Homicides increased 96% in three years. 142 deaths from 2018 to 2023. Constitutional violations documented. The DOJ investigation exposed Georgia’s prison system as a humanitarian crisis. Facilities operate with 60%+ staff vacancies. Gang control has replaced institutional authority. Inmates are stabbed, beaten, and killed in facilities the state claims to manage. The GDC obstructed the investigation at every turn—delaying records, limiting access, requiring court orders. Georgia isn’t just failing its prisoners. It’s actively hiding the failure. 1
DOJ Findings
The investigation documented constitutional violations:
- Homicides increased 96%—from 7 in 2018 to 35 in 2023
- 18 homicides—first months of 2024 alone
- 60%+ staff vacancies—minimal supervision
- Gang control—entire housing units under criminal authority
At Central State Prison, a young inmate was fatally stabbed in December 2023 while three others were injured. This is what “deliberate indifference” produces.
Conditions That Kill
Facilities violate basic standards:
- Mold infestations—health hazards throughout facilities
- Raw sewage leaks—sanitation failures
- Extreme overcrowding—beyond capacity limits
- No medical care—understaffing prevents treatment
Arrendale and Smith State Prisons were specifically cited for hazardous conditions. Contraband including drugs, weapons, and electronics remains pervasive despite mass searches. 2
GDC Obstruction
The state fought transparency:
- Delayed records—slowing investigation
- Limited facility access—preventing documentation
- Court orders required—to enforce subpoenas
- Underreported incidents—hiding the full scope
When oversight bodies can’t access facilities, accountability disappears. Georgia’s response to constitutional violations has been obstruction, not reform.
What Must Change
DOJ recommendations include:
- Increased staffing—adequate supervision in all facilities
- Independent oversight—external monitoring with enforcement power
- Vulnerable population protection—especially LGBTQ+ inmates
- Mandatory incident reporting—accurate public data
Without federal intervention, Georgia shows no inclination to reform. The DOJ has indicated legal action may follow continued non-compliance.
Take Action
Use Impact Justice AI to send advocacy emails demanding implementation of DOJ recommendations in Georgia. The free tool crafts personalized messages to Georgia lawmakers—no experience required.
Demand:
- Implementation of DOJ recommendations
- Independent oversight of all Georgia prisons
- Accountability for constitutional violations
- Adequate staffing and safety measures
Further Reading
- Georgia Prison Deaths: DOJ Findings Explained
- Time to Tune Out the Spin: Why Georgia Lawmakers Must Look Beyond GDC’s Rhetoric
- GPS Informational Resources
- Pathways to Success
About Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS)
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS) is a nonprofit investigative newsroom built in partnership with incarcerated reporters, families, advocates, and data analysts. Operating independently from the Georgia Department of Corrections, GPS documents the truth the state refuses to acknowledge: extreme violence, fatal medical neglect, gang-controlled dorms, collapsed staffing, fraudulent reporting practices, and unconstitutional conditions across Georgia’s prisons.
Through confidential reporting channels, secure communication, evidence verification, public-records requests, legislative research, and professional investigative standards, GPS provides the transparency the system lacks. Our mission is to expose abuses, protect incarcerated people, support families, and push Georgia toward meaningful reform based on human rights, evidence, and public accountability.
Every article is part of a larger fight — to end the silence, reveal the truth, and demand justice.
