diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/basic-issue-template.md
similarity index 100%
rename from .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
rename to .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/basic-issue-template.md
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/java-stable-release-template.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/java-stable-release-template.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9d941b962
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/java-stable-release-template.md
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+### RELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER-alpha.1 pre-release checklist 
+
+- [ ] Create a new branch off of `master`.
+- [ ] Update the SNAPSHOT version in this repo's `README.md` file
+- [ ] Update this repo's `CHANGELOG.md`
+- [ ] Change version name to `RELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER-alpha.1` in this repo's `gradle.properties` (make sure to remove `-SNAPSHOT`)
+- [ ] [Create a new Github release](https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-java/releases/new) with a release title of `Mapbox Java SDK vRELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER-alpha.1`, a tag version of `vRELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER-alpha.1`, targeting the release branch you made above in step #1, and checking the `This is a pre-release` box. This will publish artifacts to Bintray. 
+
+<details>
+<summary>What to do in Bintray</summary>
+After the tag is created, the CI build starts automatically at https://circleci.com/gh/mapbox/mapbox-java and our CircleCI circle.yml file instructs CircleCI to push the artifact to Bintray.
+
+Once CircleCI successfully pushes the artifact files to Bintray, log into Bintray with the Mapbox credentials. Once you're signed in, visit this release numbers's `Files` page for each of the Java SDK modules:
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-turf#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-turf
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-geojson#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-geojson
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-services#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-services
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-core#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-core
+
+Verify the attached files for each module, especially the POM which contains the artifact's dependencies. Go to the `Maven Central` tab and click the `Sync` button to sync the artifact with the repository.
+</details>
+
+- [ ] Change version name back to having `-SNAPSHOT` at the end
+
+
+### RELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER-alpha.1 pre-release testing
+- [ ] Create a pull request in [`/mapbox-gl-native`](https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-gl-native) that updates the Mapbox Maps SDK for Android's Java SDK dependency to `RELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER-alpha.1`
+- [ ] Create a pull request in [the Mapbox Navigation SDK for Android repo](https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-navigation-android) that updates the Nav SDK's Java SDK dependency to `RELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER-alpha.1`
+- [ ] Report any regressions on this ticket
+
+### Final RELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER release checklist 
+- [ ] Create a new branch off of `master`.
+- [ ] Update this repo's `README.md` file 
+- [ ] Update `CHANGELOG.md`
+- [ ] Change version name to `RELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER` in `gradle.properties` (removing `-SNAPSHOT`)
+- [ ] [Create a new Github release](https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-java/releases/new) with a release title of `Mapbox Java SDK vRELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER`, a tag version of `vRELEASE_VERSION_NUMBER`, targeting the final release branch you made above in step #1, and _not_ checking the `This is a pre-release` box. This will publish artifacts to Bintray. 
+
+<details>
+<summary>What to do in Bintray</summary>
+After the tag is created, the CI build starts automatically at https://circleci.com/gh/mapbox/mapbox-java and our CircleCI circle.yml file instructs CircleCI to push the artifact to Bintray.
+
+Once CircleCI successfully pushes the artifact files to Bintray, log into Bintray with the Mapbox credentials. Once you're signed in, visit this release numbers's `Files` page for each of the Java SDK modules:
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-turf#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-turf
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-geojson#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-geojson
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-services#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-services
+
+- https://bintray.com/mapbox/mapbox/mapbox-sdk-core#files/com/mapbox/mapboxsdk/mapbox-sdk-core
+
+Verify the attached files for each module, especially the POM which contains the artifact's dependencies. Go to the `Maven Central` tab and click the `Sync` button to sync the artifact with the repository.
+</details>
+
+- [ ] Change version name back to having `-SNAPSHOT` at the end
+
+### Post final release checklist   
+- [ ] Update dependencies in the Maps SDK and Navigation SDK to the final release version
+- [ ] Update [the dependencies file in the Mapbox Android Plugins `/mapbox-plugins-android` repo](https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-plugins-android/blob/master/gradle/dependencies.gradle#L11)
+- [ ] Update version # in config files in the `/help` repo
+- [ ] Update [the Mapox Android demo app](https://github.com/mapbox/mapbox-android-demo/blob/master/gradle/dependencies.gradle)
+- [ ] After updating the demo app, make the following changes in the `/android-docs` repo: 
+  - [ ] Update API reference Javadocs for the Mapbox Java docs section in `/android-docs` repo:
+  - [ ] Update [the `JAVA_SDK_VERSION` constant in the `constants.js` file in the `/android-docs` repo](https://github.com/mapbox/android-docs/blob/publisher-production/src/constants.json)
+- [ ] Update version # in the Studio Preview for Android app
+- [ ] Update version # in the China plugin test app
+
+/cc: @mapbox/android 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/circle.yml b/circle.yml
index ee9800ece..3b7620363 100644
--- a/circle.yml
+++ b/circle.yml
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ workflows:
   default:
     jobs:
       - build
-      - release
+      - release:
+          filters:
+            tags:
+              only: /v.*/
 jobs:
   build:
     working_directory: ~/code
@@ -67,7 +70,7 @@ jobs:
           name: Update version name
           command: |
             if [[ $CIRCLE_TAG == v* ]]; then
-              sed -i -e "s/^VERSION_NAME=.*/VERSION_NAME=${CIRCLE_TAG:9}/" gradle.properties
+              sed -i -e "s/^VERSION_NAME=.*/VERSION_NAME=${CIRCLE_TAG:1}/" gradle.properties
             fi          
       - run:
           name: Build Java libraries
diff --git a/gradle/gradle-bintray.gradle b/gradle/gradle-bintray.gradle
index e73cae382..e32f37dc2 100644
--- a/gradle/gradle-bintray.gradle
+++ b/gradle/gradle-bintray.gradle
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ publishing {
 bintray {
     user = mapboxBintrayUser
     key = mapboxBintrayApiKey
-    publications = ['MapboxJavaSDKPublication']
+    publications('MapboxJavaSDKPublication')
     pkg {
         repo = project.ext.mapboxBintrayRepoName
         name = project.ext.mapboxArtifactId