ATLANTA, GA - Governor Sonny Perdue, Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner James E. Donald and Board of Corrections members today hosted opening ceremonies for pre-release centers in Wilkes, Lamar, Appling and Turner counties.

The new 200-bed centers will employ between 45 and 50 staff members, and will each have approximately $2 million in annual payroll. They will aid the DOC's efforts in transferring state sentenced inmates from county jails to the prison system, thereby reducing county jail backlogs.

“The prison beds we are opening today will ultimately increase the safety of Georgia's communities,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “These centers will transition lower risk offenders back into the community, saving maximum security prison beds for murderers, sexual predators, and those who would prey on innocent Georgia citizens. Today's openings are also creating new jobs for Georgians across the state.”

Pre-release centers, which are designed to reduce inmates' risk of re-offending by addressing re-entry needs, are a new concept in Georgia. The facilities will have strict supervision and will house lower-risk offenders. Studies show offenders released through transition centers are statistically less likely to commit new crimes than those released directly from prison.

“National and state trends indicate that more than 65 percent of felons commit additional crimes and return to prison within their lifetime. This is unacceptable and we must do more to fight recidivism,” said Corrections Commissioner James E. Donald. “We have an obligation to insure we are doing everything possible to prepare offenders for a law abiding return to our communities.”

The Georgia Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising more than 55,000 state prisoners and 140,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in Georgia, employing nearly 15,000 Georgians.