Officials with Georgia's Department of Corrections agree with a study out last week that suggests the state could be smarter about its correctional policies. But they say that Georgia is already laying that groundwork.
According to the study from the Pew Center On the States, Georgia has the second-highest incarceration rate in the country. At the beginning of 2008, state facilities held some 55,000 prisoners. Brian Owens, Assistant Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, said an additional 15,000 may be added over the next seven years.
Owens also said that the state plans to expand services for non-violent drug and property offenders, to keep them out of jail. Instead, they can receive vocational training and substance abuse intervention at new day report centers.
