GDC Commissary Data Analysis

by

Behind the Investigation: How We Turned Government PDFs Into Evidence

Government agencies don’t make accountability easy. When Georgia Prisoners’ Speak requested commissary pricing data, vendor contracts, and sales records from the Georgia Department of Corrections, we received exactly what open records laws require—and nothing more.

What arrived were numerous PDF files spanning fiscal years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025: vendor contracts with pricing schedules, sales volume reports, and partial financial records. But these weren’t spreadsheets ready for analysis. They were documents designed for filing cabinets, not forensic investigation.

The Extraction Challenge

Some PDFs were scanned images—requiring Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to convert pictures of text into actual data. This process rarely works perfectly on the first attempt. We ran multiple OCR passes, then cross-checked results with SQL queries to catch errors. When significant discrepancies appeared—large sales volumes or dollar amounts that didn’t align—we went back to visual inspection of the original PDFs to manually correct the data.

Most documents were text-based PDFs, but “text-based” doesn’t mean “usable.” Tables were poorly formatted, data fields inconsistent, and layouts changed between years. What looked like a simple price list on screen became a formatting nightmare when attempting extraction.

We used a combination of tools: Python scripts for PDF parsing, OCR software for scanned documents, manual transcription where automated methods failed, and constant verification. The process took approximately one week of intensive work—not because the data was complex, but because it was deliberately difficult to access in usable form.

Building the Database

Once extracted, we structured the raw data into SQL databases with normalized tables:

  • Products table: Item descriptions, sizes, categories
  • Pricing table: Vendor costs to GDC and GDC prices to inmates, by fiscal year
  • Sales volume table: Units sold per item
  • Comparative analysis table: Year-over-year price changes, cost changes, markup calculations

This structure allowed us to run queries like: “Show me every item where the vendor cost decreased between FY 2024 and FY 2025, but the inmate price increased.” That query revealed the 153-item discount reversal scheme.

Verification and Analysis

Inconsistent formatting between years meant constant error-checking. We cross-referenced multiple documents, spot-checked calculations against original PDFs, and verified totals. When numbers didn’t reconcile, we investigated until we understood why.

We conducted analysis using SQL queries for complex data relationships and spreadsheets for calculations and visualizations. The structured database allowed us to calculate total extraction ($47 million), state profit ($18.7 million), and item-by-item markup percentages—analyses impossible with the original PDF format.

Why This Matters

Government transparency shouldn’t require a week of data engineering. Reformed states like California and Massachusetts publish commissary data in accessible formats—spreadsheets, online databases, annual reports. Georgia provides PDFs that make analysis difficult enough to discourage most oversight attempts.

The $89,000 quote to retrieve Inmate Welfare Fund spending records isn’t an anomaly—it’s the system working as designed. When basic financial data requires advanced technical skills just to read, transparency becomes a wall only the determined can climb.

All source PDFs and our structured CSV databases are available below, so other researchers, journalists, and advocates can verify our findings and conduct their own analysis.

Click here to go to the full article: Georgia’s Prison Commissary Extortion: Convenience Store Rejects Sold at Premium Prices for $47 Million

You can view our published GDC Master Commissary List with the November 1, 2025 price increases and the GDC markup data on our Web site.

Source Files

You can view or download our source files below:

GDC November 1, 2025 Price Increases

GDC April 2024 Price Increases

GDC Combined Data 2024 Prices, 2025 Prices, 2024 Sales Data PDF

GDC Combined Data 2024 Prices, 2025 Prices, 2024 Sales Data CSV

GDC Commissary Contract Eff 11-1-2025

Statewide Commissary Contract FY2015

46700-019-GDC0000624_-_Amendment_14_Renewal_10_-_executed

Complete Source List

Retail Pricing Sources

Walmart

Amazon

Target

Kroger

Dollar General

Sam’s Club

Wholesale & Institutional Sources

WebstaurantStore (Restaurant Supply)

Food Service Direct

Gordon Food Service

Round Eye Supply

Bulkvana (Wholesale Marketplace)

Costco Business Centre

Travel Size & Sample Products

Practicon (Dental Supply)

All Travel Sizes

MDS Associates

SDACCS (Wholesale Distributor)

Contarmarket

The Home Depot

Bargainw (Wholesale)

