Research & Analysis

Research Explainers for Families & the Public

Complex prison system research translated into clear, actionable language so you can understand what's happening and what it means for your family.

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Empty Guard Towers, Rising Death Tolls: The Prison Staffing Crisis Killing People in Georgia

Georgia's 52.5% guard vacancy rate fuels a sevenfold rise in prison killings. The state pays guards the least in the nation, and 82.7% of new hires quit within a year.

How Two Companies Drain $1.4 Billion a Year from Families with Loved Ones in Prison

Two companies control 80% of prison phone services. Georgia ranks third in kickback revenue. Here's what families pay and what can change.

Georgia's Survivor Justice Act: A New Law That Could Free Abuse Survivors From Prison

Georgia's Survivor Justice Act lets abuse survivors in prison ask for shorter sentences. One woman is already free. Here's what families need to know.

Why It's So Hard to Hold Georgia Prisons Accountable: What Families Need to Know

Georgia now has the nation's strictest legal standard for prison cases. Only 1% of cases succeed. Here's what families need to know.

Georgia Spends $1.5 Billion a Year on Prisons. People Leave Worse Than When They Went In.

Georgia spends $1.48 billion on prisons but just $172,000 on job training. The DOJ says people leave worse than when they went in.

What You Need to Know About Solitary Confinement in Georgia's Prisons

Georgia locks people in tiny cells for years. A federal judge caught the state faking its records. Here's what families need to know.

Georgia's $40 Billion Prison Trap: How an $82 Million Deal Became a Disaster

Georgia got $82M from the feds to lock people up longer. The total cost? Up to $50 billion. Research says it hasn't made us safer.

Research Shows 1 in 8 People Convicted of Rape May Be Innocent

DNA evidence shows about 1 in 8 rape convictions may be wrong. Black people face 3.5x higher risk. Georgia's Chief Justice calls the review system "broken."

Georgia Is Building a Massive Prison Watching System — And Almost No One Knows About It

Georgia is building a command center to watch all 36 state prisons at once. The tech costs over $150 million. No civil rights group has spoken up.

From Convict Leasing to Prison Labor: How Georgia Profits from Forced Work

Georgia has forced people in prison to work for free for 150+ years. The state makes $64 million a year. Most workers get $0.

Georgia's 4-Year Deadline Is Trapping Innocent People in Prison

Georgia's 4-year habeas deadline traps innocent people in prison. Every recent exoneration took far longer. The law may violate the Constitution.

The Hidden Family Tax: How Prison Systems Force Families to Pay Billions

Families of people in prison pay nearly $350 billion a year. Women and Black families bear the heaviest burden. This report explains how the system works.

Brown v. Plata: How Courts Forced California to Reduce Its Prison Population — And What It Means for Georgia

The Supreme Court ordered California to cut its prison population by 46,000 because crowding killed people. Georgia faces similar problems today.

When People Die in Prison, the State Hides the Truth: How Death Data Gets Lost, Mislabeled, and Covered Up

Thousands of prison deaths go uncounted. Georgia mislabeled at least 44. Only one state reports death data fully. Here's what families need to know.

Drugs Are Flooding Georgia's Prisons — And People Are Dying

At least 49 people died of drug overdoses in Georgia prisons from 2019-2022. The state hid 44 of those deaths by mislabeling the cause.

Most of Georgia Has No Way to Fix Wrongful Convictions — Here's Why That Must Change

Only 3 of Georgia's 159 counties can check for wrongful convictions. The other 156 have no team and no process. Here's why that must change.

About 2,500 Innocent People Are Locked Up in Georgia Prisons Right Now

Studies say about 2,500 innocent people are locked up in Georgia prisons. Since 1989, only 51 have been cleared — losing 610 years combined.

Georgia Pays People in Prison Nothing for Their Work — Then Charges Their Families for Basic Needs

Georgia pays people in prison nothing for their labor, then charges families inflated prices for basic needs. A GPS investigation maps the full scope of this extraction.

Broken Sorting: How Georgia's Prison Classification Failures Are Getting People Killed

Georgia's prison sorting system is broken. 142 people killed in 6 years. Half of guard jobs empty. The DOJ calls it among the worst it has ever seen.

When Prisons Deny Health Care: How Private Companies Profit While People Suffer

Private companies run prison health care and profit by cutting care. Death rates are up to 58% higher. Here's what families need to know.

How Georgia Prisons Overcharge Families for Ramen, Soap, and Pain Pills

Georgia prisons charge families $0.90 for ramen worth $0.20 and $4.00 for pain pills worth $0.40. A GPS investigation reveals a system that takes $8-15 million a year from families.

Lead Poisoning Drove America's Crime Wave — Then the Government Locked Up the Victims

Lead poisoned children's brains for decades. Then the government locked them up instead of fixing the problem. The science is clear.

By the Numbers: Georgia Locks Up 53,000 People While Parole Rates Plunge and Costs Soar

Georgia locks up 53,000 people while parole rates drop 42%. Black people are 61% of prisoners but 31% of the state. The $1.62 billion system is failing.

Georgia's Prisons Are Falling Apart: What Families Need to Know

Georgia's prisons are falling apart. Broken locks, mold, sewage, and too few guards put people at risk. Here's what families need to know.

Georgia's Prison Healthcare Crisis: What Families Need to Know

The DOJ says healthcare in Georgia prisons is 'abhorrent' and unconstitutional. 330 people died in 2024. Here's what families need to know.

Georgia's Probation System: The Largest in the Nation and What It Means for Families

Georgia has 191,000 people on felony probation — the most in the nation. Black Georgians are at least 2x more likely to be on probation. Here's what families need to know.

Half the Guards Are Gone: Georgia's Prison Staffing Crisis Puts Lives at Risk

Almost half of all prison guard jobs in Georgia are empty. The DOJ says this leaves people unprotected. Here's what families need to know.

Georgia's Prison Budget Soars 44% in Four Years — While Families Still Pay the Price

Georgia's prison budget jumped 44% in four years to nearly $1.78 billion. Families still pay millions in fees while people inside work without pay.

Georgia Senate Report Reveals Deep Crisis in State Prisons: What Families Need to Know

A Georgia Senate study found nearly half of prison guard jobs are empty, prisons are crumbling, and people are dying. Here's what families need to know.

Black Georgians Make Up 31% of the State But 61% of People in Prison: What the Data Shows

Black Georgians are 31% of the state but 61% of people in prison. Data shows racial gaps at every step — from arrest to parole.

Georgia Is Granting Parole to Fewer People Every Year — Here's What the Numbers Show

Georgia paroled 42% fewer people in FY24 than five years ago. Life sentences now average 29.2 years. Here's what families need to know.

The DOJ Found Georgia Prisons Are Dangerously Broken. Here's What That Means for Your Family.

The DOJ found Georgia prisons violate the Constitution. 142 people killed in 6 years. Half of all guard jobs are empty. Here's what families need to know.

Georgia Plans to Spend $1.8 Billion on Prisons — Here's Where the Money Goes

Georgia plans to spend $1.8 billion on prisons. Health costs are surging. Private prisons are growing. Here's what families need to know.

The U.S. Government Found Georgia Prisons Are Dangerously Violent and Failing to Protect People

The DOJ found Georgia prisons violate the Constitution. 142 people killed in 6 years. Half of guard jobs are empty. Violence is constant and unchecked.

Georgia Prisons Crisis: How Broken Locks, Staff Shortages, and Violence Affect Your Loved One

A family guide to Georgia's December 2024 prison system report: what broken locks, staff shortages, and doubled gang populations mean for your loved one's safety and programs.