Justice for Incarcerated Survivors

SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 29, 2023
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Session Type: Workshop

In this workshop, the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Georgia Department of Corrections will explain trauma in correlation to a segment of incarcerated female offenders, and how a partnership project has been established to identify women who may have been involved in a cycle of domestic violence or other trauma that was a factor in their crime. The goal of the project is to provide post conviction relief to survivors whose crime was committed as a result of their domestic violence experience.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Nicole Babb
Special Projects Advisor, GA Department of Corrections


Nicole Babb has spent more than twenty-five years studying and practicing the many aspects of the mind and body and finds rewarding work in helping people to live their best lives. Nicole’s career began in New York as a counselor and policy analyst with the Administration for Children's Services. Nicole's move to Georgia started a career in the correctional field with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Her responsibilities include program management, researcher, auditor, and trainer. As a senior instructor with the Department, Nicole facilitates training in Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, Effective Communication, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Leadership, Evidenced-Based Practices, initial counselor and basic correctional officer, and Departmental academy seminars. Nicole holds the following degrees and certifications: BA in Pyshcology, Master of Public Health, and a CADC II.


Lisa Copeland
Deputy Director of Clemency, GA Board of Pardons and Paroles


Lisa D. Copeland is a 1993 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a BA in Criminal Justice. She worked for Nevada Division of Parole and Probation and the Florida Department of Corrections as a Correctional Probation Officer prior to moving to Georgia, where she began working for the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. During her 20 plus years with the Parole Board, she has held several positions, Parole Officer, Chief Parole Officer, Hearing Examiner, Sr. Hearing Examiner and currently she is the Deputy Director of Clemency Considerations.


Crystal Moon
Clemency Division Director, GA Board of Pardons and Paroles


Crystal Moon is a 2018 graduate of the APPA Leadership Institute and is eager for the opportunity to do exactly what the Leadership Institute is designed to do. To prepare leaders to take APPA to the next level. She has volunteered to mentor students and monitor conference training. Currently, Crystal is the Director of Clemency Division with the GA State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Crystal has over twenty years of experience in the criminal justice field. During her tenure with the Parole Board, she created the Reentry Partnership Housing Program, for which she received the Innovations Awards in 2008. She was instrumental in implementing housing for medically incapacitated parolee's with Bostick Correct Care Nursing facility. Crystal holds a Masters degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University and a Bachelor degree in Political Science from Morris Brown College. She has completed Professional Leadership Development, Correctional Leadership Institute, and Georgia Corrections Pre-Command.


Kim Patton-Johnson
Director of Government Relations, GA Board of Pardons and Paroles


Kim Patton-Johnson was promoted to Deputy Director of Clemency Investigations during January of 2019. She began her career with the Parole Board as a parole officer in 1992. She has had numerous promotions and prior to being promoted to deputy director of clemency she was director of government relations. Kim has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Middle Tennessee State University. Kim is a member of Georgia Association of Community Supervision.


Donna Tebought
Director Reentry Services, GA Department of Corrections


Donna Tebought began her career with the Department in 1993 as a Correctional Officer at Metro State Prison. She has made many advancements within the department to include Probation Office, Counselor, Senior Counselor, Program Development Consultant, Program Director, and Senior Manager. In 2014 Donna Tebought was then promoted to Director of Risk Reduction Services, and currently serves as Director of Office of Reentry Services since 2017. Ms. Tebought’s tenure with GDC has afforded her the opportunity to become a trainer in many of the cognitive behavioral programs which includes Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Thinking for a Change (T4C), and Moving On to name a few. Ms. Tebought has presented at various conferences regarding cognitive programming and successful reentry for offenders. Ms. Tebought has conducted numerous training both within the Georgia Department of Corrections as well as other states on evidence-based practices and program implementation. Donna Tebought holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of New York at New Paltz and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Columbus State University.