Bulk Hygiene Suppliers

2MODA

BLU School Supplies

Specialty Meat/Protein Sources

JerkyWholesale.com

Klement’s

JerkyGent

Old Major Market

Jack Link’s

Wenzel’s Farm

Peanut Butter Wholesale

Bakers Authority

Liquidation & Salvage Markets

Marvell Foods

B-Stock Solutions

S&B Provisions

Lewisco Holdings

Price Comparison & Shopping Guides

The Krazy Coupon Lady

FinanceBuzz

GOBankingRates

I. GEORGIA PRIMARY SOURCES

A. Georgia Department of Corrections Documents

  1. Georgia Commissary Financial Data (2024)
  • Source: Georgia Department of Corrections, Financial Services Division
  • Data: $18.76 million profit, 30.8 million items sold
  • Access: Public records request response
  1. Georgia Commissary Contract with Stewart’s Distribution
  • Current contract: June 2014 – June 30, 2025
  • Vendor: Georgia Commissary Suppliers, LLC (Stewart’s Distribution)
  • Status: Full contract access denied – $89,000 quote for retrieval
  1. Georgia DOC Public Records Request Response (2024)
  • Quote of $89,000 for commissary profit spending records
  • Cited as barrier to transparency
  • Documentation of access denial
  1. Georgia Prison Population Data (2024)
  • Incarcerated population: 53,500
  • Source: Georgia Department of Corrections monthly reports

B. Georgia Pricing Data

  1. Georgia Commissary Price Lists (2024)
  • Ramen (3 oz): $0.90
  • Water (16-20 oz): $0.59
  • Estimated soap: $2+
  • Estimated toothpaste: $4+
  • Estimated deodorant: $4+
  • Overall markup: 66%
  • Source: Inmate reports, family documentation, GPS investigations
  1. Georgia Prison Wage Data
  • Regular prison labor: $0 (unpaid)
  • Source: Georgia DOC Policy, prisoner advocacy documentation

II. LEGAL SOURCES

A. Court Cases

  1. Tenny v. Blagojevich, 631 F.3d 546 (7th Cir. 2011)
  • Federal Circuit Court decision
  • Topic: Illinois commissary surcharges, constitutional challenges
  • Holding: State law violations don’t create federal constitutional claims
  • Application: Precedent for commissary markup challenges
  1. Johnson v. County of Los Angeles (Filed April 4, 2023)
  • Los Angeles County Superior Court
  • Theory: Commission-based contracts as “illegal tax”
  • Status: Pending as of report date
  • Significance: Direct pricing challenge, potential national implications
  1. San Diego County Commissary Class Action (Filed April 2023)
  • San Diego County Superior Court
  • Theory: “Illegal tax” on inmates and families
  • Related grand jury findings on welfare fund misuse
  • Status: Pending
  1. Additional California County Class Actions (2023-2024)
  • 8+ California counties with similar filings
  • Same legal theory as LA/SD cases
  • Combined potential impact on national practices
  1. Reichert v. Keefe (Washington, 2017-2023)
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • Topic: Prepaid release cards, excessive fees
  • Legal basis: Electronic Fund Transfer Act violations
  • Result: Partial settlement 2023
  • Significance: Federal statutory violation approach
  1. California Commissary Price Increase Class Action (2010)
  • Topic: Challenge to commissary price increases
  • Result: Dismissed
  • Significance: Failed constitutional approach

B. Legislation and Statutes

  1. California Senate Bill 474 (BASIC Act)
  • Enacted: October 2023
  • Effective: January 2024-2028 (temporary)
  • Provisions: 35% markup cap, transparency requirements
  • Author: State Senator Nancy Skinner
  • Estimated savings: $30 million annually for families
  1. Nevada Senate Bill 105 (2023)
  • Enacted: 2023
  • Provisions: Subjected DOC to Administrative Procedure Act
  • Result: Enabled markup reduction from 66% to 35%
  • Regulatory implementation: Nevada Board of Prison Commissioners (2024)
  1. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 127, §171
  • Enacted: 2023, Amended: 2024
  • Provisions: 3% markup cap (or 95% of market price), vendor commission ban
  • Requirements: Bulk purchasing discounts, gender-affirming items
  • Strongest consumer protection nationally
  1. Illinois Compiled Statutes 730 ILCS 5/3-7-2a
  • Enacted: 2004
  • Provisions: 25% markup on non-tobacco items, 35% on tobacco
  • Enforcement issues: IDOC illegal surcharges 2005-2009
  1. North Carolina General Statutes (Commissary Markup Provisions)
  • Enacted: 2015
  • Original cap: 18%, Increased to: 20%
  • Public record: Statutory markup limitation
  1. Georgia Code Title 42 (Corrections)
  • Current status: No commissary markup restrictions
  • No transparency requirements for commissary operations
  • Identified as area for reform legislation

