ROGERS STATE PRISON
Facility Information
- Original Design Capacity
- 596 (at 239% capacity)
- Bed Capacity
- 1,391 beds
- Current Population
- 1,426
- Active Lifers
- 20 (1.4% of population) · Apr 2026 GDC report
Read: Brown v. Plata - A Legal Roadmap for Georgia's Prison Crisis →
- Address
- 1978 GA Hwy 147, Reidsville, GA 30453
- County
- Tattnall County
- Opened
- 1980
- Operator
- GDC (Georgia Dept. of Corrections)
- Warden
- Sandi West
- Phone
- (912) 557-7771
- Fax
- (912) 557-7163
- Staff
- Special Assistant: Lee Clark
- Deputy Warden Security: Yolanda Byrd
- Deputy Warden Security: Michael Goettie
- Deputy Warden C&T: Tina Kelley
- Deputy Warden Admin: Vicki Forrest
About
Rogers State Prison near Reidsville is a medium-security men’s prison with a strong agricultural mission. Opened in the early 1980s and later expanded, it operates a large farm, dairy, canning plant, and meat production operation that supplies food to other Georgia prisons, relying heavily on unpaid or low-paid inmate labor. Housing consists of dormitories and cellblocks plus segregation units, and the prison has been implicated in past whistleblower reports about staff misconduct and unsafe conditions.
Mortality Statistics
14 deaths documented at this facility from 2020 to present.
Deaths by Year
- 2026: 1
- 2025: 3
- 2024: 2
- 2023: 3
- 2022: 2
- 2021: 3
- 2020: 0
County Public Health Department
Food service and sanitation at ROGERS STATE PRISON fall under the jurisdiction of the Tattnall 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
- EH Specialist
- Name
- Lance Dasher
- Address
-
P.O. Box 353
Glennville, GA 30427 - Phone
- (855) 473-4374
- Lance.Dasher@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.
April 26, 2026
RE: Request for Unannounced Public Health Inspection of Food Service Operations at ROGERS STATE PRISON
Dear Lance Dasher,
I am writing to respectfully request that your office conduct a thorough, unannounced inspection of food service and sanitation practices at ROGERS STATE PRISON, located in Tattnall County.
Documented concerns
Georgia Prisoners' Speak, a nonprofit public advocacy organization, 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2025 | 92 | Routine | |
| Apr 30, 2025 | 91 | Routine | |
| Oct 31, 2024 | 82 | Routine | |
| Mar 21, 2024 | 92 | Routine | |
| Aug 23, 2023 | 94 | Routine |
November 19, 2025 — Score 92
Routine · Inspector: Lance Dasher
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14C |
single-use/single-service articles: properly stored, used 511-6-1.05(6)(r) - single-service/single-use articles, use limitations (c) Corrected | 1 | Observed single service cup stored in left over meat, remove and discarded. |
| 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 wall damage in walk in cooler units, at bottom of panels. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) | 2 | observed spray rinse sink in tray washing room missing drainage plumbing. Repair asap. |
| 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 missing ceiling tile in main kitchen area. |
| 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 walk in cooler units with insufficient lighting, install new bulbs/units. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) | 3 | Observed mice droppings at warehouse storage at pallets of dry food products. |
April 30, 2025 — Score 91
Routine · Inspector: Lance Dasher
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14B |
utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried, handled 511-6-1.05(9)(c) - storage of soiled linens (c) Corrected | 1 | Observed cleaning rags stored on faucet, remove. |
| 15A |
food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(6)(a) - good repair & proper adjustment (c) Corrected | 1 | Observed plastic food trays with breaks and holes, and a metal tray with torn areas. Discarded. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) | 2 | Observed leaks on faucet units in tray/dish room, repair. Install faucet head on hand wash station, has one other working unit in area. |
| 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 ceiling damage in warehouse towards rear of room. |
| 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 lighting in walk in coolers in warehouse not working, replace bulbs. Observed warehouse exhaust fans that need cleaning and repair. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) Repeat | 3 | Observed flies in pack out room, consult with exterminator for solutions. |
October 31, 2024 — Score 82
Routine · Inspector: Lance Dasher
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1B |
proper hot holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p) Corrected | 9 | Observed food items on hot hold less than 135 F, food was discarded. |
| 10D | food properly labeled; original container | 3 | Observed damage cans of food in warehouse leaking onto floor. Pull pallets and discard damaged cans and clean. |
| 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 hot bar unit at serve line unplugged and not working, repair ASAP. |
| 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 food stains on floor in spice room storage at rear wall. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) | 3 | Observed heavy amount of flies in tray making station room. Call exterminator for help to get it under control. Also fruit flies in warehouse and spice room. |
March 21, 2024 — Score 92
Routine · Inspector: Lance Dasher
| 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) Corrected | 4 | Observed employee managing serve line station not utilizing the steam bar unit to maintain temperatures of food. Serve line was stopped and the unit was set up for hot holding. Lowest temperature of foods on bar was 136 F. |
| 14B |
utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried, handled 511-6-1.05(9)(c) - storage of soiled linens (c) Corrected Repeat | 1 | Observed rag stored on sink unit, soiled rags should be disposed of in soiled linen storage. |
| 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) | 1 | Observed food debris buildup on mixer units in bakery, clean. |
| 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 food stains in warehouse under pallet racks and in sugar/spice room. |
| 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 multiple lights out in warehouse, replace blown bulbs or nonworking light fixtures. |
August 23, 2023 — Score 94
Routine · Inspector: Lance Dasher
| Code | Violation | Pts | Inspector notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14B |
utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried, handled 511-6-1.05(9)(c) - storage of soiled linens (c) | 1 | Observed rags stored on sides of hand wash sinks, store in soiled storage when task is completed. |
| 16B |
plumbing installed; proper backflow devices 511-6-1.06(2)(r) - system maintained in good repair (p, c) | 2 | Observed drainage/plumbing at spray rinse sink not secure, laying on floor. Repair. |
| 18 |
insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c) | 3 | Observed flies at serve line room and other areas in kitchen, increase vector control. |