Statewide Lifers and Long-Term Offender Program

Overview

On March 1, 2016, The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) deployed the Statewide Lifer’s and Long-Term Offender Program. This program is available to all lifers with or without parole, and offenders serving a 20+ year sentence. This program is available at all State and Private Prisons.

Purpose

The Georgia Department of Corrections’ Statewide Lifers and Long-Term Offender Program will offer interactive programming to assist in guiding personal development along with restoring Hope, Empowerment and Purpose.

Lifers and Long-Term Offender Population

Program Design

  • The Statewide Lifers and Long-Term Offender Program offers six (6) months of instructions.
  • The program curriculum is designed to provide cognitive lessons which support prosocial thinking and behavior.
  • The program is available to all lifers with and without parole, and any offender serving a 20+ year sentence.
  • Future expansion for the Statewide Lifers and Long-Term Offender Program include mentoring training and specialize detail assignment such as hospice workers.

Curriculum Design

Participants will receive instructional information on the following:

  • Program Overview and Orientation
  • Who am I
  • Acceptance of Reality
  • Benefits of Journaling
  • Taking Care of My Health
  • Stress Management
  • Learning Mindfulness/Meditation
  • What does Spirituality Mean to me?
  • 7 Challenges- How do I communicate?
  • What does Character Development Really Mean?
  • What are Your Values?
  • Developing new Habits
  • Conflict Resolution in My World
  • Public Speaking
  • Problem Solving Process
  • Life Planning Book
    • Goal setting
    • Action Plans
    • Monitoring Progress
  • GDC Program Overview
  • Who am I now?
  • Discussion of lessons learned
  • Next Step Planning​
  • Lifers Testimony Presentation
  • Introduction of Self 
  • How long have I been in custody 
  • Lessons learned
  • Goals after graduation – examples: program completion, education, mentoring, etc.
  • Graduation

Completion of Program

Upon successful completion of the six (6) month program, selected offenders will have the opportunity to begin the three (3) month Support Group phase, which will prepare them for the mentoring program. All others will begin the job readiness phase, which will prepare them for various duties within the facility. Those who complete the program, and meet the criteria, will also have the opportunity to participate in GDC offered programming along with vocational and educational classes.

Support Group

Once an offender completes the six (6) months of instruction phase:

  • Offenders voluntarily meet twice a month
  • Offender driven, supervised by counseling or chaplaincy staff
  • To provide support and enhance efforts of lifer’s program

Topics within the support group will include:

  • Journaling 
  • Quotations - used to set positive mindset
  • Health - food journals, discussions about meditation, and other health and wellness issues
  • Self-discipline - discussions on changing habits and discipline of oneself
  • Public Speaking - practice skills 
  • Problem Solving - continued support and discussion on areas involving problem solving
  • Conflict Resolution - role playing and support on how to deal with differing opinions without arguing
  • Goal Setting - continuous review and checks of goals and how to achieve realistic goals
  • Mentor Support - provide venue for men- tors to talk and support one another