JOHNSON STATE PRISON
Facility Information
- Original Design Capacity
- 500 (at 307% capacity)
- Bed Capacity
- 1,612 beds
- Current Population
- 1,534
- Active Lifers
- 202 (13.2% of population) · Oct 2026 GDC report
- Life Without Parole
- 1 (0.1%)
What the courts held in Brown v. Plata, and how Georgia compares →
- Address
- 290 Donovan-Harrison Rd, Wrightsville, GA 31096
- Phone
- (478) 864-4100
- Fax
- (478) 864-4104
- Mailing Address
- P.O. Box 344, Wrightsville, GA 31096
- County
- Johnson County
- Opened
- 1992
- Operator
- GDC (Georgia Dept. of Corrections)
Security Classification
Last updated: September 23, 2026
250 of the 1,532 people held here are classified Close security (16.3%), as of September 23, 2026.
| Security level | People | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Close | 250 | 16.3% |
| Medium | 1,192 | 77.8% |
| Minimum | 89 | 5.8% |
| Standard | 1 | 0.1% |
| Total | 1,532 |
Earlier count (undated table, produced October 22, 2025): 163 of 1,573 Close (10.4%).
Source: Georgia Department of Corrections records produced to GPS under the Open Records Act (R031471-090226, R024615-101925). A person's security level is GDC's classification of that person, which can differ from the prison's own designation.
Following Johnson State Prison?
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) | Beland, Ryan | 2026-06-16 | 1 / 13 |
| Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment (facility deputy) | Davis-Bragg, Chabara L | 2022-01-01 | 54 / 54 |
| Deputy Warden of Security (facility deputy) | Sailem, Tiffany C | 2025-04-01 | 24 / 24 |
| Deputy Warden of Security (facility deputy) | Carr, Willie E | 2024-11-01 | 23 / 23 |
| Deputy Warden of Administration (facility deputy) | Newkirk, Matthew | 2026-08-16 | — / — |
About
Last updated October 11, 2026.(DS)
Johnson State Prison: A Medium-Security Prison That Stopped Behaving Like One
Johnson State Prison sits in Wrightsville, in Johnson County, a medium-security facility for adult men that opened in 1992 after construction the year before. Its original design capacity was 500. Its current rated capacity is 1,612, and GPS's facility records put the population at 1,534 — roughly 95 percent of rated capacity, and more than three times what the plant was built to hold. The facility has 15 housing units, spanning general-population dorms, mental-health supportive-living units, and segregation. It ran for a period as a juvenile boot camp before reverting to adult custody. Today it provides labor details to local governments alongside standard education, counseling, and faith-based programming. It has also produced, in GPS's mortality registry, 88 deaths since January 1, 2020 — a floor, not a ceiling, since GDC reports deaths roughly two months late.
The Henegar Killing and the Lawsuit That Followed
The case that most fully documents what happens inside Johnson is the October 16, 2021 death of David Lamar Henegar, 44. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Henegar was beaten to death over approximately five hours by his cellmate, Antone Hinton-Leonard, and was found with a broken neck and ribs, a fractured nose and breastbone, a torn lung and liver, and brain and scalp hemorrhages. The AJC's homicide coverage recorded the cause as manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
A lawsuit filed by Betty Wade and David Jacob Henegar against three corrections officers and a prison manager alleged that staff could have prevented the death and failed to protect him. The complaint, as the AJC described it, alleged that Henegar was housed with a mentally ill cellmate who had previously attacked him; that neighboring prisoners screamed for help and called for officers to intervene while the attack went on for hours; and that staff failed to act on repeated reports about Hinton-Leonard's mental health problems and a prior choking incident a week before the fatal attack. The AJC further reported the allegation that prison officials kept Henegar in custody past his scheduled release date because of an administrative delay, leaving him exposed to the attack. Hinton-Leonard was charged with murder and, as of April 2026 reporting, was awaiting trial with the criminal case scheduled to begin later that month.
The state's own risk-management ledger, obtained through open records, records a $4,000,000 liability payout to Betty Wade for the Estate of David Lamar Henegar, tied to Johnson State Prison and the 2021 incident. It is the largest of nine Johnson-related settlements in the ledger, which together run from a $1,500 payment in the Antione Caldwell matter (2020) to $1,449,640 in the Jerry Brown matter (2020), $400,000 in the Ucollos Owens matter (2015), $100,000 in the Andrick Jackson matter (2023), $40,000 in the Cleveland D. Dunn matter (2018), $2,000 in the Larry Singletary matter (2016), and $1,500 in the Caldwell matter.
Deaths GPS Has Recorded Since 2020
GPS's mortality registry counts 88 deaths at Johnson State Prison since January 1, 2020 — 13 in 2020, 14 in 2021, 6 in 2022, 15 in 2023, 15 in 2024, 18 in 2025, and 7 so far in 2026. By cause, 38 are classified Unknown/Pending, 20 Natural/Medical, 13 Homicide, 8 Other, 6 Suicide, 2 Accident, and 1 Overdose. The full list is maintained at https://gps.press/georgia-prison-deaths/facility/johnson-state-prison/.
The 25 most recent entries in that registry include:
- Ernest Perez died June 23, 2026, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Homicide. He was 61.
- Martrese Jamon Mckay died April 18, 2026, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Suicide. He was 30.
- Dale Way died March 28, 2026, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 76.
- Michael Elias Peschel died March 14, 2026, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Homicide. He was 36.
- Anthony Shivers died February 11, 2026, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Overdose. He was 41.
- Joseph Lamar Sanders died January 27, 2026, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Homicide. He was 54.
- Phillip Lamar Byrd died January 18, 2026, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Homicide. He was 46.
- Calvin R Norwood died December 30, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 72.
- Marc Charles Neermann died November 2, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 69.
- Roger James died October 29, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 68.
- Aubrie Henley died October 5, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 69.
- Jarvis Dontez Walker died September 26, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 39.
- Matthew Glenn Maynard died September 14, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 65.
- Loy Alpheus Iii Windham died July 31, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 54.
- Larry Sherall Richards died July 29, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 86.
- Russell Scott Carter died July 23, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 42.
- Justin Haley Freeman died July 20, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 44.
- Robert Glenn Tanner died July 15, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 56.
- Joseph Wayne Clayton died July 12, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 32.
- Dewayne Bess died July 10, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 63.
- Robert Joseph Pruett died June 26, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 61.
- John Charles Rhoten died June 15, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 54.
- Paul Russell Brewster died June 9, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Homicide. He was 48.
- Robert Barnwell died May 4, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending. He was 80.
- Justin Brandon Hulett died February 12, 2025, at Johnson State Prison; the registry lists the cause as Homicide. He was 38.
Earlier deaths documented in news coverage include Kenneth Adam Robinson, 50, who died August 10, 2024 — the AJC reported that incident report data showed a homicide but the death certificate had not been received; Donald Prescott Lee, 41, who died November 16, 2023, from blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso; Michael Page, 53, who died June 29, 2023, with the manner ruled a homicide but the cause not stated; and Jerry Lee Brown, 61, who died November 12, 2020, from stab wounds to the head and blunt force injury to the face. The Brown death corresponds to the $1,449,640 settlement in the state ledger.
Kitchen Conditions, Inspection Scores, and What the Scores Miss
Johnson's food service has drawn sustained attention from both state inspectors and GPS's own reporting. The Georgia Department of Public Health has inspected the facility repeatedly, and the record is uneven. On December 11, 2023, the facility scored 64 — a failing grade — with nine violations including the person in charge not demonstrating knowledge or performing duties, inadequate handwashing facilities, and food not separated and protected. A follow-up inspection on December 20, 2023 scored 67, still failing, with violations for food separation, cold holding temperatures, and cleanable surfaces. The facility then scored 91 on a July 2023 follow-up, 75 in June 2023, 86 in March 2024, 96 in December 2024, 80 in March 2025, 88 in October 2025, and 86 in June 2026 — six violations cited in that most recent routine inspection, including food-contact surfaces not cleaned and sanitized and toxic substances not properly identified, stored, or used.
GPS's systemic reporting has documented why those scores can be misleading. In a pattern GPS has documented across GDC kitchens, tray-sanitizing dishwashers sit broken for sustained periods, roach and rodent infestation persists in kitchen and serving areas, and meals are served on visibly contaminated trays — a pattern corroborated by a Coastal State Prison resident's account and by The Marshall Project's May 16, 2026 investigation of Georgia prison food, which independently reported rats in kitchens, insects in food, moldy trays, and visible malnutrition across Georgia facilities. GPS's analysis holds that the pattern is hidden from DPH scores 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. High DPH scores at GDC facilities coexist with sustained witness reports of equipment failure and food contamination; that contradiction is the analytical center of GPS's investigation "Dunked, Stacked, and Served."
At Johnson specifically, GPS reporting describes accounts of contaminated food trays — photographs showing dark residue along compartment seams and brown-black buildup adhering to tray edges — and of incarcerated people becoming ill as a result. Physical evidence submitted to GPS indicates unsanitary food service conditions at the facility, including trays with visible contamination or residue in multiple compartments and unsanitary conditions on food service equipment. A public social media report included photographic documentation of the same conditions, and a separate case (Case #51) regarding food safety and unsanitary trays was opened on April 10, 2026, following a Facebook report from Samantha Graves Della Rocca.
GPS records show seven sanitation-failure signals at this facility over the past twelve months, spanning March through May 2026 and rated critical to moderate, with the Georgia Department of Public Health named as the external body involved. Four food-quality complaints were recorded in the same window.
Staffing, Classification Drift, and the Wider System
Johnson's violence record sits inside a systemwide structural failure that GPS has documented and that federal authorities have independently confirmed. Officer vacancies in Georgia's prisons have run between 49.3 percent and 60 percent systemwide for multiple years, against a national standard of no more than 10 percent. The October 2024 DOJ findings letter 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." Former GDC assistant warden Russell Zirkle, speaking on the record in a timestamped interview, described Hancock State Prison and Valdosta State Prison as running 70 to 80 percent officer vacancy rates — testimony GPS reported in "Two Commanders Say Georgia Hides Its Prison Staffing Crisis." Tyler Ryals, a former GDC sergeant forced out in 2024 after whistleblowing, told GPS he had personally been the only security person on the entire Telfair compound of roughly 1,250 maximum-security inmates.
That staffing collapse interacts with classification drift — the documented pattern of medium-security facilities housing close-security populations without the staffing or infrastructure the higher classification implies. GPS has documented classification drift across Georgia's medium and close security prisons as of October 27, 2025, and published a report titled "The Classification Crisis: How Four Medium Security Prisons Are Killing People." Johnson, rated medium and built for 500, holds 1,534 people in a plant of 15 housing units.
GPS records show six due-process-violation signals at Johnson over the past twelve months, five assault-by-inmate signals, four mental-health-crisis-unattended signals, three family-safety-concern signals, three medical-neglect signals, and three staff-misconduct signals involving unnamed staff. In April 2026 alone, GPS recorded four death-in-custody signals, three assault-by-inmate signals, three food-quality complaints, and three sanitation-failure signals at the facility.
A New Infirmary, a New Warden, and an Old Escape
Not everything in the record is a failure. The Georgia Department of Corrections held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 21, 2023, for a new 4,800-square-foot Medical Intensive Infirmary at Johnson State Prison, designed by NELSON Worldwide — part of a statewide modular construction program that also installed ModCorr MaxMod housing units at Dodge, Lee, Montgomery, and Hays state prisons, adding a total of 524 beds. GPS's own reporting on that program, published in Spanish and English, noted that the General Assembly appropriated $86 million for modular units sold as temporary "swing space" while GDC now calls them 524 permanent beds, and that the builder is owned by the Galveston family behind one of America's largest border-wall contractors. That reporting carries an unresolved fact-check status and should be given no evidentiary weight here.
The facility's leadership has turned over recently. Ryan Beland has served as warden since June 16, 2026. His deputies are Tiffany C. Sailem, Deputy Warden of Security since April 2025; Willie E. Carr, Deputy Warden of Security since November 2024; Chabara L. Davis-Bragg, Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment since January 2022; and Matthew Newkirk, Deputy Warden of Administration since August 2026. An earlier GDC record listed Kochelle Watson as warden.
