By CINDY BISHOP
cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com
With STAFF REPORTS
ALBANY — For the first time, the Office of Victim Services of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole and the Department of Corrections is coming to the area to meet with crime victims and their families whose offender is an inmate in the Georgia prison system or currently on parole.
According to Amy Lapeza, director of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program for the district attorney’s office in the Cordele Judicial Circuit, the first of the “Victims’ Visitors Days” will be held today at the Albany Parole Office located at 1301 Evelyn Ave.
The event will kick off with an opening ceremony and parole board members and staff will see visitors by appointment from 9:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The second event will be in Tifton on Wednesday at the Charles Kent Administration Building Courtroom at 225 N. Tift Ave. This event also will kickoff with an opening ceremony, then parole board officers and staff will see visitors by appointment. Walk-ins also are welcome.
“During these two events, crime victims and their families served by the Crisp, Tifton and the Alapaha Judicial Circuits will have an opportunity to visit with representatives from the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Parole to discuss their case in private and confidentially. They can ask questions as they relate to the offender presently incarcerated or on parole,” said Lapeza.
“Victims will be able to receive current information on the offender or inmate such as maximum or minimum release dates and the institution where the inmate is incarcerated.
“They’ll also be able to register to receive future notification of the status of the offender and talk with parole board staff about their individual case. They’ll also be able to express any concerns they may have regarding the offender to the parole officers and submit Victim Impact Statements.”
Lapeza added that information about victim services will be available, as well as information on how to use the Department of Corrections inmate query website.
She said walk-ins are welcome, but by calling ahead, the Victim Assistance Office will have time to notify the parole board and give them the opportunity to pull the offender and/or parolee’s file.
“This will make it possible for them to have the inmate’s information at their fingertips and provide current information to the victim and family,” said Lapeza.
To schedule an appointment for the two-day event, call the Cordele Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance Office at 276-2625 or 426-5156; the Tifton Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance Office at 386-7903 or the Alapaha Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance Office at 1-800-506-0706 or 686-7856.
Local news
Crime victims, families can get information
- Local news
-
-
Business steady at inland port
Containers were being unloaded Tuesday from train cars parked at Cordele Intermodal Services on 13th Ave. E. Those containers will be transported to their destinations by truck.
-
Cordele police report a quiet Monday
City police officers logged an unusually quiet Monday, listing only two arrests on the daily press release provided news media members.
-
TV book changing to Sunday
Cordele Dispatch and Americus Times-Recorder readers will not find a TV book in their Thursday paper this week.
-
Ground broken Monday
-
Cordelean faces felony, traffic charges filed after chase
A 43-year-old local man has been charged with multiple offenses stemming from weekend incidents involving authorities in Crisp and Dooly Counties.
-
Fees set in Wilcox
Meeting in special session Thursday, Wilcox commissioners set qualifying fees for the 2012 election of constitutional officers in the county.
-
Tyson named business of the year
VIENNA — Tyson Foods of Vienna was honored as the Dooly County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year during the organization’s annual dinner and meeting Thursday night.
-
Council seeks answers
BYROMVILLE — Not only members of the general public, but city officials here are having problems getting information about the town's financial status.
-
Suspected drug distributor arrested
CORDELE — Execution of a search warrant at 620 15th Ave. E. Thursday afternoon has led to the arrest of a 57-year-old resident for drug violations.
-
Teen Maze returning
For the third time in the last four years, Teen Maze is returning to Crisp County High School this spring.
- More Local news Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
