By Jamie Gardner
It was news Appling County needed to hear last Wednesday, July 25. For a period of time the community has been unsrue about the fate of the Georgia Department of Corrections Pre-Release Facility located in Appling County Industrial Park West. Would it close or would it stay open?
Pre-Release Center gets new directive, 50 local jobs saved
On Wednesday, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections Brian Owens reported to a large crowd that the facility would remain open, but not as a pre-release facility. The facility has been repurposed and will become Appling Integrated Treatment Facility.
The new role of the facility is also a new concept in the department of corrections. The Baxley facility, which will house all males, and its sister facility in Zebulon that will house all females, will be programs that focus on the treatment of both mental health and substance abuse. The nine month program actively combine interventions intended to address substance use and mental disorders with the goal of treating both disorders, related problems, and the whole person effectively. Inmates at these facilities are considered non-violent and Owens hopes that following the program inmates will once again become contributing citizens.
Commissioner Owens reported to The News-Banner that the Baxley facility was slated to be closed due to state budget cuts in January, but following a discussion with Governor Nathan Deal, the two were able to find a new directive for the facility instead of letting it close. Owens stated that approximately 50 jobs would be saved just in Appling as a result of the new purpose. The commissioner believes that this type of facility is badly needed in the state.
The local facility will be under the direction of Supervisor Jeffrey Pearce. It will be a 232-bed treatment facility.
Various local and state officials attended the ceremony. The Georgia Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Corrections Timothy C. Ward, Rep. Tommy Smith, Chairman of the Department of Corrections Board Tommy Rouse and others participated in the ceremony and ribbon cutting for the facility.
“I am very proud of the accomplishments being made in the great state of Georgia. I would first like to thank our Governor, Nathan Deal, for making the remission of our Pre-Release Centers into Residential Substance Abuse Treament Facilities possible. Lastly, I would like to personally thank the men and women who have worked diligently in the conversion of these facilities,” said Owens.
Ribbon Cutting held for Appling Treatment Facility
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on Wednesday, July 25 at the Appling Integrated Treatment Facility located in Industrial Park West on Highway 341 West. The new treatment facility will be replacing the Appling County Pre-Release Facility that was scheduled to be closed in January. Shown above is Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens and State Representative Tommy Smith cutting the ribbon at the ceremony. The are joined by various local and state officials.
The new role of the facility is also a new concept in the department of corrections. The Baxley facility, which will house all males, and its sister facility in Zebulon that will house all females, will be programs that focus on the treatment of both mental health and substance abuse. The nine month program actively combine interventions intended to address substance use and mental disorders with the goal of treating both disorders, related problems, and the whole person effectively. Inmates at these facilities are considered non-violent and Owens hopes that following the program inmates will once again become contributing citizens.
Commissioner Owens reported to The News-Banner that the Baxley facility was slated to be closed due to state budget cuts in January, but following a discussion with Governor Nathan Deal, the two were able to find a new directive for the facility instead of letting it close. Owens stated that approximately 50 jobs would be saved just in Appling as a result of the new purpose. The commissioner believes that this type of facility is badly needed in the state.
The local facility will be under the direction of Supervisor Jeffrey Pearce. It will be a 232-bed treatment facility.
Various local and state officials attended the ceremony. The Georgia Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Corrections Timothy C. Ward, Rep. Tommy Smith, Chairman of the Department of Corrections Board Tommy Rouse and others participated in the ceremony and ribbon cutting for the facility.
“I am very proud of the accomplishments being made in the great state of Georgia. I would first like to thank our Governor, Nathan Deal, for making the remission of our Pre-Release Centers into Residential Substance Abuse Treament Facilities possible. Lastly, I would like to personally thank the men and women who have worked diligently in the conversion of these facilities,” said Owens.
Ribbon Cutting held for Appling Treatment Facility
A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on Wednesday, July 25 at the Appling Integrated Treatment Facility located in Industrial Park West on Highway 341 West. The new treatment facility will be replacing the Appling County Pre-Release Facility that was scheduled to be closed in January. Shown above is Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens and State Representative Tommy Smith cutting the ribbon at the ceremony. The are joined by various local and state officials.
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#1
Melissa Pouncey
on
03/08/13 at 09:16 PM
[Reply]
I was trying to find out what the visitation schedule is at this location. My fiance is being transfered there and I need to know what visitation is like. He will be like three hours from me and I call the facility and was told that it depends on what dorm he is in and what his visitation day and times are. I thought it was still within the prison system and that visitation was Saturday, Sunday, and state holidays from 9 to 3 just like its host Ware state prison. Can anybody help.