News from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia needs better prison oversight and accountability Americans rely on our justice system to hold those accountable who violate the law and cause harm to their fellow citizens. But who is responsible for holding the justice system accountable when it falls short of its own standards? Recently, Congress provided a partial answer by overwhelmingly passing …
Locked up but not stopped: Georgia prisoners run drug-trafficking networks Editor’s note: This story was updated in August 2024 to include information on several additional drug trafficking networks prosecuted in 2023-2024. When federal prosecutors announced their massive Operation Ghost Busted case, the charges revealed a startling reality: the massive drug trafficking operation had a home …
Making Georgia’s prisons safer for workers, inmates and communities The reports and books on prison reform could fill a small library, so it seems odd to offer to the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia Legislature and the governor suggestions on how to improve conditions within our state’s prisons. Surely, they’ve heard it all before, …
Editor’s note: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is not identifying the inmate who wrote this essay for his safety. As an educated inmate with more than 15 years of experience in the Georgia prison system, I believe I can offer valuable insights to the Georgia State Senate’s study committee on current prison issues. The root causes of …
Special Editorial Series: Georgia’s prison system is in crisis Georgia’s prison system is in crisis: Face it, fix it. For years, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported on rampant violence, drugs and corruption in the state’s correctional institutions. This week, we hear from stakeholders and look for solutions. Today kicks off a series of editorials that …
An emphasis on rehabilitation is key to successful prison reform As someone who has dedicated my life’s work to advocating for justice and fairness toward all human beings, I think Georgia is at a crucial tipping point for prioritizing the well-being of both those who live and work in our prisons. Georgia’s prisons and carceral …
Deaths at record level in Georgia state prisons as crisis deepens The Georgia Department of Corrections is on track to see its deadliest year ever, with 156 deaths, including at least 24 homicides, during the first six months of 2024. Mortality data obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows deaths inside state correctional facilities from all …
South Georgia prison becomes deadlier amid corruption, extreme staffing shortage The beating started after 11 on the night of May 29 and may have lasted until 5:30 the next morning, arrest warrants say. Wedged between two bunks, Shane Griffith had nowhere to run and no one to turn to for help as 11 other inmates …
Deaths at record level in Georgia state prisons as crisis deepens The Georgia Department of Corrections is on track to see its deadliest year ever, with 156 deaths, including at least 24 homicides, during the first six months of 2024. Mortality data obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows deaths inside state correctional facilities from all …
Jon Ossoff urges Georgia lawmakers to address the state’s ‘disgrace’ of a prison system U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff said America’s prisons are an enormous civil and human rights failure. The Georgia senator joined “Politically Georgia” on Friday to discuss his recent effort to strengthen oversight of the federal Bureau of Prisons. “A bipartisan investigation into …