One further item in the public record: the AJC reported an escape from Johnson State Prison on April 5, 2023, and noted that GDC issued no news release about it.
Sources
This analysis draws on Georgia Department of Public Health food-service inspection records for Johnson State Prison; the Georgia Department of Corrections; the GA DOAS Risk Management settlement ledger obtained through open records; reporting by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, including its homicide-tracking coverage and its reporting on the Henegar litigation; The Marshall Project's May 16, 2026 investigation of Georgia prison food; GPS's own mortality registry and intelligence records; GPS reporting on classification drift and on the state's modular prison construction program; and inmate, family, and anonymous accounts collected by GPS staff.
Mortality Statistics
95 deaths documented at this facility from 2020 to present.
Deaths by Year
- 2026: 13
- 2025: 19
- 2024: 15
- 2023: 15
- 2022: 6
- 2021: 14
- 2020: 13
County Public Health Department
Food service and sanitation at JOHNSON STATE PRISON fall under the jurisdiction of the Johnson 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
-
82 Hilton Holton Street
Wrightsville, GA 31096 - Phone
- (478) 864-3542
- johnson.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.
October 12, 2026
RE: Request for Unannounced Public Health Inspection of Food Service Operations at JOHNSON 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 JOHNSON STATE PRISON, located in Johnson 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 2026 | 86 | Routine | |
| Oct 8, 2025 | 88 | Routine | |
| Mar 3, 2025 | 80 | Routine | |
| Dec 4, 2024 | 96 | Routine | |
| Mar 6, 2024 | 86 | Routine | |
| Dec 20, 2023 | 67 | Followup | |
| Dec 11, 2023 | 64 | Routine | |
| Jul 24, 2023 | 91 | Followup | |
| Jun 27, 2023 | 75 | Routine |
June 22, 2026 — Score 86
Routine · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2B |
food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized 511-6-1.05(6)(n) - manual and mechanical warewashing equipment, chemical sanitization-temperature, ph, concentration, hardness (p,pf) | 4 | Sanitizing solution was not reading proper concentration levels wen tested. Read zero. When asked staff and PIC about sanitizer they stated none was delivered from Chemical today. Discussed with staff and PIC that before they start washing they need to make sure they have sanitizer on site and that it is tested and at the right strength before use and went through chemical mixing process with staff. Also. Bulk ice machine was observed with mold on interior and on outside edging. Ice machine needs to be cleaned prior to further use. Note-- Ice machine appeared to be not working at full capacity (Ice watered over) and filters were discussed about needing to be changed and keeping extras on site for boil water events. |
| 2B |
toxic substances properly identified, stored, used 511-6-1.07(6)(b) - working containers, common name (pf) | 4 | Observed several bottles throughout kitchen with unknown substances in them 1 spray bottle, 1 bulk spice bottle with orange liquid and 1 water bottle with yellow liquid without any form of labels. All spray bottles and or in use- working bottles need to have common name of substance in bottles located on them. |
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(a) - good repair & proper adjustment (c) Repeat | 1 | Multiple equipment pieces are observed out of order - 4 Freezers, 3 small and 1 main walk in freezer. The main meat freezer observed to be potentially going down-- loud clanking sound in condenser and temperature was observed at 10 degrees which is far above normal for this unit. All equipment needs to be repaired and in good working order. Also wash room Hobart machine part is in order using the 3 sinks on dish line but machine is still out of order. |
| 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 | Interior of several ovens were heavily encrusted with food on food racks as well as non food contact surfaces- door closure. Items need to be cleaned and degreased accordingly. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) Repeat | 2 | Plumbing leak observed at ware wash machine dish sink was bound together with a towel to stop leak. Also, drain lines from 3 compartment dish sink for large pots was also observed bound with cloth and tape need to be address and fixed properly. |
| 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 | ceiling have several holes, that need to be fixed and repaired. this could be a potential contribution of water leaking into kitchen. |
October 8, 2025 — Score 88
Routine · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12A |
contamination prevented during food preparation, storage, display 511-6-1.04(4)(q) - food storage (c) Corrected | 3 | Observed uncovered pans of macaroni (uncovered due to cooling process) sitting directly on top of macaroni food stacked in a cold hold box in WIC which could lead to potential source of cross contamination. Also observed with bologna stacked on top of uncovered bologna. Also, Observed bag of wheat flower sitting on floor in kitchen. All items were placed in proper locations and stacked with room in between. |