C. Regulatory Documents

  1. Nevada Board of Prison Commissioners Markup Regulation (2024)
  • Implementation: September 2024
  • Reduction: 66% markup reduced to 35%
  • Built-in reform bias: Increases require approval, decreases don’t
  • Welfare fund cap: 6-month reserve maximum
  1. Michigan Department of Corrections Policy Directive (2022, 2024)
  • July 2022: Eliminated hygiene markups (0%)
  • 2024: Reduced food markups to 14%
  • Type: Administrative policy change (no legislation required)
  1. Wyoming Department of Corrections Policy 1114
  • 0% markup: Basic hygiene and religious items
  • 20% markup: Luxury goods
  • 30% markup: Premium goods
  • Model: Differential markup approach

III. STATE-SPECIFIC SOURCES (Alphabetical by State)

ALABAMA

  1. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissary Data (2020)
  • Pricing examples: Frosted Flakes $6.83, Newport cigarettes $11.04
  • Revenue: Over $1 million profit/month
  • Source: Limited 2020 investigative reporting
  1. Alabama Public Records Denial Documentation
  • Policy: Refuses public records requests to non-residents
  • Transparency grade: F (worst tier)
  1. Alabama Prison Wage Data
  • Regular labor: $0 (unpaid)
  • Source: State corrections policy, advocacy documentation

CALIFORNIA

  1. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Price Data
  • Pre-reform markups: 63-200%
  • Post-reform cap: 35% (effective January 2024)
  • Savings calculation: $30 million annually
  1. California Prison Wage Data (2024)
  • Previous range: $0.08-$0.37/hour
  • Current range (doubled April 2024): $0.16-$0.74/hour
  • Source: CDCR wage policy updates
  1. Los Angeles County Commissary Financial Records (2023)
  • Welfare fund revenue: $44.9 million
  • Welfare fund spending on inmate programs: 51%
  • Pricing examples: Coffee bought $3.51/sold $7.47, Ramen bought $0.55/sold $1.15
  • Source: Johnson v. LA County court filings
  1. San Diego County Grand Jury Report on Commissary (2023)
  • Findings: Welfare fund not audited, millions spent on routine expenses
  • Source: County grand jury investigation
  1. San Francisco County Jail Commissary Reform (2019)
  • Action: Eliminated all markups via contract renegotiation
  • Implementation: Contract restructuring
  • Model: Zero-markup approach for county facilities

FLORIDA

  1. Florida Department of Corrections Commissary Contract
  • Vendor: Keefe Commissary Network
  • Contract value: $175 million over 5 years
  • Contract provision: Allows 10% price increases semi-annually
  • Commission to DOC: 35.6%
  1. Florida Commissary Price List (September 2023)
  • Ramen: $1.06 (highest nationally)
  • Water: $1.15
  • Soda: $1.25
  • Source: FDOC published price list
  1. Florida Prison Wage and Compensation Data
  • Regular jobs: $0 (unpaid)
  • Canteen workers: Up to $50/month
  • Source: Florida DOC compensation policies
  1. Florida Statutory Requirements
  • Statute: Requires “fair market prices”
  • Enforcement status: Not enforced
  • Commission disclosure: 35.6% to DOC (disclosed)

ILLINOIS

  1. Illinois Department of Corrections Commissary Markup Statute
  • Citation: 730 ILCS 5/3-7-2a (enacted 2004)
  • Provisions: 25% non-tobacco, 35% tobacco
  1. Illinois Auditor General Report on Commissary Surcharges
  • Period covered: 2005-2009
  • Findings: IDOC illegally imposed 3-7% surcharges beyond statutory cap
  • Amount: $6 million improperly collected from prisoners
  • Source: State Auditor General investigation
  1. Illinois Prison Wage Data
  • Range: $0.04-$0.11/hour
  • Source: IDOC wage policy documentation
  1. Illinois Commissary Operations
  • Model: State-operated with Keefe supplying 30%
  • Transparency: Moderate (statutory requirements)

