Advocacy Resource Center
You don’t need a law degree or political connections to make a difference. This guide gives you everything you need to advocate effectively for your loved ones and for systemic change in Georgia’s prison system.
Your Voice Has Power
The U.S. Department of Justice has formally found that Georgia violates the Eighth Amendment by failing to protect incarcerated people from violence and sexual harm. This is the most powerful federal tool advocates have ever had to demand systemic reform — and it confirms what families have been saying for years about rampant violence, severe understaffing, and systemic medical neglect that costs lives.
Legislators respond to constituent pressure. Media covers stories that people care about. And every email, phone call, postcard, or public comment adds weight to the demand for accountability. The families and communities most affected by this crisis are the most credible voices for change.
But advocacy works best when it’s grounded in facts. That’s why we created these resources — to put the same data journalists and legislators use directly into your hands, written in clear language, so you can speak with authority about what’s happening inside Georgia’s prisons.
Vision 2027: Post-Conviction Justice Reform
Georgia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity. A new governor takes office in January 2027, bringing new appointments to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and a chance to reshape criminal justice policy. GPS is building the evidence base, the public support, and the legislative roadmap to make post-conviction justice reform a reality.
Vision 2027
The full campaign blueprint. Priority reforms including the Georgia Post-Conviction Justice Act, parole transparency, habeas corpus restoration, and what we’re asking every candidate to commit to.
Read the Plan →No Way Out: Investigative Series
A 10-part GPS investigation documenting how Georgia’s post-conviction system traps people — including the innocent — with no meaningful path to relief. The evidence that makes the case for reform.
Read the Series →Everything we’re asking advocates to do connects back to this vision. When you contact your legislator, share an article, or join our network — you’re building the pressure that makes these reforms possible.
How to Become an Effective Advocate
You don’t need experience. You just need to start. Here are five steps that will make your advocacy count:
Learn the Facts
Read our Research Explainers — they translate complex prison data into plain language. You’ll understand what’s actually happening: how many people are dying, why medical care fails, what the state is spending, and what they’re getting wrong.
When you cite real numbers in a letter or phone call, officials take you seriously.
Pick Your Issue
You don’t have to fight every battle at once. Pick the issue that matters most to you — medical neglect, violence, staffing, parole delays, conditions of confinement — and go deep. Our explainers are organized by topic, so you can become the expert on the issue that affects your family.
Join the GPS Advocate Network
When you become a GPS Advocate, you join a coordinated movement. We match you to your state legislators and automatically include you in advocacy campaigns — emails, physical postcards and letters, and story cards from incarcerated voices. You don’t have to figure out who to contact or what to say. When a campaign launches, you act together with hundreds of other advocates for maximum impact.
Share With Others
Forward our explainers and articles to friends, family, church groups, and community organizations. Share on social media. The more people who see the data, the louder the call for accountability becomes. You can also use our GPS Lighthouse AI to ask questions and get shareable answers about Georgia’s prison system.
Track the Impact
Every contact we deliver is documented. Our Accountability Tracker shows exactly which legislators have been contacted, how many times, and through which channels — emails, postcards, and story cards. No official can claim they didn’t know. When you’re part of the Advocate Network, your actions show up in this public record.
Understanding Our Research
GPS publishes detailed research on Georgia’s prison system. We know not everyone has time to read a 30-page analysis — so we create Research Explainers that break down our findings into clear, readable summaries written specifically for families and community members.
What You’ll Find in Each Explainer
- The Bottom Line — A plain-language summary of what we found and why it matters to you
- Key Numbers — The most important statistics, explained in context
- What This Means for Families — How this research connects to the daily reality inside GDC facilities
- What You Can Do — Specific, actionable steps you can take right now
Tip: When writing to a legislator or making a public comment, reference specific numbers from our explainers. For example: “According to GPS research, Georgia spends over $1.80 billion annually on corrections, yet the DOJ formally found that Georgia violates the constitutional rights of incarcerated people.” Specific data is more persuasive than general complaints.
Browse All Research Explainers
Our Research Explainer library covers medical neglect, violence, staffing, fiscal analysis, parole, and more. Each one is written in plain language with the data you need to speak with authority.
View Research Explainers →How GPS Advocates Make an Impact
GPS advocates reach decision-makers through three coordinated channels. When you join the Advocate Network, you’re automatically included in campaigns across all three:
Advocacy Emails
Professional, fact-backed emails sent directly to your legislators, the Governor, and media outlets. You choose a topic, share your personal experience, and GPS generates a polished message and delivers it on your behalf. Free and anonymous.
Physical Mail
Real postcards and letters sent directly to legislators’ offices. Physical mail sits on desks and can’t be deleted. When a campaign launches, your legislators receive printed advocacy materials on your behalf.
Story Cards
AI-guided interviews help incarcerated people and families share their experiences. Their stories are turned into printed cards delivered to legislators and media — putting real human experiences directly in officials’ hands.
Privacy Note: GPS does not share your personal information with officials. Advocacy emails are sent through a secure forwarding system. Officials cannot see your email address or personal details unless you choose to include them in your message.
How to Make Your Advocacy Count
Not all advocacy is equally effective. Here’s what works — and what doesn’t — when trying to create change in Georgia’s corrections system.