| 14A |
in-use utensils: properly stored 511-6-1.04(4)(k) - in-use utensils, between-use storage (c) | 1 | Scoop at ice machine observed sitting on top of ice machine panel and the panel was dirty . Ice scoops need to be stored in a clean protected location in between use. |
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(q)1&3 - good repair & calibration (c) Repeat | 1 | Hot hold food wells line 1 and line2 are not working. Multiple equipment out of order - 4 ovens, 4 wic, 1 freezer. All equipment needs to be repaired and in good working order. Also wash room Hobart machine part is in order using back up 3 compartment sinks for lg pots. |
| 16A |
hot and cold water available; adequate pressure 511-6-1.06(1)(g),(h) - water supply, capacity; pressure (pf) | 2 | Hand wash sink in main kitchen did not have hot water running to sink. All handwasher sinks must have hot water availability. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) Repeat | 2 | lumbing sink 1 out of order handwash sink, drain lines from 3 compartment dish sink need to be address they are not draining properly. And 2 compartment prep sink on the east side faucet is not working. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) | 3 | Observed Roaches in kitchen facility. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled by: 1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments 2. Routinely inspecting premises for pests 3. Using methods of pest control This has been an on going problem |
March 3, 2025 — Score 80
Routine · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D |
adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible 511-6-1.07(3)(a) - handwashing cleanser, availability (pf) | 4 | No paper towels or hand soap available at handwashing sink. All handwashing sinks shall always have (paper towels) hand drying provisions and hand cleansers available at each handwashing sink. |
| 1B |
proper hot holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p) Corrected | 9 | Fish Sticks that were prepared for lunch service were located on the hot hold line temped at 136, 96, 94 103 degrees. All food being hot held for service needs to be held at 135 degrees and above. Hot hold food wells line 1 and line2 are not working. Discussed with 1st shift manager reheating fish sticks prior to service. Food reheated to 167 |
| 1C |
proper cooling time and temperature 511-6-1.04(6)(d) - cooling (p) | 9 | Observed cheese sandwiches, prepped in the morning along with a full box of cheese sitting in a non working cold hold unit. COS- Food was discarded on site at time of inspection. When asked the PIC about the items, she was unaware they were in there as the unit stays locked. |
| 12B |
personal cleanliness 511-6-1.03(5)(i) - clothing (c) Corrected | 3 | observed sweat shirt, and rags in 2 separate locations sitting on top of cooking equipment that was in use. and on food (rice and peanut butter) COS staff removed items from prep lines and placed in designated location |
| 12C |
wiping cloths: properly used and stored 511-6-1.04(4)(m) - wiping cloths, use limitation (c) | 3 | Observed wiping clothes in several different location sitting on prep tables etc. and not in current use. When not in Use wipe clothes need to be stored in sanitizing buckets or in Laundry basket |
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(q)1&3 - good repair & calibration (c) Repeat | 1 | Hot hold food wells line 1 and line2 are not working. Multiple equipment out of order - 4 ovens, 4 wic, 1 freezer. All equipment needs to be repaired and in good working order. Also wash room Hobart machine part is in order using back up 3 compartment sinks for lg pots. |
| 16C |
sewage and waste water properly disposed 511-6-1.06(4)(c) - backflow prevention (p) | 2 | Hose nozzle observed submerged in a bucket of water near the tilt skillet. Hose is used to clean floor but also tilt skillet. C. A: Hose needs to have proper separation from being submerged in water due to back siphonage and the hose needs to have a hose reel and be kept off the floor when not in use. |
December 4, 2024 — Score 96
Routine · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(a) - good repair & proper adjustment (c) | 1 | Multiple equipment out of order - 4 ovens, 4 wic, 1 freezer. All equipment needs to be repaired and in good working order. Also wash room Hobart machine part is in order using back up 3 compartment sinks for lg pots. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) | 2 | Plumbing sink 1 out of order handwash sink, drain lines being worked on for main kitchen both sides handwash sink 2 went down this morning. |
| 17D |
adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used 511-6-1.07(2)(i) - light bulbs, protective shielding (c) | 1 | Lights above food in food storage areas (dry storage) freezer need to be shatter proof bulbs and or have protective shields. |
March 6, 2024 — Score 86
