COASTAL STATE PRISON
Facility Information
- Original Design Capacity
- 758 (at 216% capacity)
- Bed Capacity
- 1,836 beds
- Current Population
- 1,635
- Active Lifers
- 125 (7.6% of population) · Aug 2026 GDC report
- Life Without Parole
- 7 (0.4%)
Read: Brown v. Plata - A Legal Roadmap for Georgia's Prison Crisis →
- Address
- 200 Gulfstream Road, Port Wentworth, GA 31408
- Phone
- (912) 965-6303
- Fax
- (912) 966-6799
- Mailing Address
- P.O. Box 7150, Port Wentworth, GA 31408
- County
- Chatham County
- Opened
- 1981
- Operator
- GDC (Georgia Dept. of Corrections)
Leadership & Accountability (as of 2026 records)
Officials currently holding positional authority at this facility, with deaths attributed to GPS-tracked records during their leadership tenure. Inclusion reflects role-based accountability, not legal findings of personal culpability. Death counts shown as facility / career.
| Role | Name | Since | Deaths this facility / career |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warden (facility lead) | Stokes, David | 2026-06-01 | 2 / 15 |
| DEPUTY WARDEN (facility deputy) | Kaigler, Briana | 2022-01-01 | 95 / 95 |
| DEPUTY WARDEN (facility deputy) | Finch, Karen Ruth | 2024-08-01 | 50 / 59 |
About
Last updated August 23, 2026.(DS)
Coastal State Prison: A Medium-Security Hub Inside a Collapsing System
Coastal State Prison, opened in 1981 near Savannah/Port Wentworth in Chatham County, is a large medium-security men's prison with 12 housing units. Six units are cellblocks with a mix of two-man and four-man cells; four are open-bay dormitories; one unit houses Faith & Character and incentive-program participants; and there is a 74-bed segregation unit plus a small infirmary. Renovated in 1999, Coastal also operates an abbreviated diagnostic intake unit and maintains a tactical squad, making it a key hub for both housing and system-wide security operations. Its original design capacity was 758; its current rated capacity is 1,836, and GPS records place the population at 1,635 — 89.1% of rated capacity, but more than double the facility's original design specification.
GPS has tracked 131 deaths at Coastal State Prison since 2020. Of those, 92 remain classified as Unknown/Pending, 31 as Natural/Medical, five as Homicide, and three as Other. The most recent recorded deaths include Bobby Clinton Biggs, 77, on June 25, 2026; Ronald Tyrone Waller, 57, on June 10, 2026; and Rene Alvarado Salazar, 38, on April 19, 2026. Two men — Anteveis Brown, 49, and Aiden Snapp, 21 — died on February 26, 2026, both classified as homicides. GPS's mortality records are a floor, since GDC reports deaths roughly two months late.
Homicides, Broken Locks, and the Failure to Protect
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has documented a series of violent deaths at Coastal State Prison that share a common feature: assailants reaching victims who should have been separated from them. Kion E. Parks, 31, died on September 14, 2021 from stab wounds; an incident report shows five other prisoners were involved, and a lawsuit alleges five inmates stabbed Parks to death. Rufus Ramon Lee, 27, died on December 14, 2021 from a stab wound to the chest; four other prisoners were involved and four were indicted. A lawsuit filed by Lee's mother alleges that the lock on his cell didn't work, allowing assailants from other cells and dorms to reach and kill him.
The pattern continued. Salomon Andres Ramirez, 43, died on October 20, 2023 in what GDC classified as an apparent homicide. Ryan Chase Archer, 25, died on December 13, 2023 from a stab wound to the chest after a fight with other prisoners; he was due to be released in 2024. Raymond Littles, 49, died on April 16, 2024 in an incident classified as a homicide, with another prisoner disciplined. In February 2026, WTOC reported that a second death within one week had been confirmed at Coastal, and that two inmates had died on the same day. A March 2020 assault at Coastal was forwarded for investigation, WALB reported, but no records of such an investigation exist — and the same individual later strangled a cellmate to death at another prison.
The broken-lock allegation in the Lee lawsuit sits inside a system-wide infrastructure failure GPS has documented across GDC facilities: broken cell-door locks (a 2012 Hays audit found roughly 42% non-functional, confirmed by the 2024 Guidehouse assessment), inoperative surveillance and fire-alarm systems, mold and water failures, broken kitchen sanitization equipment, and pest infestations. The DOJ's October 2024 findings, the Guidehouse assessment, and Commissioner Tyrone Oliver's public "end of life" statements all corroborate the pattern. GPS treats infrastructure collapse as a force multiplier for the violence, classification, gang-control, and mortality crises documented at the facility level.