LOUISIANA

  1. Louisiana Department of Corrections Public Records Denial
  • Status: Refused public records requests to national investigators
  • Transparency grade: F (worst tier)
  • Pricing data: Not available
  1. Louisiana Prison Wage Data
  • Range: $0.02-$0.40/hour (lowest in nation)
  • Angola State Penitentiary field work: $0.02/hour
  • Source: Louisiana DOC policy, investigative journalism

MASSACHUSETTS

  1. Massachusetts Department of Correction Commissary Reform Legislation
  • Citation: Chapter 127, §171 (2023, amended 2024)
  • Markup cap: 3% over cost (or 95% of market price)
  • Commission ban: Prohibits vendor commissions to DOC
  • Additional requirements: Bulk purchasing discounts, gender-affirming items
  1. Massachusetts Prison Wage Data
  • Range: $0.14-$0.30/hour
  • Source: Massachusetts DOC wage policy

MICHIGAN

  1. Michigan Department of Corrections Commissary Price Data (September 2025)
  • Soap: $0.41-$2.22 (indigent rate: $0.41)
  • Toothpaste: $0.95-$5.74 (indigent rate: $0.95)
  • Deodorant: $0.82-$7.84 (indigent rate: $0.82)
  • Source: MDOC published price lists
  1. Michigan Commissary Markup Policy Changes
  • July 2022: Eliminated hygiene item markups (0%)
  • 2024: Reduced food markups to 14%
  • Type: Administrative policy (no legislation)
  1. Michigan Prison Wage Data
  • Range: $0.11-$0.42/hour
  • Source: Michigan DOC wage structure
  1. Michigan Commissary Contracts
  • Vendor: Keefe Commissary Network
  • Transparency: Excellent – full contracts published online
  1. Trinity Services/Aramark Michigan Violations
  • Period: 2014-2015
  • Violations: Maggots, mold, food poisoning incidents
  • Contract action: Terminated 2018
  • Fines: $3.8 million for violations

MISSISSIPPI

  1. Mississippi State Audit on Commissary Pricing (2013)
  • Finding: “No sound pricing methodology” established
  • Source: State Auditor’s report
  1. Mississippi Federal Bribery Investigation – Operation Mississippi Hustle
  • Year: 2019
  • Vendor: Keefe Commissary LLC
  • Settlement: $3.1 million
  • Charges: Federal bribery scheme involving commissary contracts
  1. Mississippi Prison Wage Data
  • Regular labor: $0 (unpaid)
  • Source: Mississippi DOC policy
  1. Mississippi Public Records Access
  • Compliance: Charged $5 for records, eventual partial compliance
  • Transparency: Low
  1. Mississippi Aramark Food Service Violations (2021)
  • Findings: Food contaminated with rat, bird, insect feces
  • Contract action: Canceled
  • Source: State monitoring reports, news investigations

NEVADA

  1. Nevada Department of Corrections Markup History
  • Pre-reform: 66% markup (identical to Georgia)
  • Post-reform: 35% markup (September 2024)
  • Hygiene items: Markups eliminated (2023)
  1. Nevada Senate Bill 105 (2023)
  • Legislative reform subjecting DOC to Administrative Procedure Act
  • Enabled regulatory markup reduction
  1. Nevada Board of Prison Commissioners Regulatory Action (2024)
  • Markup reduction: 66% to 35%
  • Reform mechanism: Built-in bias favoring reductions
  • Welfare fund reform: 6-month reserve cap
  1. Nevada Reform Advocacy
  • Lead organizations: Fines & Fees Justice Center, Return Strong!
  • Model: Inside-outside coalition strategy

NEW YORK

  1. New York State Prison Commissary Pending Reform
  • Proposed markup cap: 3%
  • Status: Pending legislation
  • Current status: No statutory cap
  1. New York Prison Wage Data
  • Range: $0.10-$0.33/hour
  • Source: NY DOCCS wage policy
  1. New York City DOC Commissary Audit (2003-2004)
  • Findings: 94% inventory discrepancy
  • Expired items: Condemned without proper authorization
  • Source: City audit report

NORTH CAROLINA

  1. North Carolina Department of Public Safety Commissary Data
  • Statutory markup cap: 20% (enacted 2015, previously 18%)
  • Recent price increases documented:
    • Chicken: $13.46 (110% increase since 2018)
    • Toothpaste: $5.70 (52% increase in one year)
    • Denture adhesive: $8.70 (148% increase)
  1. North Carolina Prison Wage Data
  • Daily rate structure: $0.40-$3.00/day
  • Unchanged since: 1960s-1970s
  • Source: NC DPS compensation records
  1. North Carolina Commissary Contract Legal Battle (2021-2023)
  • Parties: NC DPS vs. Keefe Commissary Network
  • Outcome: Union Supply Group awarded contract
  • Commission: 35% to state
  • Documentation: Public contract dispute records
  1. North Carolina Commissary Transparency
  • Grade: Best in Southern region
  • Public information: Markup policy, profit tracking, vendor disputes
  • Statutory requirements: Price justification reporting

SOUTH CAROLINA

  1. South Carolina Department of Corrections Commissary Pricing
  • Basic hygiene minimum cost: $7.48
  • Indigency threshold: $6.42 (inadequate for basic hygiene)
  • Source: Advocacy organization documentation
  1. South Carolina Prison Wage Data
  • Regular labor: $0 (unpaid since 1998)
  • Source: SC DOC policy history

TENNESSEE

  1. Tennessee Department of Correction Commissary Price List (2025)
  • Ramen: $0.42 (lowest nationally)
  • Roast beef: $7.60
  • Seasoned pork: $8.00
  • Prayer rug: $17.95
  • Additional fees: 9%+ sales tax, $6 online payment fee
  1. Tennessee Public Records Denial
  • Policy: Refuses requests to non-residents
  • Transparency grade: F
  1. Tennessee Prison Wage Data
  • Range: $0.17-$0.75/hour
  • Unchanged: 30+ years
  • Source: Tennessee DOC historical records
  1. Tennessee Commissary Vendor
  • Current vendor: Union Supply Group (acquired by Aramark 2022)
  • Previous contract: Aramark food services with documented violations
  1. Tennessee Aramark Food Service Monitoring Reports (2016-2022)
  • Violations documented: Expired food, rodent problems
  • Staff vacancy: One-third positions vacant
  • Quality issues: Sample trays didn’t match prisoner meals
  • Source: State monitoring reports

TEXAS

  1. Texas Department of Criminal Justice Commissary Price List (October 2025)
  • Ramen: $0.35
  • Water: $0.15
  • Soap: $0.15-$0.40
  • Toothpaste: $3.00
  • Ibuprofen: $3.50
  • Source: TDCJ online commissary price lists (updated monthly)
  1. Texas Commissary Operations Model
  • System: State-operated
  • Largest supplier: Keefe ($19 million/year contract)
  • Markup policy: No statutory cap, but state operation maintains lower prices
  1. Texas Prison Wage Data
  • Regular labor: $0 (unpaid)
  • Source: Texas DOC policy
  1. Texas Commissary Transparency
  • Grade: Excellent (5-star)
  • Public access: Full online price lists, monthly updates
  • Vendor contracts: Publicly available

VIRGINIA

  1. Virginia Department of Corrections Commissary Pricing Documentation
  • Fan: $33+ (vs. $23 Lowe’s retail)
  • Beans: $2.08 (vs. $1.39 Whole Foods)
  • Prayer shawl: $60 (vs. $20 online retail)
  • Source: Prisoner correspondence, family documentation
  1. Virginia Prison Wage Data
  • Regular jobs: $0.27-$0.45/hour
  • Industry jobs: $0.55-$0.80/hour
  • Source: Virginia DOC wage schedule
  1. Virginia Commissary Contract
  • Vendor: Keefe Commissary Network
  • Contract term: Through April 30, 2026
  • Markup policy: “Modest return above costs” (no specific percentage)

WASHINGTON

  1. Washington Department of Corrections Commissary Operations
  • System: State-run by Correctional Industries (not privatized)
  • Model: Public sector operation
  1. Washington State Commissary Price Lists (September 2025)
  • Indigent soap: $0.41
  • Indigent toothpaste: $0.95
  • Indigent deodorant: $0.82
  • Ibuprofen: $1.40
  • Acetaminophen: $0.99
  • Source: Washington DOC published price lists (all facilities)
  1. Washington Commissary Spending Data
  • Average per-person spending: $513/year (lowest among studied states)
  • Reason: Strict property limits reduce purchasing
  • Source: Washington DOC financial reports
  1. Washington Transparency Standards
  • Grade: Excellent (5-star)
  • Public access: Full price lists for all facilities online
  • Statutory requirement: 5 of 50 states require posting welfare fund audits where inmates can see them (WA, CA, KY, MD, NV)

