Governor Announces CCA Awarded Corrections Contract in Georgia

CCA Jenkins Correctional Center to bring up to 200 jobs

Governor Perdue announced today that CCA, the nation's leader in partnership corrections, has been awarded a contract by the Georgia Department of Corrections to manage up to 1,150 male inmates in the CCA Jenkins Correctional Center, which will be designed, constructed, owned and operated by CCA on property currently owned by the company in Millen.

“This is yet another great example of public-private partnerships in Georgia,” said Governor Perdue. “By partnering with CCA, Jenkins County will see a positive economic impact that will include up to 200 full-time jobs.”

CCA anticipates beginning construction of the $56.8 million prison in approximately three months and expects to be ready to receive the first Georgia inmates in the first quarter of 2012. CCA already has a strong presence in the state of Georgia, operating a total of five prisons and detention centers, employing approximately 1,500 corrections professionals with about $54 million annual payroll and paying nearly $8 million in property taxes and utilities annually.

“For more than 12 years, CCA and the State of Georgia have worked in close partnership as CCA has provided safe, secure corrections management solutions that save hardworking taxpayers' dollars,” said Damon Hininger, CCA president and chief executive officer. “We are proud to currently own and operate two prisons in Georgia for the state and greatly value being entrusted with an expanded partnership that allows us to build and operate the CCA Jenkins Correctional Center.”

"We are so very grateful to the residents, business and civic leaders and the elected officials in Millen and all of Jenkins County for showing us such an outpouring of support over the past months, when CCA was in the process of proposing that Georgia build and operate a prison on our Millen property, " said Tony Grande, CCA executive vice president and chief development officer.

In addition to owning and operating the Wheeler Correctional Facility in Alamo and the Coffee Correctional Facility in Nicholls for Georgia, CCA owns and operates the McRae Correctional Facility in McRae on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For Immigration and Customs Enforcement, CCA owns and operates the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin and operates the North Georgia Detention Center in Gainesville. Collectively, CCA is responsible for more than 7,000 inmates and detainees in Georgia.

CCA has named Flintco as the national contractor for this project and is working with the architectural firm, DLR Group.

About CCA
CCA is the nation’s largest provider of partnership corrections to federal, state and local government, operating more than 60 facilities, including more than 40 company-owned facilities, with approximately 87,000 beds, in 19 states and the District of Columbia. In addition to providing the residential services for inmates, CCA facilities offer rehabilitation and educational programs, including education, vocation, religious services, life skills and employment training and substance abuse treatment, knowing that positive behaviors learned in prison means these individuals are less likely to re-commit crimes. CCA has operated prisons as a partner to federal, state and local government for more than 25 years. CCA facilities follow the strictest accreditation standards of the American Correctional Association, the oldest, largest and most respected correctional organization in the world. CCA combines the strict oversight from government with the efficiency of business – and that means safe, humanely-operated prisons that provide cost savings to taxpayers. Forbes magazine has named CCA as one of “America’s Best Big Companies" and Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine ranked CCA as one of the nation’s “Top 100 Corporate Citizens”. Please visit www.correctionscorp.com for general overview of CCA.

DHR Supports New Law Requiring All DUI Offenders to be Assessed for Treatment

Effective July 1, the Multiple Offender Program of the Addictive Disease Section of the Department of Human Resources has been renamed the DUI Intervention Program. This change reflects HB 336 recently signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue. Under the new DUI law, all DUI offenders are required to have a clinical evaluation and, if recommended, complete treatment. Previously, only multiple offenders had to have clinical evaluations.

"We see this as an opportunity to do earlier intervention with Georgia drivers who have significant alcohol problems," states Gwen Skinner, Director for the Georgia Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases. "As with all chronic diseases, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better."

There are over 200,000 DUI arrests in Georgia each year. Research has estimated that the average driver arrested for a DUI has driven drunk between 400 and 700 times before. Additionally, 50% of first-time DUI offenders have alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. Therefore, doing clinical evaluations after a first DUI will detect alcohol abuse and dependence for thousands of Georgians years earlier.

DHR is charged with establishing the registry of qualified clinical evaluators and treatment providers. Clinicians must be professionally licensed or certified by approved licensing bodies that have education standards, nationally standardized testing, oral case presentations, years of work experience, and annual continuing education.

