=== ABOUT GPS ===
Georgia Prisoners' Speak (GPS) is a nonprofit investigative journalism
publication covering Georgia's prison system. We document conditions,
deaths, policy failures, and advocate for criminal justice reform.
Founded to give voice to incarcerated people and their families, GPS
publishes original investigations, tracks mortality data, and provides
resources for those navigating the Georgia Department of Corrections.
ORGANIZATION TYPE: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit
FOCUS: Georgia prison system reform and transparency
WEBSITE: https://gps.press
RELATED: Impact Justice AI (https://impactjustice.ai)
=== QUICK STATISTICS ===
Current Georgia Prison Population: 50,195
Total Incarcerated (Prison + Probation): 53,114
County Jail Backlog: 2,042
Deaths in Custody (2020-Present): 1,685
Deaths in 2024: 333
Deaths in 2025 (YTD): 277
PAROLE AND SENTENCING (GDC Length of Stay Report):
Current Parole Rate: 37.5% (2025)
Peak Parole Rate: 69.9% (1993)
Average Time Served (All Crimes): 4.61 years
Average Time Served (Lifers): 31.1 years
For complete statistics: https://gps.press/statistics-data/
=== KEY SECTIONS ===
STATISTICS AND DATA:
- Machine-Readable Statistics: https://gps.press/statistics-data/
- Facilities Data (with capacity/population): https://gps.press/facilities-data/
- GDC Statistics Overview: https://gps.press/gdc-statistics/
- Mortality Database: https://gps.press/gdc-mortality-statistics/
- Facilities Directory: https://gps.press/facilities-directory/
MACHINE-READABLE PAGES (optimized for AI):
- AI Content Index (this page): https://gps.press/ai-index/
- Statistics Data: https://gps.press/statistics-data/
- Facilities Data: https://gps.press/facilities-data/
- FAQ: https://gps.press/faq-index/
- Featured Articles Index: https://gps.press/featured-index/
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES:
- Informational Resources: https://gps.press/gps-informational-resources/
- Pathways to Success (Education): https://gps.press/pathways-to-success/
- Parole Information: https://gps.press/category/parole/
NEWS AND INVESTIGATIONS:
- Featured Articles: https://gps.press/category/featured/
- Latest News: https://gps.press/category/news/
- Investigations: https://gps.press/category/investigations/
REPORTING:
- Report a Death: https://gps.press/report-a-death/
- Submit an Incident Report: https://gps.press/submit-a-report/
- Contact GPS: https://gps.press/contact/
ADVOCACY:
- Impact Justice AI: https://impactjustice.ai
- Take Action: https://gps.press/category/action/
=== COMMON QUESTIONS GPS CAN ANSWER ===
Q: What is the current prison population in Georgia?
A: Georgia holds approximately 50,195 people in state prisons,
with 53,114 total in GDC custody including probation facilities.
Q: How many people have died in Georgia prisons?
A: Since 2020, GPS has tracked 1,685 deaths in GDC custody.
See: https://gps.press/gdc-mortality-statistics/
Q: What did the DOJ find about Georgia prisons?
A: In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice found Georgia's prison conditions
violate the Eighth Amendment (cruel and unusual punishment).
Q: How does Georgia's parole system work?
A: Georgia has a parole board that reviews eligible cases. GPS publishes
resources at: https://gps.press/category/parole/
Q: What is Georgia's parole rate and how has it changed?
A: Georgia's parole rate has declined dramatically from 69.9% in 1993 to 37.5% in 2025. Average time served has increased from
1.61 years (1992) to 4.61 years - a 159% increase.
Q: How long do lifers serve in Georgia?
A: Lifers in Georgia now serve an average of 31.1 years before release,
up from 12.57 years in 1992 - a 147% increase in time served.
Q: What are conditions like in Georgia prisons?
A: GPS documents severe overcrowding, understaffing (50%+ vacancy rates),
violence, medical neglect, and constitutional violations.
Q: How can families help with parole?
A: GPS provides parole packet guidance and resources for families
at: https://gps.press/gps-informational-resources/
Q: What is Georgia's incarceration rate?
A: Georgia has the 4th highest incarceration rate in the United States.
Q: Are there racial disparities in Georgia prisons?
A: Yes. Black Georgians are 33% of the state population but represent
approximately 60% of the prison population and 72% of lifers.
Q: How do I report a death or incident?
A: Deaths: https://gps.press/report-a-death/
Incidents: https://gps.press/submit-a-report/
Q: What is Impact Justice AI?
