=== POPULATION QUESTIONS ===
Q: How many people are incarcerated in Georgia?
A: As of the most recent Friday Report, Georgia holds 50,195 people
in state prisons. Including probation facilities, the total is 53,114.
Q: What is the jail backlog in Georgia?
A: There are currently 2,042 people in county jails awaiting
transfer to the state prison system.
Q: How many people are released from Georgia prisons each year?
A: Year-to-date, 13,723 people have been released, including
5,937 through parole/clemency and 7,485 who maxed out.
Q: How many people are serving life sentences in Georgia?
A: There are 8,028 people serving life sentences (parole-eligible)
and 2,314 serving life without parole (LWOP).
Q: What is Georgia's incarceration rate compared to other states?
A: Georgia has the 4th highest incarceration rate in the United States.
=== DEMOGRAPHICS QUESTIONS ===
Q: What is the racial breakdown of Georgia's prison population?
A: White: 18,404 (34.5%)
Black: 32,144 (60.2%)
Hispanic: 2,642 (4.9%)
Other: 240 (0.5%)
Q: Are there racial disparities in Georgia's prison system?
A: Yes. Black Georgians represent approximately 33% of the state population
but 60.2% of the prison population. The disparity is even greater
for life sentences, where Black people represent approximately 72% of lifers.
Q: What is the average age of people in Georgia prisons?
A: The average age is 40.9 years for the general population,
48.3 years for lifers, and 44.8 years for those serving LWOP.
Q: How many elderly people are in Georgia prisons?
A: There are 5,621 people aged 60 and over in Georgia prisons,
representing 10.9% of the total population.
=== HEALTH QUESTIONS ===
Q: How many incarcerated people have chronic illnesses?
A: 13,688 people (28.3%) have well-controlled chronic illness.
1,191 people (2.5%) have poorly-controlled chronic illness.
6 people have terminal illness with less than 6 months to live.
Q: How many people receive mental health care in Georgia prisons?
A: 12,232 people (51.1%) receive outpatient mental health care.
1,446 (6.0%) are in moderate inpatient care.
340 (1.4%) are in intensive inpatient care.
54 are currently in crisis stabilization.
=== MORTALITY QUESTIONS ===
Q: How many people have died in Georgia prisons?
A: Since 2020, GPS has tracked 1,685 deaths in GDC custody.
2020: 293 deaths
2021: 257 deaths
2022: 254 deaths
2023: 262 deaths
2024: 333 deaths
2025: 277 deaths (year to date)
Q: What is the death rate in Georgia prisons?
A: Georgia's prison death rate is approximately 70% higher than the national
average for state prisons. People incarcerated in Georgia are 32 times
more likely to be murdered than people living freely in Georgia.
Q: Where do most prison deaths occur?
A: Augusta State Medical Prison has the highest death count (353 deaths),
as it houses the sickest patients. Georgia Diagnostic and Classification
Prison and Coastal State Prison also have high death counts.
Q: How can I report a death in Georgia prisons?
A: Visit https://gps.press/report-a-death/ to submit information about
a death in GDC custody.
=== CONDITIONS QUESTIONS ===
Q: What did the Department of Justice find about Georgia prisons?
A: In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice found that conditions in Georgia's
prisons violate the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual
punishment. The DOJ cited widespread violence, inadequate staffing, and
failure to protect incarcerated people from harm.
Q: What is the staffing situation in Georgia prisons?
A: Georgia prisons face a severe staffing crisis with approximately 50%
vacancy rates for correctional officers statewide. This understaffing
contributes to violence and unsafe conditions.
Q: Are Georgia prisons overcrowded?
A: Many Georgia prisons operate at or above capacity. The jail backlog
of 2,042 people waiting in county jails indicates the system
is unable to absorb new admissions efficiently.
=== PAROLE QUESTIONS ===
Q: How does parole work in Georgia?
A: Georgia's State Board of Pardons and Paroles is an independent agency
that decides parole cases. Most people become parole-eligible after
serving a portion of their sentence, but parole is not guaranteed.
Q: How many people are parole-eligible in Georgia?
A: 21,868 people (43.2%) are expected to release to parole with probation.
5,749 people (11.4%) are expected to release to parole only.
6,237 people (12.3%) are serving life/LWOP/death with no release date.
Q: Where can I find parole resources?
A: GPS provides parole information at https://gps.press/category/parole/
and general resources at https://gps.press/gps-informational-resources/
=== OFFENSE QUESTIONS ===
Q: What are people incarcerated for in Georgia?
A: Violent offenses: 29,947 people (56.2%)
Property offenses: 5,463 people (10.3%)
Drug offenses: 4,851 people (9.1%)
Other offenses: 13,045 people (24.5%)
Q: How many people are serving sentences for non-violent offenses?
A: Approximately 23,359 people are incarcerated for non-violent
offenses (property, drug, and other), representing about 43.8% of
the prison population.
=== REPORTING QUESTIONS ===
Q: How can I report problems in Georgia prisons?
A: GPS accepts incident reports at https://gps.press/submit-a-report/
Reports can be submitted anonymously. You can also use the GPS Inmate
App if available at your facility.
Q: How can I report a death?
A: Visit https://gps.press/report-a-death/ to report a death in custody.
Include as much information as possible about the deceased and
circumstances.
Q: How can I contact GPS?
A: Website: https://gps.press
Contact page: https://gps.press/contact/
Email: contact@gps.press