Statement from Governor Perdue Regarding NBAF

Today (June 20, 2008) the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the sites competing for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). Governor Perdue issued the following statement:

“Georgia continues to enjoy great success within the Bioscience industry as evidenced by the announcement of more than 500 jobs for our state just this week at the 2008 BIO International Conference in San Diego.

“We believe that Athens as one of the five finalists, home to the University of Georgia and just down the road from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, is an optimal location for NBAF. UGA is already home to a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory and a nationally recognized veterinary school. Athens’ close proximity to the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson, will give the nation the advantage of rapidly responding to zoonotic disease threats anywhere in the world. We are also excited about the economic impact it would have on Northeast Georgia and the selection of Athens would further cement our state as the crossroads of global health.

“As we continue to participate in the selection process, we look forward to competing on a fair and equitable basis and to make the best presentation possible. We will coordinate these efforts with the help of Senators Chambliss and Isakson, the Congressional delegation, the University of Georgia and Athens as we earn NBAF on our own right.”

Georgia Receives Presidential Disaster Declaration for 14 Counties Damaged By Mother’s Day Tornadoes

Governor Sonny Perdue announced that President George W. Bush approved a Federal Disaster Declaration today for the 14 counties that Governor Perdue requested aid for following the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms that hit Georgia on May 11-12.

“I am grateful to President Bush and FEMA Director Paulison for their quick action in offering assistance,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “This Federal Disaster Declaration will broaden our capability to recover from these devastating storms.”

This means that individual assistance is now available to disaster victims in 10 counties: Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs.
The President has also designated that Bibb, Carroll, Crawford, Emanuel, Glynn, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, Treutlen, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties will all be able to receive federal funds to help offset 75 percent the cost of the initial emergency response, debris removal and restoration of damaged public facilities.

For the counties receiving individual assistance, aid can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.

Governor Perdue made the request May 16 for a federal declaration after touring the areas and reviewing preliminary damage assessment figures.

Residents and business owners in Bibb, Carroll, Douglas, Emanuel, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Laurens, McIntosh, and Twiggs counties who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov/ or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (local time) Monday through Sunday.

GEMA is the lead state agency for coordination of emergency and disaster response activities. For more emergency information and updates, visit http://www.gema.ga.gov/.

Governor Perdue Orders Flags Lowered to Honor Peace Officers

Governor Sonny Perdue today signed an Executive Order to lower flags to half staff on Thursday, May 15, 2008, in honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day. Text of the Executive Order is provided below:

Executive Order
Flags on State Buildings and Grounds Ordered Lowered to Half Staff

Whereas: Every day, in every area of the United States of America, a very special group of men and women are called upon to protect their communities and fellow citizens as law enforcement officers; and

Whereas: We, as a grateful people, owe a debt of gratitude to all those in varying capacities of law enforcement who have answered the call “To Protect and To Serve”; and

Whereas: By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, the President of the United States of America has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers’ Memorial Day” and the week in which it falls as “Police Week,” and to direct that the flag be flown at half staff on Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.

Now, therefore, in honor and as a mark of respect for the officers who serve, and in memory of the officers who have fallen, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Georgia, it is hereby

Ordered: That the flags on all state buildings throughout the state of Georgia be flown at half staff on Thursday, May 15, 2008.

This 14th day of May, 2008.

Secretary of State Handel Applauds Governor Perdue for Signing HB 1104

Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel and Representative Katie Dempsey joined Governor Sonny Perdue as he signed House Bill 1104, a bill to strengthen Georgia’s Charitable Solicitations Act.

“This legislation provides common sense changes that will help better protect Georgia citizens from fraud, ease administrative burdens on charities, and does more to stop dishonest solicitors from operating in our state,” Secretary Handel said.

House Bill 1104 will increase the transparency of financial arrangements between a charity and its paid solicitor and require paid solicitors to inform the person being solicited that the contract disclosing the financial arrangements between the paid solicitor and the charity is available from the Georgia Secretary of State.

The legislation ensures that the Secretary of State has jurisdiction over charitable solicitors acting on behalf of a charity located in Georgia which is soliciting contributions from outside the state, over solicitation originating in Georgia, and over out-of-state charities soliciting Georgia citizens.

HB 1104 was introduced by Representative Katie Dempsey and passed the House chamber 148-1. Senator Judson Hill of Marietta carried the bill in the Senate. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.