The state has paid for some of what happened here. GA DOAS Risk Management settlement records show liability payouts tied to Coastal State Prison: $600,000 to Dennis Carpenter (incident 2022, linked to a documented death record), $200,000 to Joel Greene (2019), $115,000 to Milton Ross (2011), $50,000 to Cager Maleeah (2016), and $8,000 to Ronald Ray Agan (2023).
The Kitchen: A Score That Doesn't Match What's on the Tray
The Georgia Department of Public Health inspected Coastal State Prison's kitchen on April 23, 2026 and issued a score of 70 — a Grade C, down from 80 in October 2025, 87 in February 2025, and 84 in October 2023. The Georgia Virtue reported the inspection findings in detail: live flies and roaches in the kitchen, a dead mouse floating in backed-up mop water in the mess hall dishpit (a repeat violation), mold-like growth on ceiling tiles throughout the entire kitchen area along with peeling and missing ceiling tiles (also repeat), fish at 122°F and chicken at 98°F sitting on the counter — both below the required 135°F hot holding temperature — and no sanitizer in the three-compartment sink while inmates were actively washing dishes, another repeat violation. Inspectors also found a mildew-like substance in the interior of the ice machine, exit doors with large gaps underneath allowing entry of insects and rodents, and multiple plumbing failures including a leaking pipe, a sink where hot water could not be turned on or off, a loose spigot, and a backed-up mop sink. The facility was given until May 3 to correct the issues.
WTOC Investigates obtained maintenance records from Coastal State Prison from May to November 2025 showing over $5,000 spent on pest control; GDC said it has no records related to mold remediation.
These inspection findings are consistent with what GPS has documented systemically: tray-sanitizing dishwashers broken for sustained periods, sustained roach and rodent infestation in kitchen and serving areas, and meals served on visibly contaminated trays. GPS's systemic finding — developed in the "Dunked, Stacked, and Served" investigation and the scores-without-sanitation topic — is that DPH scores systematically fail to capture what inmate maintenance workers observe inside the equipment, because inspections are scheduled walkthroughs that do not assess equipment under load, and because GPS has documented professional overlap between inspectors and facility staff in small-county settings. The Marshall Project's May 16, 2026 investigation of Georgia prison food independently corroborated the pattern, reporting rats in kitchens, insects in food, moldy trays, and visible malnutrition across Georgia facilities, and quoting GPS connecting chronic underfeeding to the violence pattern the DOJ documented in October 2024.
The food itself is underfunded. GPS has documented that GDC spends approximately $1.69 per person per day on food (2024), with a proposed $1.60 per day in FY27 — under 60 cents per meal — against an FDA Thrifty Food Plan estimate of roughly $10 per day for an adult man's nutritionally adequate diet. GPS records show eight sanitation-failure signals and five food-quality complaints at Coastal across multiple months in 2026, with an external complaint filed to the U.S. Department of Justice. Inmate accounts collected by GPS describe a pattern of food insufficiency, restricted commissary access, and meals served on contaminated trays at Coastal.
Staffing Collapse, Violence, and the Question of Who's in Charge
WTOC reported in February 2026 that workers and inmates at Coastal State Prison described a human rights crisis: crumbling infrastructure, black mold throughout housing units, rat and mice infestations, frequent air conditioning and heating failures, lockdowns lasting seven to ten days without shower access, and staff allegedly withholding food from inmates as punishment — including not waking sleeping inmates for meal calls and then denying them food. Some correctional officers are alleged to brutally beat inmates regularly, with one employee reporting hearing screams during their walk to work caused by someone being beaten. GDC records show no correctional officers were disciplined for violence against inmates over a six-month period in 2025, despite employees saying such violence is common.
The DOJ's October 2024 findings letter explicitly concluded that "the leadership of the Georgia Department of Corrections has lost control of its facilities" and faulted GDC for placing "too much blame on gangs and insufficient emphasis on understaffing." Officer vacancies in Georgia's prisons have run between 49.3% and 60% systemwide for multiple years, against a national standard of no more than 10%. Approximately 31% of the system's roughly 49,000 incarcerated population are validated members of 315 different security threat groups — more than double the national average. DOJ and the Guidehouse 2024 consultant assessment independently concluded that gangs effectively run multiple facilities, controlling access to phones, showers, food, and bed assignments.
