Study Focuses on Barriers to Successful Prisoner Re-Entry Into Atlanta Communities

One out of every 100 Americans is incarcerated. One in 13 adults in Georgia is either in jail or on probation and parole, and the state holds the fifth largest prison population in the nation.

Hundreds of prisoners are released and return to metro-Atlanta neighborhoods every month. For Emory's Office of University-Community Partnerships, which has worked with dozens of community groups, services organizations, policy makers and government leaders for nearly a decade, issues around incarceration are a big piece of the puzzle in developing strategies to build strong communities.

"In many ways, the success or recidivism of former inmates has a tremendous impact on the communities where they settle, but given the stigma attached, it hasn’t exactly been a cause championed by many. But, positive reentry is a necessity, not an option, when it comes to public safety, preserving families and the development and stability of neighborhoods," said assistant professor of political science Michael Leo Owens, coauthor of the study "Prisoner Reentry in Atlanta: Understanding the Challenges of Transition from Prison to Community."

The report was recently completed by OUCP, and its authors hope their findings spark conversation and action among government leaders, service providers and community organizations to address the challenges of facilitating the positive integration of former prisoners back into communities. In addition to Owens, an OUCP senior faculty fellow, the study was compiled by Michael Rich, OUCP executive director and associate professor of political science, Sam Marie Engle, OUCP senior director, and Moshe Haspel, OUCP's director of research and Evaluation.

The immensely detailed and comprehensive reentry report analyzes data showing where people go in metro-Atlanta when they get out of prison, what support services, such as job training, mental health and substance abuse counseling, are there for them, and the availability of affordable housing and jobs. OUCP's study is part of the Urban Institute's national Reentry Mapping Network, which covers a dozen metropolitan areas around the country.

The study tracked nearly 5,000 people released from state prisons into probation and parole in 2004 and 2005 (as provided by the Georgia Department of Corrections and Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles) who took up residence in the five core metro-Atlanta counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton. About a fifth settled in the city of Atlanta. While the greatest concentration was in and around Atlanta neighborhoods, prisoner reentry affects the entire metro-area. More than 80 percent of the former prisoners were non-violent offenders.

Focus groups with former prisoners, service providers and faith-based and government organizations filled in the picture of what issues former prisoners and communities face. Surveys also provided insight on public attitudes toward former prisoners.

Outside of access to services, securing jobs and affordable housing posed the biggest challenges to successful reentry for ex-offenders.

Gaining employment was hindered by multiple obstacles: In addition to low levels of education and work experience, and the reluctance of employers to hire someone who has served time in prison, they also lacked the personal networks to help them identify and secure jobs. Those findings echoed the experiences of government and community-based reentry service providers.

However, "housing was identified as the most central issue and need people faced immediately upon their return or move to Atlanta," said Owens. "For those released from prison without obtaining a guaranteed bed at a transitional house or shelter, and possessing only their $25 in 'gate money,' finding a place to stay that was secure, decent and accessible was often impossible."

The study also found differences in the types of programs offered by secular agencies and faith-based groups but overall they were often not in the geographic area where they are needed most.

"One thing we heard again and again from service providers was: 'I wish I knew what everyone else was doing,'" says Engle. "We hope that an outcome of this study will be a stronger network and coordination to provide the services that are needed."

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Georgia Power Asks Residents To Be Alert for Fraud Artists

/PRNewswire/ -- Several metro Atlanta residents have recently been victimized by a female imposter who claims to be a Georgia Power employee.

The individual contacts Georgia Power customers by phone, informing victims that their electric bill is past due and that an urgent credit card payment is needed to avoid loss of service within 24 hours.

If the scam artist receives credit card numbers from the Georgia Power customer, she then wires money from their credit card account to different locations or uses the number to make fraudulent purchases.

At least five to six area residents have been victimized since early March. The method of this scam is very similar to a scheme used in 2006 and may involve the same individuals.

Georgia Power employees will never call a customer at home seeking personal information. When a customer is past due on a bill, a recorded message is sent to the customer's home phone encouraging them to contact Georgia Power to discuss the status of their account.

Field-service representatives will never ask a customer for money when they visit a residence. All Georgia Power company representatives carry badges with picture identification, their name and the company's name and logo. To view official company uniforms go to www.georgiapower.com.