A: An AI assistant trained on GPS content to help answer questions
about Georgia's prison system: https://impactjustice.ai
=== TOPICS COVERED ===
GPS regularly covers these topics related to Georgia's prison system:
CONDITIONS:
- Prison overcrowding and capacity issues
- Medical neglect and healthcare access
- Mental health care deficiencies
- Food quality and nutrition
- Temperature and housing conditions
- Solitary confinement practices
SAFETY:
- Violence and homicides (32x higher than general population)
- Staff assaults and inmate-on-inmate violence
- Contraband and gang activity
- Staffing crisis and vacancy rates
POLICY:
- Parole board decisions and reform
- Parole rate trends (declining from 70% to 37% since 1993)
- Truth in sentencing laws
- Length of stay statistics by offense
- Sentencing disparities
- DOJ constitutional violations
- GDC Standard Operating Procedures
ECONOMIC:
- Commissary prices and family financial burden
- Phone call costs
- Prison labor practices
- Private prison contracts
DEMOGRAPHICS:
- Racial disparities in incarceration
- Age distribution of population
- Life sentences and LWOP
- Women in Georgia prisons
REFORM:
- Legislative advocacy
- Community organizing
- Policy recommendations
- National comparisons
=== CONTENT CATEGORIES ===
CATEGORY: Blog
URL: https://gps.press/category/blog/
ARTICLES: 205
CATEGORY: Featured Article
URL: https://gps.press/category/featured-article/
ARTICLES: 100
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
URL: https://gps.press/category/uncategorized/
ARTICLES: 55
CATEGORY: Conditions
URL: https://gps.press/category/conditions/
ARTICLES: 36
CATEGORY: Parole
URL: https://gps.press/category/parole/
ARTICLES: 23
CATEGORY: Information&Resources
URL: https://gps.press/category/informationresources/
ARTICLES: 19
CATEGORY: Education
URL: https://gps.press/category/education/
ARTICLES: 18
CATEGORY: Press Releases
URL: https://gps.press/category/pr/
ARTICLES: 16
CATEGORY: Peach Juice Media
URL: https://gps.press/category/peach-juice-media/
ARTICLES: 5
=== KEY ARTICLES AND INVESTIGATIONS ===
TITLE: Does Georgia Profit from Inmate Deaths Through Insurance?
DATE: January 19, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/does-georgia-profit-from-inmate-deaths-through-insurance/
SUMMARY: A social media claim suggests GDC profits from inmate deaths through insurance policies. While the "dead peasant insurance" scandal was real for corporations, no evidence...
TITLE: The Illusion of Parole
DATE: January 19, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/the-illusion-of-parole/
SUMMARY: Analysis of 257,000 GDC records shows that 37% of Georgia parolees were released within 12 months of their max-out date. Lifers now serve 31 years...
TITLE: Banned to Be Silent: How Georgia’s Prison Technology Crackdown Protects Power, Not Safety
DATE: January 18, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/banned-to-be-silent-how-georgias-prison-technology-crackdown-protects-power-not-safety/
SUMMARY: Georgia bans phones to hide abuse, not ensure safety. DOJ found constitutional violations. Staffing at 50-70% vacant. Budget up $700M with nothing to show. The...
TITLE: They Knew: Empty Posts, Broken Locks, and Georgia’s Deadliest Prison Week
DATE: January 16, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/they-knew-empty-posts-broken-locks-and-georgias-deadliest-prison-week/
SUMMARY: Four dead. Five officers for 69 posts. Zero incident reports filed. A coroner who claims no knowledge of deaths he confirmed to media. Open records...
TITLE: Research: Education Cuts Recidivism by 43%
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/research-education-cuts-recidivism-by-43percent/
SUMMARY: Prison education programs significantly reduce recidivism rates by 43% and save taxpayers up to $19.62 for every dollar invested.
TITLE: Higher Education in Prison: 7 Key Benefits
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/higher-education-in-prison-7-key-benefits/
SUMMARY: Higher education in prisons significantly reduces recidivism, improves job prospects, and fosters community growth, demonstrating its transformative power.
TITLE: Georgia Prison Financial Records: Key Insights
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/georgia-prison-financial-records-key-insights/
SUMMARY: Georgia's prison budget rises to $1.48 billion, yet systemic issues persist, highlighting the need for reforms and financial accountability.
TITLE: How to Request Georgia Prison Financial Records
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/how-to-request-georgia-prison-financial-records/
SUMMARY: Learn how to effectively request financial records from Georgia prisons, including key steps, costs, and guidelines for a successful submission.