A federal judge in Georgia's Middle District scolded Commissioner Tyrone Oliver for "failure to comply with court orders" and asked whether the GDC "deems itself above the law," WTOC reported in February 2026. The same reporting noted that lockdowns at Coastal prevent inmates from attending classes and programs needed to earn Performance Incentive Credits for early parole eligibility, and that the DOJ report criticized Georgia prisons including Coastal State for overusing lockdowns and isolation, particularly on victims of sexual abuse.
GPS records show six staff-misconduct signals and six family-safety-concern signals at Coastal across 2026, with three family-safety-concern signals at high severity in May 2026 alone. Family accounts collected by GPS describe a pattern of inoperable air conditioning, heat exhaustion, slow medical response, and violence and drug use described as out of control. GPS has received accounts of an incarcerated person with a mobility disability being moved from an accessible ground-floor segregation cell to an inaccessible upper-floor cell, requiring other incarcerated people to carry the individual and wheelchair up the stairs while a staff member observed without intervening.
In January 2026, WTOC reported that a Coastal State Prison employee was arrested and charged with trading with inmates without the consent of the warden or superintendent. Five inmates at Coastal were indicted for a violent assault in October 2025.
Leadership in Transition
Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced the reassignment of David Stokes, previously Warden at Central State Prison, to Warden at Coastal State Prison effective June 1, 2026. Stokes replaced Phillip Glenn, who had held the post. The deputy warden of security is Karen Finch, in the role since August 2024.
Sources
This analysis draws on reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WTOC, WALB, The Georgia Virtue, and The Marshall Project; Georgia Department of Public Health inspection records; GA DOAS Risk Management settlement ledgers obtained through open records; federal court findings including the October 2024 DOJ investigation; GPS's mortality database and internal intelligence records; and inmate and family accounts collected by GPS staff.
Mortality Statistics
135 deaths documented at this facility from 2020 to present.
Deaths by Year
- 2026: 20
- 2025: 25
- 2024: 24
- 2023: 15
- 2022: 15
- 2021: 19
- 2020: 17
County Public Health Department
Food service and sanitation at COASTAL STATE PRISON fall under the jurisdiction of the Chatham County Environmental Health Department. Incarcerated people cannot choose where they eat — public health inspectors carry an elevated responsibility to hold this kitchen to the same standards applied to any restaurant.
Contact
- Title
- Environmental Health Director
- Address
-
P.O. Box 14257
Savannah, GA 31406 - Phone
- (912) 356-2160
- chatham.eh@dph.ga.gov
- Website
- Visit department website →
Why this matters
GPS has documented black mold on chow-hall ceilings, cold and contaminated trays, spoiled milk, and pest contamination at Georgia prisons. The Department of Justice's 2024 report confirmed deaths from dehydration and untreated diabetes tied to food and water deprivation. Advance-notice inspections let facilities stage temporary fixes that disappear once inspectors leave.
Unannounced inspections by the county health department are one of the few outside checks on kitchen conditions behind the fence.
How you can help
Write to the county inspector and request an unannounced inspection of the kitchen and food service operation at this facility. A short, respectful letter citing Georgia food-safety regulations is more powerful than you think — inspectors respond to public concern.
Sample Letter
This is the letter Georgia Prisoners' Speak mailed to all county environmental health inspectors responsible for GDC facilities. Feel free to adapt it.
August 24, 2026
RE: Request for Unannounced Public Health Inspection of Food Service Operations at COASTAL STATE PRISON
Dear County Environmental Health Director,
I am writing to respectfully request that your office conduct a thorough, unannounced inspection of food service and sanitation practices at COASTAL STATE PRISON, located in Chatham County.
Documented concerns
Georgia Prisoners' Speak, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit investigative newsroom, has published extensive investigative reporting on food safety and nutrition failures across Georgia's prison system, including:
- Dangerous sanitation conditions — black mold on chow hall ceilings and air vents, contaminated food trays, and spoiled milk served to inmates.
- Severe nutritional deficiency — roughly 60 cents per meal; inmates receive only 40% of required protein and less than one serving of vegetables per day.
- Preventable deaths — the U.S. Department of Justice's 2024 report confirmed deaths from dehydration, renal failure, and untreated diabetes following food and water deprivation.
