Brandon Mincey told his family he feared for his safety. Then he was stabbed to death. Travon Walthour died the same month—October 2024. Both were serving time for non-violent offenses when Georgia’s prison violence claimed their lives. Homicides are projected to reach 50 in 2024, up from 38 the year before. Staff vacancy rates exceed 70% in some facilities. Non-violent offenders without gang protection are the most vulnerable targets. Georgia’s prison system doesn’t distinguish between sentences—it subjects everyone to the same violence. 1
The Victims
Non-violent offenders dying in violent conditions:
- Brandon Mincey—10-year sentence for aggravated battery, stabbed to death
- Travon Walthour—18 years for involuntary manslaughter, stabbed to death
- Both deaths October 2024—weeks after DOJ report
- Families warned—Mincey had expressed safety concerns
These weren’t isolated incidents. They reflect systemic failure documented by federal investigators.
Why Non-Violent Offenders Die
The system creates fatal vulnerability:
- No gang affiliation—means no protection
- Staff vacancy 70%+—no supervision to intervene
- Overcrowding—forced proximity to violent offenders
- Extortion common—prey without resources
The DOJ found Georgia’s prisons show “deliberate indifference” to violence. Understaffing allows gangs to control housing units. Non-violent offenders become targets. 2
The Numbers
Violence continues accelerating:
- 142 homicides—2018-2023
- 95.8% increase—in three years
- 50 projected for 2024—new record
- 5 homicides December 2023—across four facilities
The state fails to take appropriate steps to provide reasonable protection. That’s not opinion—it’s the DOJ’s finding.
Take Action
Use Impact Justice AI to send advocacy emails demanding protection for non-violent offenders in Georgia prisons. The free tool crafts personalized messages to Georgia lawmakers—no experience required.
Demand:
- Separation of violent and non-violent offenders
- Adequate staffing for supervision
- Alternatives to incarceration for non-violent crimes
- Accountability for preventable deaths
Further Reading
- Inside the War Zone: The Reality of Georgia Prisons
- Broken Locks, Broken System: The Urgent Need for Staffing Reform
- GPS Informational Resources
- Pathways to Success
About Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS)
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS) is a nonprofit investigative newsroom built in partnership with incarcerated reporters, families, advocates, and data analysts. Operating independently from the Georgia Department of Corrections, GPS documents the truth the state refuses to acknowledge: extreme violence, fatal medical neglect, gang-controlled dorms, collapsed staffing, fraudulent reporting practices, and unconstitutional conditions across Georgia’s prisons.
Through confidential reporting channels, secure communication, evidence verification, public-records requests, legislative research, and professional investigative standards, GPS provides the transparency the system lacks. Our mission is to expose abuses, protect incarcerated people, support families, and push Georgia toward meaningful reform based on human rights, evidence, and public accountability.
Every article is part of a larger fight — to end the silence, reveal the truth, and demand justice.
