Press Releases
City of Atlanta Department of Corrections Chief Patrick Labat Named 2015 Detention Administrator of the Year by the Georgia Jail Association
Post Date:06/25/2015 9:00 AM
Mayor’s Office of Communications
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500 • Atlanta, Georgia 30303
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Anne Torres, Director |
Jenna Garland, Press Secretary |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2015
News Release
City of Atlanta Department of Corrections Chief Patrick Labat
Named 2015 Detention Administrator of the Year by the Georgia Jail Association
ATLANTA – The Georgia Jail Association (GJA) named City of Atlanta Department of Corrections (DOC) Chief Patrick Labat the 2015 Detention Administrator of the Year. GJA honored Chief Labat at its annual awards banquet last night at the Savannah Marriott Riverfront Hotel in Savannah. The Detention Administrator of the Year Award is presented to an individual administrator for their demonstrating or possessing leadership skills, providing training opportunities for staff, meeting detention facility standards, implementing new programs and for distinguished years of service in the corrections field.
“I am honored and deeply moved to be the recipient of the Georgia Jail Association’s Detention Administrator of the Year Award,” said Chief Labat. “Being recognized by my peers at GJA is very special to me. It is symbolic of the accomplishments the Atlanta Department of Corrections has made over the past few years and will serve as a constant reminder of what we must do to remain progressive and enhance public safety in the future.”In addition to being recognized as the state’s top detention administrator, Chief Labat, just completed a one-year term as GJA Region 4 Representative (representing 43 counties) and was recently elected 2nd vice president of GJA.
“Chief Labat brings several qualities to the Georgia Jail Association that I have certainly found valuable during my term as president,” said Captain Steve Coker, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. “Not only does he display loyalty to the profession, he also demonstrates an exceptional mastery of professional skills. He sets the standard for being positive, friendly and relaxed while at the same time projecting energy and enthusiasm. His network of professional relationships is also a valuable asset that he brings to the Association.”
The Atlanta DOC became accredited by the American Correctional Association in 2010 and was re-accredited in 2013 under Chief Labat’s leadership. Upon completion of the re-accreditation process, DOC scored 100 percent on the mandatory and non-mandatory standards. Chief Labat is responsible for the overall operation and direction of the 17-story, 471,000 square feet Atlanta City Detention Center (ACDC), Grady Hospital Detention Center (GDC) and Atlanta Municipal Court Detention Center (CD) with 318 employees of which 261 are sworn correctional officers.
In addition to his leadership as the City’s detention administrator, Chief Labat is committed to the community, including serving as co-founder of the Junior Corrections Officer Training Program; managing the department’s inmate work service program where inmates with misdemeanor charges are eligible to participate in community clean-up efforts by collecting trash, painting over illegal graffiti and boarding up vacant properties in conjunction with APD Code Enforcement; participating in the literacy program at
Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary School where DOC staff members volunteer to mentor and read to students; serving approximately 100 local families during the department’s annual holiday food and toy drive; and developing Operation Correct Start — a program designed to expose youth to ways of avoiding a life of incarceration.
Chief Labat is a Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Certified Jailer and a P.O.S.T. Certified Mandated Peace Officer with more than 27 years of jail management, corrections administration and law enforcement experience. He was a member of the 2014 Leadership Atlanta class; 2012-2013 president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); and 2013-2014 GJA Officer Region 5 Representative (representing Fulton County and six neighboring counties).
About GJA
The Georgia Jail Association is an organization comprised of professionals from all levels of operations and related government agencies. Members share the common goal of improving all Georgia jails, regardless of facility size. The purpose of GJA is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, information and techniques, and to advance professionalism through training, technical assistance, publication and conferences.
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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit http://www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed