Untested Warden Leads Georgia’s Most Troubled Women’s Prison After 22 Deaths

Georgia promoted Wendy Jackson, whose only experience was running a 235-bed minimum-security facility, to lead Pulaski State Prison — a 1,200-inmate women’s prison with a history of 22 deaths under one doctor, gang violence, and constitutional violations.

Wendy Jackson jumped from running a 235-bed minimum-security transitional center to leading Georgia’s most troubled women’s prison, where at least 22 women died under a single doctor’s care and gang members sexually assaulted inmates at knifepoint. Her promotion exemplifies Georgia’s pattern of promoting unqualified leaders to manage facilities in crisis, while families report new patterns of intimidation and retaliation under her leadership.

Facility Breakdown

What GPS Documented (Original Findings)

• At least 22 women died under Dr. Yvon Nazaire’s care between 2005-2015 at Pulaski State Prison (GPS analysis of AJC investigations and settlement records)
• Georgia paid more than $3 million in settlements to families, including $1.5 million to Mollianne Fischer’s family (GPS analysis of settlement records and AJC reporting)
• Wendy Jackson promoted from 235-bed minimum-security facility to 1,223-capacity women’s prison on April 16, 2025 (GPS analysis of GDC press releases and personnel records)
• Jackson’s educational background is associate degree in early childhood education from Perimeter College (GPS analysis of personnel records)
• Pulaski has more correctional officer vacancies than any other prison in GDC (GPS analysis of GDC staffing reports)
• Reports of intimidation and retaliation under Jackson’s leadership, including extended lockdowns and warnings against filing grievances (GPS correspondence with inmates and families)

Data source: GPS analysis of GDC reports, settlement records, personnel files, and family interviews

What DOJ Already Confirmed

• Constitutional violations during 2022-2023 investigation at Georgia women’s facilities (Pages DOJ Findings Report)
• Grievance systems plagued by delays, dismissals, and lack of transparency (Pages DOJ Findings Report)
• Incarcerated people who cooperated with DOJ faced ongoing violence and retaliation (Pages DOJ Findings Report)
• GDC fails to provide constitutionally required minimum of reasonable physical safety (Pages DOJ Findings Report)

What GDC Concealed

• Dr. Nazaire was hired despite documented patient deaths and malpractice accusations from New York
• Health administrator praised Dr. Nazaire for ‘saving the DOC so much money’ while women died under his care
• Outcomes of 20 gang assault and extortion investigations opened at Pulaski
• Specific qualifications and selection criteria used to choose Jackson for warden position

Quotables

“I told them if they didn’t correct this stuff, they’d have a lot of girls who had cancer. I told them that, but they didn’t want to hear it, because they didn’t want to spend the money.”

— Dr. Cheryl Young, former women’s health specialist

“saving the DOC so much money and goes above and beyond any other physician in the system”

— Betty Rogers, health services administrator, about Dr. Nazaire

“The system is surviving by walling itself off from the public. They are sealed off from scrutiny.”

— State Representative Erick Allen

“In Georgia, a grievance is not confidential and retaliation is assured. For years now, that retaliation has come from officers working with gangs to have the person ‘touched up.’ Some of the deaths in here? They’re hits ordered for filing a grievance.”

— An incarcerated person speaking to GPS

“tragic and wholly unacceptable”

— U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff

Story Angles

• Local: Focus on families from specific counties who lost loved ones under Dr. Nazaire’s care or current conditions – contact families through GPS for local impact
• Policy: Examine GDC’s $1.7 billion budget vs. outcomes – 333 deaths in 2024, highest officer vacancy rates, $3+ million in settlements from one doctor
• Accountability: Track officials who ignored warnings about Dr. Nazaire, promoted unqualified leaders, and failed to address DOJ findings
• Data: Analyze GDC death records, settlement patterns, staffing data, and promotion criteria through Open Records Act requests

Records Journalists Should Request

Georgia Open Records Act:

1. Wendy Jackson Personnel File — Georgia Department of Corrections
2. Settlement Agreements – Dr. Nazaire Cases — Georgia Attorney General’s Office
3. Gang Investigation Files – Pulaski State Prison — Georgia Department of Corrections
4. Death Records – Women’s Facilities — Georgia Department of Corrections
5. Staffing Reports – Current Vacancy Rates — Georgia Department of Corrections

Federal FOIA:

1. DOJ Investigation Files – Georgia Women’s Facilities — DOJ Civil Rights Division

Sources Available for Interview

Families:

• Family of Mollianne Fischer
• Family of Christina Buttery
• Families of Sherry Joyce and Hallie Reed

Incarcerated Witnesses:

• Current inmates at Pulaski State Prison
• Former incarcerated individuals with knowledge of conditions

Experts:

• Dr. Cheryl Young — Former GDC Women’s Health Specialist

Officials Who Should Be Asked for Comment

• Wendy Jackson, Warden — Main subject – newly promoted warden facing allegations
• Tyrone Oliver, Commissioner — Made decision to promote Jackson, oversees system with 333 deaths in 2024
• Jon Ossoff, U.S. Senator — Called conditions ‘tragic and wholly unacceptable,’ requested FBI investigation
• Erick Allen, State Representative — Barred from touring Lee Arrendale, criticized lack of transparency

Questions GDC Has Not Answered

1. Why was Wendy Jackson chosen to lead Pulaski despite limited experience managing large, high-security facilities?
2. What specific qualifications were required for the Pulaski warden position?
3. What were the outcomes of the 20 gang assault and extortion investigations at Pulaski?
4. How does GDC respond to reports of intimidation and retaliation under Jackson’s leadership?

Source Documents

• DOJ Findings Report on Georgia Prison Conditions — Federal investigation findings documenting constitutional violations in Georgia prisons
• AJC Investigation: Deaths Under Dr. Nazaire — Original reporting on 22+ deaths under Dr. Nazaire’s care and $3+ million in settlements
• GDC Monthly Statistical Reports — Population data, staffing levels, and facility utilization rates