GCO’s Prisoner Reentry Initiative Named Finalist For Prestigious Templeton Freedom Award

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2017 --

Norcross-based Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) was named one of six finalists for this year's prestigious $100,000 Templeton Freedom Award for its Prisoner Reentry Initiative, which led to several legislative reforms aimed at giving formerly incarcerated individuals a renewed and revitalized outlook on life.

"A laser-like focus on building authentic relationships and seeking common ground makes it possible to pursue bipartisan policy reforms without sacrificing your principles," said Eric Cochling, executive vice president and general counsel for GCO.

Within the Prisoner Reentry Initiative, GCO’s policy recommendations sought to reduce recidivism by improving positive outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals and were incorporated in several legislative and executive reforms. These include laws expanding access to occupational licensing and adding liability protection for employers, as well as an executive order prohibiting employers from asking job applicants whether they have a criminal record on job applications. There has been a 6 percent drop in the Georgian prison population since 2012 with an associated $264 million in savings.

“GCO's Prisoner Reentry Initiative demonstrates that compassion for the incarcerated and their families can be aligned with the interests of taxpayers and public safety,” said Atlas Network CEO Brad Lips. “It's a wonderful initiative that deserves to be emulated.”

What: GCO’s Prisoner Reentry Initiative named one of six finalists for Atlas Network's prestigious $100,000 Templeton Freedom Award

When: Nov. 8, 2017, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner closing ceremony – Capitale, 130 Bowery, New York, NY 10013 (Bowery and Grand St.)

Press Contact: [email protected] or 202-449-8441

Awarded since 2004, the Templeton Freedom Award is named for the late investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton. The award annually honors his legacy by identifying and recognizing the most exceptional and innovative contributions to the understanding of free enterprise, and the public policies that encourage prosperity, innovation, and human fulfillment via free competition. The award is generously supported by Templeton Religion Trust and will be presented during Atlas Network's Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner gala dinner ceremony Nov. 8, 2017 in New York City. The winning organization will receive a $100,000 prize and the runners-up will each receive $25,000.

The 2017 Templeton Freedom Award finalists are:

• Beacon Center of Tennessee (Nashville, Tenn., United States) – “Tackle the Hall Tax” project
• Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) (Norcross, Ga., United States) – “Prisoner Reentry Initiative”
• IMANI Center for Policy and Education (Accra, Ghana) – “IMANIFesto” initiative
• Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies (IEE) (Porto Alegre, Brazil) – Fórum da Liberdade
• Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) (Mexico City, Mexico) – “Anticorruption Reform Initiative for Mexico, 3for3”
• Macdonald-Laurier Institute for Public Policy (MLI) (Ottawa, Canada) – "Aboriginal Canada and the Natural Resource Economy” project

About GCO

Based in Norcross, Ga., Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) is independent, non-partisan, and solutions-focused. It seeks to remove barriers to opportunity so that all Georgians have a real chance to prosper. It believes everyone should have the chance to succeed through talent and hard work, regardless of the circumstances of their birth.

About Atlas Network

Washington-based Atlas Network is a nonprofit organization that strengthens the worldwide freedom movement by connecting more than 470 independent partners in over 90 countries that share the vision of a free, prosperous, and peaceful world where limited governments defend the rule of law, private property, and free markets.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a08290c-2d31-4417-897a-5a4cbb9715e1

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/845c779a-aa46-4b3a-86c6-7cc22d8273b1

Daniel Anthony
Atlas Network
2024498441
[email protected]