Georgia Power's Corporate Security department is working with local law enforcement agencies throughout the state to identify the perpetrators. If anyone has been victimized by this scheme, or has any information about suspects, they are asked to contact Georgia Power's Corporate Security department at 404-506-4116.

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Four Suspects Arrested for Metro Atlanta Armed Bank Robberies

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Gregory Jones, FBI Atlanta, Chief Terrell Bolton, Dekalb County Police Department, and Chief Charles M. Walters, Gwinnett County Police Department, announce the arrests of four suspects in a string of armed bank robberies around Metro Atlanta over the last 2 weeks. Currently in custody are SHANTAVIA GLASS, 22, of Lithonia, WILLIAM BERK HARROLD, a.k.a. “MAN-MAN”, 18, also of Lithonia, and ZACHERY ANTONIO HARRIS, a.k.a. “MURDER” 20, of Ellenwood. Also arrested was a 16-year old male from Duluth, Georgia who is believed to have been a participant in the robberies. The FBI does not release the names of minors.

Following the release of photographs associated with Wednesday’s robbery of the Bank of America at 3040 Panola Road in Lithonia, GLASS turned herself in to the Dekalb County Police Department, where she was questioned by Dekalb County Investigators and Special Agents of the FBI. GLASS remains in custody at the Dekalb County Jail, but will probably be transferred to Federal custody later today (December 19).

HARROLD, HARRIS, and the 16-year old male fled Georgia along with two female acquaintances and the 2-year old child of one of those females. Based in large part on tips received from the public following Wednesday’s newscasts, they were eventually located in McComb, Mississippi. At approximately 4:00 am December 19, Officers of the McComb City Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle believed to be operated by the suspects, during which they arrested HARROLD and a 20-year old female acquaintance. Based on information gathered during the traffic stop, the McComb Police Department SWAT team was activated, and conducted a search of a room at the nearby Deerfield Inn in McComb. Inside that room, police arrested HARRIS and the 16-year old suspect.

All the suspects arrested in Mississippi are currently in the custody of the Pike County Sheriff’s Department. It is expected they will also be eventually transferred to Federal custody.

The public can also review information concerning these and other bank robberies at www.georgiabankrobbery.com, an interactive site which provides bank robbery details, photographs, and the opportunity for the public to provide information to the FBI via the Internet.

The public is reminded that all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Serial Bank Robber Sentenced to More Than 167 Years in Prison

SOUKSAKHONE PHAKNIKONE, 26, a/k/a "Bruce Phaknikone," and "Trigga," of Dacula, Georgia, was sentenced December 18 by United States District Judge Richard W. Story on seven counts of armed bank robbery, seven counts of use of a firearm during the commission of the armed bank robberies, and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

United States Attorney David E. Nahmias said of today's sentence, "Over a seven-month period in 2006 and 2007, this defendant terrorized people in banks across metro Atlanta. While his violent and aggressive tactics enabled him to victimize numerous unsuspecting bank tellers, the sentence he received today ensures that the remainder of his life will be spent behind bars. Innocent citizens will never again suffer from the gun-toting violence of this criminal."

PHAKNIKONE was sentenced to 167 years, 1 month in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $86,706. After a trial lasting approximately a week and a half, the jury convicted PHAKNIKONE of these charges on September 25, 2008.

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: PHAKNIKONE was arrested on April 6, 2007, after he robbed a Wachovia Bank in Suwanee, Georgia, and led police on a high speed chase that ended in a collision and his apprehension at gun point. The evidence at trial proved that on seven separate occasions, "Trigga" robbed banks wearing a ski mask, hoodie, gloves and carrying a semi-automatic firearm. In each robbery he vaulted the teller counter and personally grabbed the cash. Although he went to great lengths to conceal his identity, investigators recognized his signature actions, including jumping the counter in each of his robberies. Intensive investigation revealed PHAKNIKONE had visited a number of the banks without his mask to "case" and plan the robberies. Agents obtained bank surveillance photos from "Trigga's" pre-robbery visits to the banks, which in effect, removed his mask for the jury and revealed "Trigga's" true identity.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and police officers from the following departments: Suwanee Police Department, Lilburn Police Department, Duluth Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Department, and Barrow County Sheriff's Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Angela M. Jordan and Matthew T. Jackson prosecuted the case.

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