Routine · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | certified food protection manager | 4 | NO CFSM in the facility. Food service establishments shall have a certified food safety manager to ensure food safety is being managed. CA: PIC/Nutrition director is going to take the class aug 8-10 they got a food handlers and were told to get a food managers certificate. |
| 2B |
food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized 511-6-1.05(6)(n) - manual and mechanical warewashing equipment, chemical sanitization-temperature, ph, concentration, hardness (p,pf) Corrected | 4 | Observed ware washing process not being completed in the proper sequence and the sanitizing solution was not reading proper concentration levels wen tested. Read zero. Discussed and went through chemical mixing process with staff and COS the Sanitizer Solution in the 3 compartment sink |
| 11A |
proper cooling methods used: adequate equipment for temperature control 511-6-1.04(6)(e) - cooling methods (pf, c) | 3 | Observed potato salad and turkey recently prepped (observed both on the Service line)-- These Items were not adequately cooled prior to being placed on the food service line for lunch service despite having adequate time to cool product. Staff removed items from serving line and too them to Walk In Freezer to rapidly cool |
| 12A |
contamination prevented during food preparation, storage, display 511-6-1.04(4)(z) - miscellaneous sources of contamination (c) | 3 | Observed kitchen crew dropping repeatedly a bag of bulk ice on the floor to break up the ice. The floor has floor drains (in use daily) Source for cross contamination as the ice was being used as a cooling parameter for food items on the service line. PIC told staff to go rinse off the bag of ice. I then explained where / how a better technique to use for breaking the ice and the potential source of contamination from the bag of ice ripping and ice touching floor. |
December 20, 2023 — Score 67
Followup · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1A |
food separated and protected 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) - packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c) Repeat | 9 | Several bulk items - oil, flour rice bran flakes canned goods-- all observed with holes in bags rat dropping and pee sprayed on bags in storage facility. Items need to be lifted off the floor, properly wrapped and area needs to be cleaned and repaired due to rats and roaches. Also discussed with multiple wardens and staff protective - corrective actions about the food being wrapped with plastic wrap and being stored higher off the ground also, they will be moving flour etc to large cold hold storage. Staff has been very proactive and combating this issue they are doing great at making provisions due to current situation. |
| 1A |
proper cold holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; cold holding (p) Repeat | 9 | Multiple foods cold holding temped above 41°F. All tcs items shall be cold held at 41°F or below. COS: Discarded during inspection. Items not cooled properly from last night. Discussed cooing methods with PIC. Walk in unit 1 was fixed (replaced fan and compressor). The second walk in cooler was also fixed both the fan and the compressor and then when staff went in to unit this morning it was not working again. Walk in freezer was fixed. Several reach in units were not working properly. |
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(a) - good repair & proper adjustment (c) Repeat | 1 | East side kitchen hot serving line out of order/ not working-- unit needs to be repaired as needed. 2 Cold hold units 1- on each serving line. Also Ware wash machine 1 , 5 cooking ovens, 1 tilting skillet, 1 cooking kettle, 1 griddle, 1 smaller freezer unit, 1 bulk ice machine are not working- C. Action all items are in need of repair and or replacement as needed. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) Repeat | 2 | Multiple sinks out of order due to leaking or just not turning on at all. All plumbing systems shall be maintained in good repair. Toe tap or foot pedals for hand wash sink using both hard to get toe taps to work...Hot water needs to be available at all sinks. |
| 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 | Floors walls and ceiling have several holes, tiles broken that need to be fixed and repaired. this could be a potential contribution to the rat and roach infestation. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) Repeat | 3 | Observed multiple RATS and Roaches in kitchen facility. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled by: 1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments 2. Routinely inspecting premises for pests 3. Using methods of pest control This has been an on going problem with little to no change- cages that were being ordered last time still have not been put into place- Pest control company allowed to come on site and start properly treating rat and roach infestation. Bait boxes were observed set out for rats and gel treatment was in place for roach treatment. They are still being observed but they are working to correct issues. |
December 11, 2023 — Score 64
