New Superintendent at Phillips Transitional Center Named

Commissioner : Brian Owens

Director of Public Affairs : Joan Heath

James Payne Appointed

Forsyth - Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens announced the appointment of James Payne to Superintendent of Phillips Transitional Center effective December 1, 2013. As Superintendent, Payne will be responsible for the day to day operations of the facility and overseeing 60 staff members and 319 minimum security male offenders.

"James is a dedicated employee who has excelled through the ranks during his career with the Department," said Commissioner Brian Owens. "His 23 years of experience will be beneficial to the staff and offenders at Phillips Transitional Center."

Payne joined the department in 1990 as a Correctional Officer at Hays State Prison. In 1992, while serving at Hays SP, he was promoted to Sergeant. He was promoted to Chief of Security at Northwest Probation Detention Center in 1994. In 1999, Payne was promoted to Manager of the Communications Center and in 2001 he was promoted to Program Development Consultant, assigned to the Corrections Division in Central Office. In 2004, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent returning to Northwest Probation Detention Center and was the acting Superintendent of the center until its closing in 2010. After the center closing, Payne joined the Office of Investigations and Compliance as an Auditor in 2010, where he most recently served.

Payne received both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Business Administration from California Coastal University. He has also attended Professional Management Program, Corrections Leadership Institute and Warden's Pre-Command Course.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and more than 160,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 12,000 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5247 or visit http://www.dcor.state.ga.us.