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Georgia Parole Board holds Victim Impact Session in Statesboro
Ogeechee DA hosts state board member, reps from state Office of Victim Services
Victim Impact Session
Pictured at the Victim Impact Session held Friday, April 25, 2025, in Statesboro are, from left, Keir Chapple, director, Georgia Office of Victim Services; Chris Toussant, deputy director, Georgia Office of Victim Services; District Attorney Robert Busbee, Ogeechee Judicial Circuit; Wayne Bennett, Georgia Parole Board member; Lisa Copeland, Parole Board staff; and Chris Barnett, executive director of Parole. (Photo courtesy Ogeechee Judicial Circuit)

Area victims of crime met directly with Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles Board member Wayne Bennett during a Victim Impact Session last Friday, April 25, in Statesboro. 

According to a release from District Attorney Robert Busbee with the of Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, local crime victims are being given a stronger voice in the parole process through an initiative involving the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles, the Georgia Office of Victim Services and the DA's office.

"For victims who continue to be impacted by violent crime long after the court's judgment, these meetings allow them to remain involved in the case," Busbee said. "I appreciate the Parole Board's commitment to providing this opportunity and ensuring that victims' voices are heard."

These sessions provide victims with a meaningful opportunity to stay engaged in their cases long after the court's judgment has been rendered, he said.

Parole Board member Wayne Bennett, who previously served as Glynn County sheriff, shared his perspective on the board's commitment to victim services.

"As a sheriff for 20 years, your involvement with victims is often limited after the crime is solved and the court's decision is made," Bennett said. "Since joining the Parole Board, I've seen firsthand the many post-conviction services available to victims. We are committed to gathering victim input before making parole decisions."

Victim Impact Sessions allow crime victims to meet one-on-one with a Parole Board member, representatives from the Georgia Office of Victim Services, and staff from the board's Pre-Release Considerations Division. 

Information shared during the meetings becomes part of the offender's official case file and is reviewed by the entire Parole Board prior to a parole decision.

Since 2022, more than 400 crime victims across Georgia have participated in Victim Impact Sessions. Victims seeking more information or wishing to participate in an upcoming session may contact the Georgia Office of Victim Services via email at victimservices@pap.ga.gov.