WYOMING

  1. Wyoming Department of Corrections Policy 1114 – Commissary Markup
  • Basic hygiene and religious items: 0% markup
  • Luxury goods: 20% markup
  • Premium goods: 30% markup
  • Type: Department policy (differential markup model)

IV. FEDERAL SOURCES

A. Federal Bureau of Prisons

  1. Federal Bureau of Prisons Commissary Price List
  • Approximate prices for comparison:
    • Ramen: ~$0.30-0.40
    • Water: ~$0.40-0.50
  • Source: BOP commissary lists (various facilities)
  1. Federal Bureau of Prisons Wage Data
  • Range: $0.12-$0.40/hour
  • Source: BOP UNICOR and institution job wage scales

B. Federal Regulations and Agencies

  1. Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) Regulations
  • Application: Reichert v. Keefe case (prepaid release cards)
  • Relevance: Federal consumer protection laws apply to prison financial services
  • Source: 15 U.S.C. § 1693 et seq.

V. ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION REPORTS

A. Prison Policy Initiative

  1. Prison Policy Initiative – State of Phone Justice Report (2024)
  • Family burden: $2.9 billion annually on commissary + phone calls
  • Average family cost: $13,000/year supporting incarcerated loved one
  • Source: prisonpolicy.org
  1. Prison Policy Initiative – Commissary Market Analysis
  • Total market size: $1.6 billion annually
  • Average per-person spending: $947/year
  • Family payment percentage: 63% of costs covered by families (not inmates)
  • Source: Prison Policy Initiative national data compilation
  1. Prison Policy Initiative – State-by-State Comparison Data
  • Comprehensive state policy comparisons
  • Wage data compilation across jurisdictions
  • Markup policy tracking
  • Source: prisonpolicy.org state reports

B. Worth Rises

  1. Worth Rises – Prison Industry Complex Report
  • Commissary industry analysis
  • Vendor market share data
  • Corporate structure investigation
  • Source: worthrises.org industry reports
  1. Worth Rises – Private Equity in Prison Services
  • HIG Capital/TKC Holdings market domination analysis
  • $875 million annual revenue (Keefe + Trinity combined)
  • 50%+ market share documentation
  • Source: Worth Rises corporate accountability research

C. Fines & Fees Justice Center

  1. Fines & Fees Justice Center – Nevada Commissary Reform Campaign
  1. Fines & Fees Justice Center – National Commissary Reform Tracker
  • 13+ states implementing reforms 2020-2025
  • Reform wave documentation
  • Best practices compilation
  • Source: National commissary reform database

D. California-Based Organizations

  1. Ella Baker Center for Human Rights – California BASIC Act Campaign
  • Lead advocacy for SB 474
  • Coalition member
  • Reform strategy documentation
  • Source: ellabakercenter.org
  1. Legal Services for Prisoners with Children – California Reform Work
  1. San Quentin Advocates – Inside Advocacy for California Reform
  • Incarcerated advocates’ role in reform
  • Inside-outside coalition model
  • Source: California reform campaign documentation

E. Return Strong! (Nevada)

  1. Return Strong! – Nevada Commissary Reform Advocacy
  • Coalition partner with Fines & Fees Justice Center
  • Grassroots organizing
  • Legislative testimony
  • Source: Nevada reform campaign materials

VI. INDUSTRY AND VENDOR SOURCES

A. Major Vendors

  1. Keefe Commissary Network (TKC Holdings/HIG Capital)
  • Annual revenue: $875 million (combined with Trinity)
  • Market share: 50%+
  • Profit margin: 10.9% (vs. Walmart 3%)
  • Parent company: HIG Capital (private equity)
  • Source: Corporate financial filings, industry analysis
  1. Trinity Services Group (TKC Holdings/HIG Capital)
  • Merged with Keefe: 2016
  • Combined entity: TKC Holdings under HIG Capital
  • Services: Food service + commissary (creates conflict of interest)
  • Source: Corporate merger documentation
  1. Aramark Correctional Services
  • Total corrections revenue: $1.5 billion
  • Acquisition: Union Supply Group (2022)
  • Services: Food service + commissary
  • Violations documented: Multiple states
  • Source: Corporate reports, contract documents
  1. Union Supply Group
  • Acquired by: Aramark (2022)
  • Current contracts: Tennessee, North Carolina
  • Status: Operating under Aramark ownership
  • Source: Industry news, contract records
  1. Summit Food Service
  • Status: Growing regional player
  • Market position: Third-tier vendor
  • Source: Industry analysis