Routine · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| 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 | Person-in-charge not performing duties; not ensuring or monitoring time/temperature control for safety foods (TCS) to maintain proper cold holding temperatures. PIC not ensuring prisoners are wearing gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods. The PIC did not ensure handwash soap was at each handwash station. COS - Went over every item with the PIC and gave information on where to find the food manual. |
| 2D |
adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible 511-6-1.07(3)(a) - handwashing cleanser, availability (pf) | 4 | No paper towels or hand soap available at handwashing sink. All handwashing sinks shall always have (paper towels) hand drying provisions and hand cleansers available at each handwashing sink. When discussed with 1st shift manager he said he did not know where the key was to unlock the soap dispensers to add soap |
| 1A |
food separated and protected 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) - packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c) | 9 | Food sitting directly on the floor Large quantity of canned goods in boxes-- boxes were observed wet. Several bulk items - oil, flour rice bran flakes canned goods-- all observed with holes in bags rat dropping and pee sprayed on bags in storage facility. Items need to be lifted off the floor, properly wrapped and area needs to be cleaned and repaired due to rats and roaches. |
| 1A |
proper cold holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; cold holding (p) | 9 | Multiple foods cold holding temped above 41°F. All tcs items shall be cold held at 41°F or below. COS: Discarded during inspection. Items not cooled properly from last night. Discussed cooing methods with PIC. |
| 1B |
proper hot holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p) | 9 | Fish Sticks that were prepared for lunch service were located in hot boxes temped at 110, 118 124 and 132 degrees. All food being hot held for service needs to be held at 135 degrees and above. Discussed with 1st shift manager reheating fish sticks prior to service. |
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(a) - good repair & proper adjustment (c) | 1 | East side kitchen hot serving line out of order/ not working-- unit needs to be repaired as needed. Also Ware wash machine 1 , 5 cooking ovens, 1 tilting skillet, 1 cooking kettle, 1 griddle, 1 smaller freezer unit, 1 bulk ice machine are not working-C. Action all items are in need of repair and or replacement as needed. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) Repeat | 2 | Multiple sinks out of order due to leaking or just not turning on at all. All plumbing systems shall be maintained in good repair. |
| 17C | physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean Repeat | 1 | Floors walls and ceiling have several holes, tiles broken that need to be fixed and repaired. this could be a potential contribution to the rat and roach infestation. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) Repeat | 3 | Observed multiple RATS and Roaches in kitchen facility. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled by: 1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments 2. Routinely inspecting premises for pests 3. Using methods of pest control This has been an on going problem with little to no change- cages that were being ordered last time still have not been put into place- An SOP needs to be discussed with the Prison Warden and corrective measures need to occur. |
July 24, 2023 — Score 91
Followup · Inspector: Jaime Williams
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) Repeat | 2 | Multiple sinks out of order due to leaking. All plumbing systems shall be 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 | Walk in freezer has a build up of ice on floor (not on food) due to condenser not functioning properly. All physical facilities shall be maintained clean and in good repair. CA: Maintenance called for both the units and plumbing issues. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(2)(k) - insect control devices (c) Repeat | 3 | OBserved multiple flies and rates in facility. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled by: 1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments 2. Routinely inspecting premises for pests 3. Using methods of pest control 4. Eliminate harboring conditions CA: Pest control is being put out, and maintenance has been contacted regarding rats. All food compromised by the rats is discarded. |
June 27, 2023 — Score 75
Routine · Inspector: Madeline McCullers
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2B |
certified food protection manager 511-6-1.03(3)(a) - food safety manager certification (pf) | 4 | NO CFSM in the faciliy. Food service establishments shall have a certified food safety manager to ensure food safety is being managed. CA: PIC/Nutrition director is going to take the class aug 8-10. |
| 2D |
adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible 511-6-1.07(3)(b) - hand drying provision (pf) | 4 | No paper towels or hand soap avaliable at handwashing sink. All handwashing sinks shall always have (paper towels) hand drying provisions and hand cleansers avaliable at each handwashing sink. COS: Added during inspection. |
