards ceremony at Tift College in Forsyth, GA.
In addition to Goodwill, the GDC recognized the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Tattnall County Sheriff’s Department and Albany Dougherty Drug Unit as the Partner Agencies of the Year. The agencies were nominated by GDC staff for their contributions.
“On behalf of the agency, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to all of our recipients for their continued support and service to the Department of Corrections,” said GDC Commissioner Homer Bryson.
James K. Stiff, president of Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, accepted the award on behalf of Goodwill, which received the recognition for its re-entry programs and for a groundbreaking new initiative to help sort thousands of books donated to the corrections system.
“Goodwill has long pioneered programs that provide assistance to populations with significant barriers to employment, including help for individuals seeking a second chance to pursue a slice of the American dreeam,” Stiff said. “We know that employment with a career plan reduces recidivism, and a stable, employed workforce builds better communities.”
The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 55,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.