- Staged compliance — advance-notice inspections allow facilities to stage temporary improvements, then revert once inspectors leave.
Firsthand testimony
In Surviving on Scraps: Ten Years of Prison Food in Georgia, a person who has spent more than ten years in GDC custody describes no functional dishwashing sanitation, chronic mold on food trays, and roaches found on the undersides of trays at intake facilities. Full account: gps.press/surviving-on-scraps-ten-years-of-prison-food-in-georgia.
Specific requests
- Conduct an unannounced inspection of the kitchen and food service operations at this facility, with particular attention to dishwashing equipment, tray sanitation procedures, and food storage conditions.
- Evaluate compliance with applicable Georgia food safety regulations, including O.C.G.A. § 26-2-370 and the Georgia Food Service Rules and Regulations (Chapter 511-6-1).
- Verify permit status and confirm whether the facility is subject to the same inspection schedule as other institutional food service establishments in the county.
- Make inspection results available to the public, as permitted under Georgia's Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70).
Incarcerated individuals cannot advocate for their own health and safety in the way a restaurant patron can — they cannot choose to eat elsewhere. This places an elevated responsibility on public health officials to ensure these facilities meet the same sanitation standards applied to any food service establishment.
Thank you for your attention to this important public health matter.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Food Safety Inspections
Georgia Department of Public Health
What the score doesn't measure. DPH grades kitchen compliance on inspection day — food storage, temperatures, pest control. It does not grade whether today's trays are clean. GPS reporting has found broken dishwashers at most Georgia state prisons we've documented; trays go out wet, stacked, and visibly moldy — including at facilities with recent scores near 100.
Who inspects. Most Georgia state prisons sit in rural counties — often with fewer than 20,000 people, several with fewer than 10,000. The environmental health inspector lives in that community and often knows the kitchen staff personally. Rural inspection regimes don't have the structural independence you'd expect in a city-sized health department. Read the scores accordingly.
Read the investigation: “Dunked, Stacked and Served: Why Georgia Prison Trays Are Making People Sick”
Recent inspections
| Date | Score | Purpose | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2026 | 70 | Routine | |
| Oct 16, 2025 | 80 | Routine | |
| Feb 27, 2025 | 87 | Routine | |
| Oct 25, 2023 | 84 | Routine |
April 23, 2026 — Score 70
Routine · Inspector: Caisha Knight
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2A |
pic present, demonstrates knowledge, performs duties 511-6-1.03(2)(a)-(n)(p),(q) - responsibility of pic (pf) | 4 | Observed that the person in charge failed in the responsibilities of ensuring that safe food handling practices were in use as evidenced by hot holding temperatures, food protected from outside contamination and sanitized food contact surfaces.RCA: PIC and ServSafe manager is responsible to ensure that food safety practices and are being followed. |
| 2A |
food stored covered 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(iv) - packaged & unpackaged food, food stored covered(c) | 4 | Observed bags of spices left open. Observed margarine in walk-in cooler not wrapped. Observed loose bread in kitchen not tightly wrapped to prevent contamination.RCA: Food packages shall be in good condition and protect the integrity of the contents so that the food is not exposed to adulteration or potential contaminants. |
| 2B |
food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized 511-6-1.05(7)(b) - food contact surfaces and utensils - cleaning frequency (p, c) Repeat | 4 | Observed buildup of mildew-like substance in the interior of ice machine. No sanitizer in 3-compartment sink being used as inmates are actively washing dishes.RCA: PIC shall burn ice, wash inside machine and sanitize before refilling ice. Told PIC to get bleach or QAC as a sanitize in order properly sanitize the dishes. |
| 1B |
proper hot holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p) | 9 | Observed fish (122F) and chicken(98F)to be sitting on counter and it was below 135F.RCA: Told PIC that call hot holding items must be 135F or above while hot holding as well as sitting inside warmer instead of sitting on the counter. |
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(a) - good repair & proper adjustment (c) | 1 | Observed damaged wall in walk-in cooler. Observed gaskets/seals on cold holding unit in poor repair with mildew visible.RCA: Equipment shall be maintained in a state of repair |
| 15B |
warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, used; test strips 511-6-1.05(6)(p) - warewashing equipment, determining chemical sanitizer concentration (pf) Repeat | 1 | Observed that facility did not have chemical test kit when using chemical sanitizer (quat) at three-compartment sink. Observed that facility did not have high heat testing method available for high heat dishwasher in main kitchen.RCA: Facility shall obtain test strips for quaternary ammonium chemical sanitizer testing and non-reversible method of testing high heat sanitization. |
| 15C |
nonfood-contact surfaces clean 511-6-1.05(7)(a)2,3 - equipment, food/nonfood-contact surfaces, and utensils, food-contact surfaces of cooking equipment & nonfood-contact surfaces free of accumulations (c) Repeat | 1 | Observed food debris on racks where trays were stored. Observed build up on gaskets of walk-in coolers. Mildew on gaskets and walk-in cooler racks.RCA: Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) Repeat | 2 | Observed a 3 compartment-sink with a leaking pipe. Observed a 2-compartment sink in which the hot water was unable to turn on or off. Observed a handwashing sink in mess hall with a loose spigot. Observed a back-up mop sink in the mess hall dishpit.RCA: A plumbing system shall be repaired according to law; and maintained in good repair. |
| 17C |
physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean 511-6-1.07(5)(a),(b) - good repair, physical facilities maintained; cleaning, frequency & restrictions, cleaned often enough to keep them clean (c) Repeat | 1 | Observed mold-like growth on ceiling tiles in entire kitchen area. Observed peeling ceiling tiles in dish area. Observed rust and corrosion on ceiling tiles sporadically in entire kitchen area. Missing ceiling tiles/ hole in ceiling in mess hall area.RCA: All physical facilities shall be maintained in good repair. The physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean and by methods that prevent contamination of food products. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) Repeat | 3 | Observed live flies and roaches in kitchen. Observed dead mouse floating in backed-up mop water in mess hall dishpit.RCA: Facility shall increase treatment schedules from licensed pest control operators. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(2)(m) - outer openings protected (c) | 3 | Observed exit door with a large gap under. Observed other exit door damaged with gaps visible.RCA: Outer openings of a food service establishment shall be protected against the entry of insects and rodents by: Solid, self-closing, tight-fitting doors. |
October 16, 2025 — Score 80
Routine · Inspector: Andrea Carrasco
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C |
food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated 511-6-1.04(1) - safe, unadulterated and honestly presented (p) Corrected | 9 | Observed 3 boxes of whole cucumbers from September that were molded and actively spoiling and dripping onto lower stored boxes of food.COS CA: PIC had boxes of cucumbers discarded. |
| 2B |
food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized 511-6-1.05(7)(a)1 - equipment, food-contact surfaces,& utensils (pf) | 4 | Observed buildup of mildew-like substance in the interior of ice machine.RCA: PIC shall burn ice, wash inside machine and sanitize before refilling ice. |
| 15B |
warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, used; test strips 511-6-1.05(3)(h),(i),(j) - temperature measuring device, manual warewashing; sanitizing solutions, testing device (pf) | 1 | Observed that facility did not have chemical test kit when using chemical sanitizer (quat) at three-compartment sink.RCA: Facility shall obtain test strips for quaternary ammonium chemical sanitizer testing. |
| 15C |
nonfood-contact surfaces clean 511-6-1.05(7)(d) - nonfood-contact surfaces (c) | 1 | Observed food debris on racks where trays were stored. Observed build up on gaskets of walk-in coolers.RCA: Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) | 2 | Observed a handwashing sink with a leaking pipe. Observed a 3 compartment-sink with a leaking pipe. Observed a 2-compartment sink in which the hot water was unable to turn off. Observed a handwashing sink in bakery area with loose spigot.RCA: A plumbing system shall be repaired according to law; and maintained in good repair. |
| 17C |
physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean 511-6-1.07(5)(a),(b) - good repair, physical facilities maintained; cleaning, frequency & restrictions, cleaned often enough to keep them clean (c) | 1 | Observed mold-like growth on ceiling tiles in entire kitchen area. Observed peeling ceiling tiles in dish area. Observed rust and corrosion on ceiling tiles sporadically in entire kitchen area.RCA: All physical facilities shall be maintained in good repair. The physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean and by methods that prevent contamination of food products. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) | 3 | Observed live flies and roaches in kitchen.RCA: Facility shall increase treatment schedules from licensed pest control operators. |
February 27, 2025 — Score 87
Routine · Inspector: Andrea Carrasco
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C |
