Facility
RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON
GPS facility profile for RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON. Population: 594. 18 deaths tracked.
Key Facts
587
Total inmates at Rutledge State Prison as of October 27, 2025, including 3 close security inmates in a medium-designated facility
1,772
Total deaths in GPS's Georgia prison mortality database since 2020, with GDC refusing to publicly disclose cause-of-death data
333
Deaths across GDC system in 2024 — the highest single-year total in the GPS database — including 45 confirmed homicides
$307.6M
Federal jury verdict (April 2, 2026) against Corizon Health's corporate successor for medical neglect of a Georgia prisoner
37 of 72
Deaths in 2026 (through April 19) still classified as unknown/pending by GPS — reflecting GDC opacity, not an absence of confirmed deaths
2,357
Prisoners in backlog awaiting transfer from county jails into GDC facilities as of April 17, 2026 — adding pressure to already strained medium security prisons
By the Numbers
301
Deaths in 2025 (GPS tracked)
1,779
Total Deaths Tracked by GPS
1,261
Poorly Controlled Health Conditions
2,440
Waiting in Jail (Backlog)
17
Lawsuits Tracked
8,094
In Private Prisons
Facility Overview
RUTLEDGE STATE PRISON is located in Columbus, Muscogee County. The facility is currently led by Warden Ryan Beland.
Population and Capacity
Current population: 594. Rated capacity: 640 (92.8% of capacity).
Deaths in Custody
GPS has tracked 18 deaths at this facility.
GPS Monitoring
GPS tracks this facility through weekly population reports, mortality records, and public records monitoring. Intelligence will be expanded as additional reporting and source material becomes available.
Timeline
October 27, 2025
Classification drift documented in Georgia prisons: Medium security facilities housing close security inmates without adequate staffing and infrastructure report
October 27, 2025
Classification drift documented in Georgia prisons — medium-security facilities housing high numbers of close-security inmates without adequate staffing and infrastructure report
October 27, 2025
Classification drift documented in Georgia prisons — medium security facilities operating as close security without adequate staffing and infrastructure report
October 27, 2025
Classification Drift documented: Medium Security prisons housing Close Security inmates without adequate staffing and infrastructure report
June 30, 2024
Georgia DOC reports 430+ drone incidents, 69 staff arrests, 204 inmate arrests, 554 civilian arrests in year ending June 2024 report
June 30, 2024
Georgia prisons confiscated nearly 15,000 cell phones June 2023-June 2024, double the 2019 count report
June 16, 2024
Inmate kills food service worker at Smith State Prison; firearm allegedly delivered by drone death
June 16, 2024
Inmate kills food service worker at Smith State Prison using drone-delivered firearm death
December 13, 2010
GDC lockdown response to work strike at four prisons incident
December 13, 2010
GDC places four prisons under lockdown in response to work strike incident
December 13, 2010
Georgia Department of Corrections implements lockdown at four prisons in response to strike incident
December 9, 2010
Coordinated prison work strike across 10 Georgia prisons incident
December 9, 2010
Largest prison work strike in U.S. history across 10 Georgia prisons incident
December 9, 2010
Prison officials retaliation: hot water shut off and prisoner transfers during strike incident
December 9, 2010
Prison officials retaliate by shutting off hot water and transferring strike leaders incident
Source Articles
Georgia Prison Security Levels
Invisible Scars: How Georgia’s Prisons Perpetuate Trauma and Abuse