B. Vendor Controversies

  1. Keefe/Mississippi Bribery Settlement (2019)
  • Amount: $3.1 million
  • Case: Operation Mississippi Hustle
  • Charges: Federal bribery scheme
  • Source: Federal court documents, DOJ press releases
  1. Trinity Services Michigan Contract Termination (2018)
  • Violations: Food quality, staffing
  • Fines: $3.8 million
  • Action: Contract terminated
  • Source: Michigan DOC records, news reports
  1. Aramark Multi-State Food Service Violations
  • Michigan (2014-2015): Maggots, mold, food poisoning
  • Mississippi (2021): Food contamination
  • Tennessee (2016-2022): Expired food, staffing issues
  • Source: State monitoring reports, investigative journalism

VII. QUALITY AND SAFETY DOCUMENTATION

  1. Cuyahoga County, Ohio Commissary Audit (2022)
  • Expired items: $1,788 worth
  • Unauthorized write-offs: $72,277
  • Missing inventory: $500,000
  • Source: County audit report
  1. Santa Rita Jail, California Quality Violations (2019-2020)
  • Issues: Spoiled food, rodent/insect infestations
  • Source: Monitoring reports, litigation documents
  1. Capital University Aramark Food Service (2016-2017)
  • Expired items documented: Feta, sausages, pesto, cart of expired salad items
  • Source: University health inspection reports
  1. NYC DOC Commissary Inventory Audit (2003-2004)
  • Discrepancy: 94% inventory mismatch
  • Expired items: Condemned without authorization
  • Source: New York City audit

VIII. ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDIES

  1. National Family Burden Analysis
  • Total annual burden: $2.9 billion (commissary + phone)
  • Average family cost: $13,000/year
  • Demographics: Disproportionately affects Black, brown, low-income communities
  • Primary payers: Women (mothers, grandmothers)
  • Source: Prison Policy Initiative, Worth Rises combined data
  1. California SB 474 Savings Calculation
  • Projected annual savings: $30 million for families
  • Basis: 35% markup cap implementation
  • Source: California Legislative Analyst’s Office fiscal analysis
  1. Ohio Commissary Sales Correlation Study
  • Finding: 11-14.5% increase in commissary sales after Aramark food privatization
  • Implication: Poor cafeteria food drives commissary purchases
  • Conflict: Same company profits from both
  • Source: Ohio corrections data analysis
  1. National Average Commissary vs. Wages Analysis
  • Average commissary spending: $947/year
  • Average prison wages: $180-660/year
  • Gap: Spending exceeds earnings in most states
  • Result: Family dependency
  • Source: Prison Policy Initiative wage/spending compilation

IX. NEWS MEDIA AND INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

  1. Multi-State Investigative Journalism on Commissary Pricing
  • Topics: Price comparisons, quality issues, vendor controversies
  • States covered: Various (Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Michigan, others)
  • Sources: Regional newspapers, investigative outlets
  • Note: Specific articles not individually cited but data corroborated across multiple outlets
  1. Georgia Prison Commissary Investigative Reporting
  • GPS investigations: Pricing documentation, family burden interviews
  • Inmate correspondence: Price confirmations, quality complaints
  • Family interviews: Financial burden documentation
  • Source: Georgia Prisoners’ Speak original reporting

X. ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH SOURCES

  1. Correctional Industries Market Analysis
  • Prison labor economics
  • Wage structure justifications
  • Historical context of unpaid labor
  • Source: Academic criminology journals, economic studies
  1. Recidivism Reduction Research
  • Family contact correlation: 15-20% reduction in recidivism with maintained family ties
  • Cost-benefit: Long-term savings exceed phone/commissary reform costs
  • Source: Department of Justice research, academic recidivism studies
  1. Welfare Fund Usage Patterns Research
  • 17 of 50 states: No transparency/oversight measures
  • Only 3 states: Allow incarcerated representatives on oversight committees (CA, MN, VT)
  • 49 of 50 states: Have welfare funds
  • Documented misuse: Staff perks, vehicles, facility maintenance, salaries
  • Source: National commissary welfare fund study (advocacy org compilation)

