In 1993, the American Probation and Parole Association established the President's Award to recognize exemplary community corrections programs which serve to advance the knowledge, effectiveness and integrity of the system. APPA acknowledges the growing responsibilities of the profession in meeting the ever-present demands by celebrating the success of our constituents.
Successes are the product of collaboration, teamwork, and organizational spirit.
To this end, this award recognizes visionary organizations that have exemplified the management and innovations necessary to lead community corrections into the future. The Georgia Parole Board's Field Operations Division has developed an innovative and proactive approach to supervising adult offenders that emphasizes outcome over processes. Rather than focusing on the number of contacts made with a parolee, RDS focuses on tracking intervention programs, the type of program recommended and how many participants were successful or were returned to prison. Although RDS is a statewide initiative, the Georgia Parole Board recognizes the importance of having local control over accomplishing these objectives. Each field office is responsible for accessing or developing intervention programs in their area, and both public and private providers are used.