By CINDY BISHOP

cindy.bishop@gaflnews.com

With STAFF REPORTS

ALBANY — For the first time, the Office of Victim Services of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole and the Department of Corrections is coming to the area to meet with crime victims and their families whose offender is an inmate in the Georgia prison system or currently on parole.

According to Amy Lapeza, director of the Victim-Witness Assistance Program for the district attorney’s office in the Cordele Judicial Circuit, the first of the “Victims’ Visitors Days” will be held today at the Albany Parole Office located at 1301 Evelyn Ave.

The event will kick off with an opening ceremony and parole board members and staff will see visitors by appointment from 9:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The second event will be in Tifton on Wednesday at the Charles Kent Administration Building Courtroom at 225 N. Tift Ave. This event also will kickoff with an opening ceremony, then parole board officers and staff will see visitors by appointment. Walk-ins also are welcome.

“During these two events, crime victims and their families served by the Crisp, Tifton and the Alapaha Judicial Circuits will have an opportunity to visit with representatives from the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Parole to discuss their case in private and confidentially. They can ask questions as they relate to the offender presently incarcerated or on parole,” said Lapeza.

“Victims will be able to receive current information on the offender or inmate such as maximum or minimum release dates and the institution where the inmate is incarcerated.

“They’ll also be able to register to receive future notification of the status of the offender and talk with parole board staff about their individual case. They’ll also be able to express any concerns they may have regarding the offender to the parole officers and submit Victim Impact Statements.”

Lapeza added that information about victim services will be available, as well as information on how to use the Department of Corrections inmate query website.

She said walk-ins are welcome, but by calling ahead, the Victim Assistance Office will have time to notify the parole board and give them the opportunity to pull the offender and/or parolee’s file.

“This will make it possible for them to have the inmate’s information at their fingertips and provide current information to the victim and family,” said Lapeza.

To schedule an appointment for the two-day event, call the Cordele Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance Office at 276-2625 or 426-5156; the Tifton Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance Office at 386-7903 or the Alapaha Judicial Circuit Victim Assistance Office at 1-800-506-0706 or 686-7856.