GDC – Coastal Transitional Center

After serving time within the state's prisons, selected offenders are slowly reintegrated back into society with a job and enhanced prospects for stability through placement within one of the state's Transitional Centers. Research has shown that offenders who have the opportunity to reenter the community after a stay in a Transitional Center are up to 1/3 more likely to succeed in maintaining a crime-free life.

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 offender lives in the center, participates 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.

MISSION – To protect the community while assisting residents in making a successful transition back into society. Provide social and employment skills in a structured environment. Coastal State Prison is the host facility. Ensure public safety and effectively house offenders while operating a safe and secure facility while providing diagnostic intake services for the Strategic Intervention Program (S.I.P.). S.I.P. consists of an Intensive Re-Entry program, a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program for inmates as well as a Probation RSAT program. Houses a Faith and Character Based program and provides supportive living housing for ADA inmates. Host facility for the Coastal Transition Center and the catchment for Savannah Probation Office.

HOUSING – 46 living units ranging in size from four to 12 beds. Housing consists of twelve housing units. Six units contain 36 cells each, the cells are divided into 12 two-man cells and 24 four-man cells. Each of these 6 units has 120 beds, totaling 720. There are four units which have open bay dormitories totaling 846 beds. There is one unit with 184 beds which houses 92 Faith and Character inmates and 92 Incentive Inmates, one segregation unit with 74 beds, and an Infirmary with 12 beds. There are a total of 1,836 beds at Coastal State Prison. This facility also houses an abbreviated Diagnostic Unit, and a Tactical Squad.

• OPEN DORMITORY
• BOOT CAMP

WORK DETAILS – One D.O.T. Detail, Two Garden City Details, Maintenance, Grounds, Warehouse, Food Service, Laundry, Barbering, Sanitation/Janitorial, Library and Educational Aides, Career Center Clerks

PROGRAMS:

• Counseling: Individual Counseling, Moral Recognition Therapy, Re-Entry, Job Readiness, Work Adjustment, Vocational Rehab, Men's Health Issues, Family Orientation, Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, Matrix, Fatherhood Program, Parenting
• Recreation: General Recreation
• Religious Activities: Various Worship Services, Bible Study