Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recently presented Department of Corrections Chief Patrick Labat with the Phoenix Award—the highest honor the Mayor of Atlanta can bestow upon an individual. Chief Labat is retiring from the City after 30 years of distinguished service, according to a press release.
“For three decades, Chief Labat has devoted his career to serving the people of Atlanta,” said Mayor Bottoms. “Whether implementing the PAT3 reentry program to ensure non-violent offenders had the dignity of a well-paying job or ensuring the city’s most vulnerable residents had their basic needs met, his work has had an impact on countless lives. I commend Chief for his service and wish him and his family well in the future.”
Chief Labat helped create and successfully implement PAT3—a groundbreaking reentry program in partnership with the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, the Atlanta Department of Public Works and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. While there are many reentry initiatives through the country, PAT3 is unique in its design, as it allows non-violent incarcerated individuals to be employed full-time and earn wages at the City’s minimum salary of $15 per hour plus full benefits.
Under his leadership, the Atlanta City Detention Center has maintained perfect scores of 100 on its accreditation with the American Correctional Association over the last nine years. During the same period, ACDC has also consistently logged perfect scores on its Fulton County Health and Food Services inspections.
With Chief Labat’s retirement, Mayor Bottoms has appointed Corrections Assistant Chief Vance Williams to serve as interim Chief. Williams’ appointment took effect on Wednesday, Dec. 11.
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