| 1A |
proper cold holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; cold holding (p) Corrected Repeat | 9 | Multiple foods cold holding temped above 41°F. All tcs items shall be cold held at 41°F or below. COS: Discarded during inspection. Items not cooled properly from last night. Discussed cooing methods with PIC. |
| 1B |
proper hot holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p) Corrected Repeat | 9 | Corn and beef//Taco salad hot holding on steam table temped at 110°F. All tcs items being hot held shall be maintained at 135°F or above. COS: Reheated during inspection. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) | 2 | Multiple sinks out of order due to leaking. All plumbing systems shall be 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 | Walk in freezer has abuild up of ice on floor (not on food) due to condenser not funcitoning properly. All physical facilities shall be maintained clean and in good repair. CA: Maintanence called for both the units and plumbing issues. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) | 3 | OBserved multiple flies and rates in facility. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled by: 1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments 2. Routinely inspecting premises for pests 3. Using methods of pest control 4. Eliminate harboring conditions CA: Pest control is being put out, and maintanence has been contacted regarding rats. All food compromised by the rats is discarded. |
Recent reports (16)
Source-attributed observations and allegations from news coverage and reports submitted to GPS. Each entry credits its source.
- ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 21, 2025A lawsuit alleges that officers failed to intervene despite neighboring prisoners screaming for help while Henegar was being choked and stomped by his cellmate over the course of hours.
"Neighboring prisoners allegedly heard his screams and called for officers to intervene, but none did, the lawsuit alleges."
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 21, 2025A lawsuit alleges that Henegar was housed with a mentally ill cellmate who had previously attacked him.
"The suit also alleges that Henegar was in a cell with a mentally ill inmate who had previously attacked him."
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 21, 2025A lawsuit alleges that Henegar, who had a disability, was choked over the course of hours by his cellmate, who also stomped on his chest and strangled him.
"A lawsuit alleges that Henegar — who had a disability, according to the death data — was choked over the course of hours by his cellmate, who also stomped on his chest and strangled him."
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Apr 6, 2026Prison staff ignored Henegar's screams and requests for help and the pleas of other inmates during a five-hour beating that resulted in his death.
""Everybody in the dorm could hear it. David himself asked the guard for help, and the guard told him to deal with it and then just moved on," Brady told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Inmates in the dorm were banging their flaps and hollering and kicking their doors and trying to get the guard's attention, and the guard just ignored everybody.""
Read source → - ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Apr 6, 2026Prison staff failed to act on repeated reports from prisoners about cellmate Hinton-Leonard's mental health problems and a prior choking incident a week before the fatal attack.
"Brady said Henegar had complained to a number of prison staff about the danger posed by his cellmate, whose mental health problems were repeatedly reported to guards by prisoners. She said Hinton-Leonard choked Henegar to the point of unconsciousness a week before the fatal attack."
Read source →
Timeline (37)
Source Articles (10)
Former leadership
Officials who previously held leadership roles at this facility.
| Role | Name | Tenure | Deaths this facility / career |
|---|---|---|---|
| WARDEN 1 (facility lead) | Watson, Kochelle | 2019-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 66 / 66 |
| WARDEN 1 (facility lead) | Caldwell, Antoine Galen | 2017-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 27 / 61 |
| Warden (facility lead) | Chambers, Brian Keith | 2022-02-01 → 2024-06-15 | 24 / 24 |
| WARDEN 1 (facility lead) | Emmons, Shawn F | 2016-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | — / 62 |
| DEPUTY WARDEN (facility deputy) | Messer, ADA Y | 2018-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 81 / 81 |
| Deputy Warden (facility deputy) | Franklin, Lakisha M | 2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22 | — / — |
| Deputy Warden (facility deputy) | Prosser, Travis T | 2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22 | — / — |
| Chaplain (specialty lead) | Lester, Forrest J | 2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22 | — / — |
Location
Aerial View
Architecture documents what the building was designed to hold. See the system-wide receipts at gps.press/warehouse.