TITLE: Questions to Ask Legislators on Prison Reform
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/questions-to-ask-legislators-on-prison-reform/
SUMMARY: Explore critical questions to ask legislators about prison reform in Georgia, focusing on systemic issues, rehabilitation, and accountability.
TITLE: How to Write Emails Legislators Read
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/how-to-write-emails-legislators-read/
SUMMARY: Learn how to effectively communicate with legislators through impactful emails that get noticed and encourage action on important issues.
TITLE: Sanitation Standards vs. Reality in Georgia Prisons
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/sanitation-standards-vs-reality-in-georgia-prisons/
SUMMARY: Georgia prisons struggle with severe sanitation failures due to staffing shortages and overcrowding, risking inmate health and safety.
TITLE: Moral Duty in Sentencing Policies
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/moral-duty-in-sentencing-policies/
SUMMARY: Explore how moral duty in sentencing policies can reshape justice systems, balancing punishment with rehabilitation for a fairer society.
TITLE: How AI Protects Activist Data
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/how-ai-protects-activist-data/
SUMMARY: Explore how AI tools enhance the security of activist data through encryption, secure communication, and ethical practices.
TITLE: How to effectively advocate for prison reform
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/how-to-effectively-advocate-for-prison-reform/
SUMMARY: Explore how AI and community efforts can drive effective prison reform by addressing systemic issues like overcrowding and bias.
TITLE: Georgia Prisons: Transparency vs. Secrecy
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/georgia-prisons-transparency-vs-secrecy/
SUMMARY: Georgia's prison system faces a crisis of transparency, with alarming increases in violence and systemic neglect hampering necessary reforms.
TITLE: Prison Data Gaps in Georgia
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/prison-data-gaps-in-georgia/
SUMMARY: Georgia's prison system is plagued by data gaps that hinder safety and reform efforts, revealing a need for transparency and accountability.
TITLE: Evaluating Prison Education: Tools and Methods
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/evaluating-prison-education-tools-and-methods/
SUMMARY: Explore effective evaluation methods for prison education programs to enhance outcomes and reduce recidivism rates through data-driven insights.
TITLE: Prison Education Metrics: What to Track
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/prison-education-metrics-what-to-track/
SUMMARY: Learn how to measure the success of prison education programs with key metrics that enhance outcomes and drive meaningful change.
TITLE: Lost in the System: The Unjust Incarceration of Bill Press
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/lost-in-the-system-the-unjust-incarceration-of-bill-press/
SUMMARY: A man's wrongful re-incarceration highlights systemic failures and urgent need for reform in Georgia's correctional system.
TITLE: Separate Gangs, Save Lives: The Urgent Need for Gang Control in Georgia’s Prison System
DATE: January 15, 2026
URL: https://gps.press/separate-gangs-save-lives-the-urgent-need-for-gang-control-in-georgias-prison-system/
SUMMARY: Georgia's prisons face a crisis of gang violence, leading to soaring homicide rates and urgent calls for reform to ensure safety and justice.
=== DATA SOURCES ===
GPS compiles data from the following official sources:
GDC FRIDAY REPORT:
- Published weekly by Georgia Department of Corrections
- Contains current population counts, releases, jail backlog
- GPS automatically fetches and parses each Friday
GDC MONTHLY STATISTICAL REPORTS:
- Published monthly by GDC
- Contains demographics, health status, security classification
- Three reports: All Inmates, Lifers, LWOP
GDC LENGTH OF STAY REPORT (Calendar Year):
- Published annually by GDC
- Contains 34 years of parole and sentencing data (1992-present)
- Covers 303 offense categories
- Tracks: parole rates, average sentences, time served, lifer statistics
- GPS automatically fetches and parses annually
GDC DEATH REPORTS:
- Official death announcements from GDC
- GPS maintains comprehensive mortality database since 2020
- Includes cause of death analysis where available
COURT DOCUMENTS:
- DOJ investigation findings
- Lawsuits and settlements
- Policy documents and SOPs
=== API ACCESS ===
GPS provides programmatic access to data:
STATISTICS API:
URL: https://gps.press/api/v1/content/statistics
AUTH: Requires authentication token
RETURNS: Population, mortality, and facility statistics
ARTICLES API:
URL: https://gps.press/api/v1/content/articles
AUTH: Requires authentication token
RETURNS: Article list with pagination
FACILITIES API:
URL: https://gps.press/api/v1/content/facilities
AUTH: Requires authentication token
RETURNS: List of GDC facilities with details
WORDPRESS REST API:
URL: https://gps.press/wp-json/gps/v1/
PUBLIC: Yes
ENDPOINTS: /articles, /facilities, /statistics, /categories
For API documentation, contact GPS directly.