XI. COMPARATIVE RETAIL PRICING

  1. Target/Walmart Retail Price Comparisons
  • Ramen (3 oz): $0.15-$0.40
  • Water (16 oz): $0.15-$0.30
  • Bar soap: $0.50-$2.00
  • Toothpaste: $1.50-$4.00
  • Deodorant: $1.50-$5.00
  • Source: Online retail pricing, store surveys
  1. Whole Foods/Lowe’s Comparison (Virginia)
  • Beans: $1.39 at Whole Foods vs. $2.08 prison
  • Fan: $23 at Lowe’s vs. $33+ prison
  • Source: Retail pricing verification
  1. Online Retail Comparisons
  • Prayer shawl: $20 online vs. $60 Virginia prison
  • Prayer rug: $8-15 online vs. $17.95 Tennessee prison
  • Source: E-commerce pricing verification

XII. METHODOLOGY AND DATA QUALITY NOTES

  1. Research Team Structure
  • 18 state systems examined
  • Over 200 sources consulted
  • Multiple corroborating sources for key findings
  1. Data Gaps Explicitly Noted
  • Alabama: Pricing not publicly available (refuses FOIA)
  • Louisiana: Complete pricing data refused
  • Tennessee: Selective pricing data (non-resident FOIA denial)
  • Georgia: Full contract details inaccessible ($89K quote)
  1. Confidence Levels
  • High confidence: Multiple corroborating sources (pricing, policies, legal cases)
  • Moderate confidence: Single reliable source with logical consistency
  • Low confidence: Estimates based on comparable states (noted as “estimated”)
  • Data gaps: Explicitly identified when information unavailable
  1. Update Frequency
  • Price lists: 2023-2025 data (most recent available)
  • Legislation: Current as of October 2025
  • Contracts: Latest available contract terms
  • Litigation: Status as of report date (pending cases noted)

XIII. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TYPES

  1. Public Records Requests
  • Submitted to: Multiple state DOCs
  • Responses: Varying levels of compliance
  • Denials documented: Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia ($89K quote)
  1. State Contract Documents
  • RFPs (Request for Proposals): When publicly available
  • Executed contracts: Vendor agreements, commission rates
  • Contract amendments: Price increase provisions, term extensions
  1. Financial Reports
  • State commissary revenue reports
  • Welfare fund balance reports
  • Profit distribution documentation
  • Audit reports (when available)
  1. Policy Documents
  • State DOC commissary policies
  • Markup limitation policies
  • Indigency provision policies
  • Quality control standards
  1. Legislative Records
  • Bill texts: SB 474 (CA), SB 105 (NV), others
  • Fiscal notes and impact analyses
  • Committee hearing testimony
  • Legislative history documentation
  1. Court Filings
  • Complaints: Class action lawsuits
  • Motions and briefs: Legal arguments
  • Settlement agreements: Case resolutions
  • Court opinions: Precedential decisions

XIV. CROSS-REFERENCE INDEX

For Georgia-Specific Citations:

  • Sources 1-6: Georgia primary data
  • Source 113: GPS original investigations

For Legal Precedent:

  • Sources 7-12: Court cases
  • Sources 13-18: Legislation
  • Sources 19-21: Regulatory documents

For State Comparisons:

  • Sources 22-81: State-by-state documentation
  • Organized alphabetically by state
  • Each state includes: pricing, policies, wages, transparency

For National Context:

  • Sources 82-95: Federal and advocacy organization reports
  • Sources 96-103: Vendor and industry documentation
  • Sources 104-107: Quality and safety documentation

For Economic Analysis:

  • Sources 108-111: Economic impact studies
  • Sources 117-119: Retail pricing comparisons

XV. ACCESSIBILITY AND VERIFICATION

Public Access:

  • Most state DOC websites: Price lists (TX, WA, CA, others)
  • Court records: PACER system, state court websites
  • Legislation: State legislature websites, bill tracking systems
  • Advocacy reports: Organization websites (listed above)

Verification Methods:

  • Multiple source corroboration for key facts
  • Primary source documentation preferred
  • Cross-state comparisons for validation
  • Inmate/family testimony supplementary to official data

Limitations:

  • Some states refuse public records (noted in report)
  • Pricing data currency varies (most recent available used)
  • Vendor contracts often redacted (commercial sensitivity claims)
  • Welfare fund spending details limited in most states

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