Georgia’s prison food budget: $1.2 million added—for one extra bologna sandwich on weekends. Commissary prices have jumped 25% since the pandemic. The state spends $1.48 billion on corrections while inmates go hungry. 94% of formerly incarcerated people report not having enough food to feel full. Commissary ramen costs have doubled. Families already stretched thin now pay more to keep their loved ones fed. Georgia’s food system isn’t inadequate by accident—it’s inadequate by design. 1
Budget vs. Reality
Georgia’s prison food funding fails basic needs:
- $1.48 billion total budget—food allocation remains critically low
- $1.2 million increase—bought only a weekend sandwich
- Meals fall short—portions don’t meet nutritional standards
- Fresh produce rare—processed, low-nutrient meals dominate
When institutional meals don’t feed people, families fill the gap through commissary purchases.
Commissary Exploitation
Prices rise while spending limits stay frozen:
- 103% price increases—on some essential items
- $40/week commissary spending—up from $25 previously
- Weekly limits unchanged—can’t keep pace with inflation
- Families forced to choose—between food and other necessities
Private commissary vendors profit from hunger the state creates. 2
Health Consequences
Inadequate nutrition produces predictable outcomes:
- 75% report spoiled food—in national surveys of formerly incarcerated
- Chronic illness rates elevated—diabetes, hypertension, heart disease
- Weakened immune systems—from nutritional deficiencies
- Mental health impacts—hunger affects behavior and cognition
Each year in prison shortens life expectancy by two years. Nutrition is part of why.
Take Action
Use Impact Justice AI to send advocacy emails demanding adequate food funding in Georgia prisons. The free tool crafts personalized messages to lawmakers—no experience required.
Demand:
- Food budget increases tied to actual nutritional needs
- Commissary price caps
- Transparent food spending audits
- Meals that meet basic health standards
Further Reading
- How Food in Prison Affects Health, Mental Health and Violence
- Prison Commissary: How Families Pay the Price
- GPS Informational Resources
- Pathways to Success
About Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS)
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS) is a nonprofit investigative newsroom built in partnership with incarcerated reporters, families, advocates, and data analysts. Operating independently from the Georgia Department of Corrections, GPS documents the truth the state refuses to acknowledge: extreme violence, fatal medical neglect, gang-controlled dorms, collapsed staffing, fraudulent reporting practices, and unconstitutional conditions across Georgia’s prisons.
Through confidential reporting channels, secure communication, evidence verification, public-records requests, legislative research, and professional investigative standards, GPS provides the transparency the system lacks. Our mission is to expose abuses, protect incarcerated people, support families, and push Georgia toward meaningful reform based on human rights, evidence, and public accountability.
Every article is part of a larger fight — to end the silence, reveal the truth, and demand justice.
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