Deal signs legislation creating new state probation oversight...

Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Thursday that creates a new state agency charged with overseeing the state’s probation and parole divisions.

House Bill 310 creates the Department of Community Supervision, which will first focus on supervision of released adult offenders before growing to also encompass juvenile ex-offenders.

Deal tapped Michael Nail, head of the state pardons board, as commissioner of the new agency.

“This is another step forward in our efforts to reform our criminal justice system to save taxpayer dollars while giving nonviolent offenders a second chance,” Deal said.

The governor said officers will move from offense-based assignments to geographical ones. He also said it could cut costs associated with maintaining state vehicles by reducing the need for some travel and by reducing caseload.

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