proper cooling time and temperature 511-6-1.04(6)(d) - cooling (p) Corrected | 9 | Observed spaghetti that had been prepared 2/25 that had an internal temperature of 44F. PIC stated that spaghetti had been kept in walk-in cooler since preparation date.COS CA: PIC discarded spaghetti. Cooked Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food (list food item here) not cooled from 135F to 41F within 6 hours. |
| 12A |
contamination prevented during food preparation, storage, display 511-6-1.04(4)(q) - food storage (c) | 3 | Observed prepared food on floor, observed bag of flour on floor.COS CA: PIC moved food off of floor. food shall be protected from contamination by storing the food In a clean, dry location; Where it is not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination; and At least 6 inches (15 cm) above the floor. |
| 17D |
adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used 511-6-1.07(3)(f) - lighting intensity, adequate in food prep, storage & service areas (c) | 1 | Observed burnt out lights under hoods and within walk-in cooler.RCA: The light intensity shall be at least 10 foot candles (108 lux) at a distance of 30 inches (75 cm) above the floor, in walk-in refrigeration units and dry food storage areas and in other areas and rooms during periods of cleaning; At least 50 foot candles (540 lux) at a surface where a food service employee is working with food or working with utensils or equipment such as knives, slicers, grinders, or saws where employee safety is a factor. |
October 25, 2023 — Score 84
Routine · Inspector: Darby Clark
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D |
adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible 511-6-1.07(3)(b) - hand drying provision (pf) Corrected | 4 | Observed hand sink in the bakery room to not have paper towels.COS/CA: PIC placed paper towels at hand sink. Hand Drying Provision. Each handwashing sink or group of adjacent handwashing sinks shall be provided with: Individual, disposable towels. |
| 2D |
adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible 511-6-1.06(2)(o) - using a handwashing sink- operation & maintenance (pf) | 4 | Observed hand sink in the meat room and the bakery room to be used as a dump sink.RCA: A handwashing facility may not be used for purposes other than handwashing. |
| 1C |
food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated 511-6-1.04(3)(e) - package integrity (pf) | 9 | Observed multiple boxes containing apple juice and fruit in the walk in to have mold growing on the outside of the box.RCA: Food packages shall be in good condition and protect the integrity of the contents so that the food is not exposed to adulteration or potential contaminants. |
| 11C |
approved thawing methods used 511-6-1.04(6)(c) - thawing (c) Corrected | 3 | Observed chicken being dethawed in standing water.COS/CA: PIC turned on the water to continue dethawing the chicken. Time/temperature control for safety food shall be thawed: Completely submerged under running water: At a water temperature of 70°F (21°C) or below. |
Recent reports (24)
Source-attributed observations and allegations from news coverage and reports submitted to GPS. Each entry credits its source.
- ALLEGATION According to News.google.com Recorded by GPS: May 14, 2026Workers and inmates allege a human rights crisis is occurring at Coastal State Prison.
"Workers and inmates report human rights crisis at Coastal State Prison"
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to News.google.com Recorded by GPS: May 13, 2026Five inmates were indicted for committing a violent assault at Coastal State Prison.
"5 inmates indicted for violent assault at Coastal State Prison"
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to News.google.com Recorded by GPS: May 13, 2026A Coastal State Prison employee allegedly traded with inmates without the consent of the warden or superintendent.
"Coastal State Prison employee arrested, charged with trading with inmates without consent of warden or superintendent"
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 21, 2025A lawsuit alleges five inmates stabbed Kion E. Parks to death at Coastal State Prison.
"a lawsuit alleges five inmates stabbed Parks to death."
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 21, 2025A lawsuit by Rufus Ramon Lee's mother alleges that the lock on his cell didn't work, allowing assailants from other cells and dorms to reach and kill him.
"A lawsuit by Lee's mother alleges that the lock on his cell didn't work, allowing assailants from other cells and dorms to reach him."
Read source →
Timeline (49)
Source Articles (18)
Former leadership
Officials who previously held leadership roles at this facility.
| Role | Name | Tenure | Deaths this facility / career |
|---|---|---|---|
| WARDEN 2 (facility lead) | Glenn, Phillip | 2014-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 95 / 95 |
| Warden (facility lead) | Pineiro, Aaron Thomas | 2022-01-01 → 2024-06-15 | 40 / 84 |
| Deputy Warden (facility deputy) | Johnson-Williams, Colette C | 2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22 | — / — |
| Clinical Chaplain (specialty lead) | Valcourt, Theodore P | 2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22 | — / — |