Founded in 1939 as the Georgia County Prison Wardens’ Association, the GPWA is a not-for-profit association designed to improve the administration of the prison system, protect the public, orient the public to the difficulties faced when rehabilitating offenders, and deter crime through proper treatment of offenders.

 

Made up of state, county, and private prison wardens and superintendents, GPWA members encourage and support the education of employees and their families through a scholarship program. All GDC employees, Board members, contractors, private prison employees, and county prison employees, along with their dependent family members, are eligible for the scholarship. Wardens and superintendents distribute the scholarship applications each January. The Board of Corrections has been kind enough to fund an additional scholarship each year. In 2016, 35 scholarships, worth $52,500, were awarded. In 2017, 36 scholarships, worth $54,000 were awarded. In 2018, 33 scholarships, worth $49,500 were awarded. These scholarships are made possible through donations to the GPWA, the purchase of advertising in the conference handbook, membership dues, and vendor exhibit fees.

 

The GPWA hosts a summer training conference each year, usually during the first week of June, which facilitates networking and the sharing of ideas among Board Members, Executive Leadership, Wardens, Superintendents, vendors, and other professionals in the field of corrections. Retiring leaders are recognized and the winners of the annual college scholarships are announced at the conference.

 

The 2019 Summer Conference will be held June 2 through June 5, 2018 at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott. The Awards Banquet at the Summer Conference will be held on Monday, June 3, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Along with our keynote speaker, US Attorney Bobby L. Christine,  the GPWA will recognize retiring wardens and superintendents along with the scholarship winners.