GDC – Helms Transitional Center

There are 13 Transitional Centers in operation statewide, two of which are designated to house female offenders. A total of 2,674 transitional beds are available, of which 346 are designated for female offenders. To have the opportunity to transfer to a Transitional Center, an offender must receive a referral from either the Board of Pardons of Paroles or the Classification Committee within a state prison. The decision about which offenders are selected is based on criminal history, behavior while incarcerated, release date, and a number of other factors.

One function of Transitional Centers is to provide "work release", allowing the offender to obtain and maintain a paying job in the community while requiring him or her to conform to the structure of the program. The inmate lives in the center, participate in a number of programs and completes assignments to contribute to the upkeep of the center. The wages earned by work release offenders are sent directly to the center.

Employers are required to deduct taxes as appropriate. A portion of the wages is applied to room and board and another portion to any outstanding fines or fees. If the offender has minor children, he or she is required to provide family support for them. The offender may have a small allowance for transportation and incidentals, but all other funds are placed in an account until he or she is released from the center. Most offenders stay in a work release program for approximately six months and are then released on parole. Those who are not eligible for parole will be released when the entirety of their sentence has been fulfilled.

Transitional Centers also provide housing for low-risk maintenance workers. These residents are not participants in the work release program although they may have access to the other programs in the centers. The maintenance residents are assigned full-time to maintain the facility or other state facilities in the area. For example, approximately half of the residents assigned to the Atlanta Transitional Center are maintenance workers who provide details to the Governor's Mansion, the State Capitol Complex, and the State Highway Patrol Headquarters. These residents are not paid any wages. They may stay at the facility for longer periods of time than work release residents.

The daily cost to house an offender in a Transitional Center is off-set by the offender's contribution to their room and board provided by the state. In addition, offenders on work release contribute to the local tax base and to their families' support.

PROGRAMS:

• Academic: General Education Diploma & Adult Basic Education
• Counseling: Moral Recognition Therapy, Active Parenting, & Motivation For Change
• Medical: 24–hour medical care is provided along with specialty services
• Recreation: General Recreation
• Religious Activities: Various worship services that are conducted by volunteers