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Larry Stanford

Editor

The Department of Corrections Probation Office and Pardons and Parole showed off their “new” office in Thomaston, located in the recently renovated old Thomaston City Hall and Police Station on Highway 19 North. An open house was held at the building last Thursday afternoon.

The Probation Office and Pardons and Parole are leasing the top floor of the building from the City of Thomaston. The lower floor of the building has been left unfinished, and Thomaston City Councilman Gary Atwater, who is also a Pardons and Parole Officer, said the city is hoping to attract another state agency to move into the lower floor.

Chief Billy Elder of the Probation Office said the renovated building is a good use of surplus government property.

The Probation Office is one of three in the Griffin Judicial Circuit, with the other offices being in Griffin and Fayetteville.

The Thomaston office will have five Probation Officers and one support staff. Upson County currently is handling about 400 felony probation cases.

Pardons and Parole will also have five officers and one support staff on their side of the building. The Thomaston office handles Pardons and Parole for Upson, Pike, Lamar, Meriwether and Monroe counties. There are about 185 parolees in Upson and 400 total in the five counties.

Atwater said Thomaston is one of the few remaining brick and mortar offices for Pardons and Parole. The majority of the counties now have parole officers going into virtual reality and working out of their homes.