✓ Do This
- Lead with facts. “301 people died in GDC custody in 2025” hits harder than “a lot of people are dying.”
- Tell your personal story. Legislators remember stories. A specific experience at a specific facility is more powerful than general criticism.
- Name the facility. Officials can’t fix what they can’t identify. Always name the prison and the approximate date.
- Make a specific ask. “Support HB 123” or “Investigate medical care at Facility X” gives officials something concrete to act on.
- Be persistent. Send follow-up emails. Call their office. Show up at town halls. Repeat your message.
- Organize. Get five friends to send the same message. Volume matters more than eloquence.
✗ Avoid This
- Don’t make threats. Threatening language gets your message deleted and may get you flagged. Keep it professional.
- Don’t exaggerate. The truth about GDC is damning enough. Making claims you can’t back up undermines your credibility.
- Don’t be vague. “The prisons are bad” doesn’t move anyone. Be specific about what’s broken and what you want done.
- Don’t give up after one try. Your first email probably won’t change the world. The 50th email from 50 different people might.
- Don’t go it alone. Connect with other families. Follow GPS on social media. Attend community meetings when you can.
- Don’t include sensitive case details. Don’t share inmate IDs, pending legal details, or information that could put someone at risk.
What to Say (and How to Say It)
Not sure where to start? Here are examples of effective advocacy language you can adapt. GPS generates messages like these automatically when you participate in campaigns, but these samples show you the formula:
To a State Legislator
“As your constituent in [District], I’m writing about the crisis in Georgia’s prison system. The U.S. Department of Justice has formally found that Georgia violates the Eighth Amendment by failing to protect incarcerated people from violence — and 301 people died in GDC custody in 2025 alone. My [family member] at [Facility] has been waiting [X months] to see a specialist for [condition]. I’m asking you to support increased oversight funding for GDC medical care and to hold hearings on the DOJ’s findings.”
To the Governor
“Governor Kemp, Georgia spends $1.80 billion annually on corrections, yet the U.S. Department of Justice has formally found that Georgia violates incarcerated people’s constitutional rights. I’m a [relationship] of someone incarcerated at [Facility], and I’ve witnessed [specific issue]. I’m asking you to direct the GDC Commissioner to take immediate steps to address [specific problem] and to publicly respond to the DOJ’s findings.”
To Media
“I’m reaching out because I believe there’s an important story at [Facility]. My [family member] has experienced [specific issue], and based on data from Georgia Prisoners’ Speak, this appears to be part of a broader pattern — [cite specific statistic]. I’m willing to share more details on background. GPS has additional data available at gps.press.”
These are starting points. Your real story will always be more powerful than any template. GPS personalizes each campaign message based on what you tell us.
GPS Resources for Advocates
Everything you need to advocate effectively is free and publicly available:
Action Center
See current campaigns, calls to action, and the most impactful things you can do right now for Georgia prison reform.
Take Action Now →Advocate Network
Sign up to become a GPS Advocate. We match you to your legislators and include you in coordinated multi-channel campaigns.
Join the Network →Accountability Tracker
See every contact delivered to every legislator — emails, postcards, and story cards — all documented and tracked.
View Tracker →Contact Directory
Find your state senator and representative by address. Includes legislators, media outlets, and government officials.
Find Your Legislators →Social Sharing Toolkit
Ready-made sharing packages for GPS articles: quote graphics for every platform, pre-written captions, and one-click sharing.
Share GPS Content →Research Explainers
Complex prison data translated into plain language. Covers medical neglect, violence, staffing, fiscal waste, and more.
Browse Explainers →GPS Lighthouse AI
Ask any question about Georgia’s prison system and get an instant, data-backed answer with sources. Great for research.
Ask a Question →Tell My Story
AI-guided interview platform where you or your loved one can share experiences inside Georgia’s prisons.
Start Your Story →Quote Bank
Searchable database of quotes from prisoners, families, officials, and court filings. Use them in your advocacy materials.
Browse Quotes →GDC Statistics Dashboard
Population, demographics, weekly facility reports, and trend data updated regularly from official GDC sources.
View Statistics →Death Records Database
Searchable database of deaths in GDC custody with facility details, dates, and cause information where available.
Search Death Records →GDC Facility Directory
Every Georgia prison and transitional center with population data, capacity, security level, and staffing information.
View Facilities →GDC Policy Library
Over 560 GDC Standard Operating Procedures and Board Rules. Know the rules they’re supposed to follow.
Browse Policies →Submit a Report
Have information about conditions inside a GDC facility? Submit a confidential report to GPS investigators.
Submit a Report →About Georgia Prisoners’ Speak
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak is an independent journalism and advocacy organization that documents conditions inside Georgia’s prison system. We collect data directly from official GDC sources, public records, and reports from incarcerated people and their families.
Our mission is to make the reality of Georgia’s corrections system visible and undeniable. We provide the facts. You provide the pressure.
We are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. For legal assistance, contact the Southern Center for Human Rights, the ACLU of Georgia, or Georgia Legal Aid.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Every email to a legislator, every postcard delivered, every story shared builds the case for change. Join the GPS Advocate Network and start making an impact today.