WASHINGTON STATE PRISON

State Prison Medium Security GDC (Georgia Dept. of Corrections) Male

55 Source Articles 5 Events

Facility Information

Original Design Capacity: 500 (at 196% capacity)
→ Part of the system-wide architecture — see the receipts
Bed Capacity: 1,548 beds
Current Population: 980
Active Lifers: 329 (33.6% of population) · Oct 2026 GDC report

Why design capacity matters: Adding beds to a prison does not increase medical facilities, educational programs, kitchen capacity, counseling services, or recreation areas. In Brown v. Plata (2011), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an order capping California's prisons at 137.5% of design capacity, after federal courts found that crowding was the primary cause of unconstitutional medical and mental-health care.
What the courts held in Brown v. Plata, and how Georgia compares →

Address: 13262 Hwy 24 East, Davisboro, GA 31018
Phone: (478) 348-5814
Fax: (478) 348-5613
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 206, Davisboro, GA 31018
County: Washington County
Opened: 1991
Operator: GDC (Georgia Dept. of Corrections)

Security Classification

Last updated: September 23, 2026

241 of the 980 people held here are classified Close security (24.6%), as of September 23, 2026.

Security level	People	Share
Close	241	24.6%
Medium	704	71.8%
Minimum	35	3.6%
Total	980

Earlier count (undated table, produced October 22, 2025): 418 of 1,511 Close (27.7%).

Source: Georgia Department of Corrections records produced to GPS under the Open Records Act (R031471-090226, R024615-101925). A person's security level is GDC's classification of that person, which can differ from the prison's own designation.

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Leadership & Accountability (as of 2026 records)

Officials currently holding positional authority at this facility, with deaths attributed to GPS-tracked records during their leadership tenure. Inclusion reflects role-based accountability, not legal findings of personal culpability. Death counts shown as facility / career.

Role	Name	Since	Deaths this facility / career
WARDEN 1 (facility lead)	Stewart, Veronica M	2024-06-16	24 / 40
Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment (facility deputy)	Jackson, Tarra L Tomlin	2021-01-01	29 / 29
Deputy Warden of Security (facility deputy)	Whipple, Tamishia V	2024-01-01	15 / 15
Deputy Warden of Security (facility deputy)	Powell, Tiauna F	2026-09-16	— / —
Deputy Warden of Administration (facility deputy)	King, Tywanda F	2026-08-01	— / —

About

Last updated October 11, 2026.(DS)

Washington State Prison: A Gang War, a Lockdown That Never Ended, and 39 Deaths in Six Years

Washington State Prison sits on the edge of Davisboro, in Washington County, a medium-security facility for adult men that opened in 1991 and today holds a rated capacity of 1,548 — nearly triple its original design capacity of 500. It houses minimum- and medium-custody prisoners in dormitories and cellblocks, along with segregation and support units, and provides work details for surrounding communities plus limited educational, vocational, and faith-based programming. Its current population stands at 980, roughly 63 percent of rated capacity. What follows is an account of how a facility with that much empty bed space became, in the space of a single week in January 2026, the site of one of the deadliest episodes in the modern Georgia prison system — and of the six years of deaths, medical failures, and staff conduct that preceded it.

The January 2026 Gang War

The violence began during visitation hours. Multiple outlets, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reported that a fight started among several incarcerated men on a sidewalk and spilled into a visitation area of Washington State Prison around 1:25 p.m. on January 11, 2026. The Georgia Department of Corrections described the incident as a suspected gang-affiliated disturbance; staff deployed non-lethal weapons and reported the situation under control by approximately 3 p.m.

Three men were pronounced dead at the scene: Teddy Jackson, 27, serving a 10-year sentence for aggravated assault out of Bibb County; Ahmod Hatcher, 23, serving 20 years for aggravated assault out of Richmond County; and Jimmy Trammell, 42, serving 20 years for first-degree burglary out of Fulton County and, by multiple accounts, days from release. Thirteen other incarcerated men and one correctional officer were injured; the officer's injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Teddy Jackson died hours later at Wellstar MCG hospital.

A fourth man, Silas Westbrook, 42, had been treated for what were described as minor injuries and transferred to the Metro Reentry Facility. He suffered a medical emergency on arrival on January 17 and was pronounced dead. The GDC's Office of Professional Standards opened an investigation into his death, which GPS's mortality registry classifies as a homicide. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Trammell's brother alleged the prison was responsible for his death and demanded answers.

The week's toll was five, not four. Dajhmere Ladaveon Hall, 30, was found dead on January 9 — two days before the riot — of an overdose, according to GPS's registry. GPS's own reporting has described the sequence as five deaths at Washington State Prison in a single week, and has separately documented that the gang violence erupted following a statewide cell-phone network shutdown.

A Lockdown With No End Date

The day after the riot, Washington State Prison remained on lockdown. The GDC said the fight was still under investigation and offered no timeline for lifting it. It never did. GPS's reporting describes a facility that has remained on continuous lockdown since January 11, 2026 — more than five months at the time of that reporting — and has never reopened.

What that has meant inside is documented across multiple channels. GPS records show 12 family-safety-concern signals at this facility over the past 12 months at critical, high, and moderate severity, and 10 external complaints filed to oversight bodies — including the DOJ Civil Rights Division, the GDC Ombudsman, the GBI, and State Representative Billy Hitchens. Family members have described a facility under extended lockdown in which commissary access was withheld from the general population except for those on work details, with families unable to send food or commissary items — a practice those accounts characterize as collective punishment of the men who remained. GPS's own analysis indicates uninvolved prisoners were denied access to television, news, visitation, exercise, phones, the law library, and religious services, and were subjected to a $30-per-week commissary cap while others retained $80 weekly purchasing. One account passed to GPS described a commissary resale operation inside the facility generating more than $1,000 a week in profit after the January melee.

Twelve Charged, and the Question of Who Wasn't

On April 28, 2026, the Georgia Department of Corrections announced that 12 incarcerated men had been charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, gang participation, and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution for their alleged roles in the disturbance. The AJC, 13WMAZ, WFXL, and 11Alive all carried the announcement. The GDC characterized those charged as believed to be involved with gang activity. The department confirmed the investigation remained active as of late April.

The charging announcement did not close the question of how the riot happened. GPS's intelligence system records 43 assault-by-inmate signals at this facility over the past 12 months across nine separate months, with severity ranging from moderate to critical, and 12 in January 2026 alone. GPS has received recurring accounts that the men charged were not the only ones involved — that some individuals identified in surveillance footage and reported to senior facility and regional administrators were neither sanctioned, charged, nor transferred, and that certain incarcerated men retained job assignments and free movement while the rest of the facility was locked down. GPS has also received accounts that staff showed surveillance footage of the incident to senior officials. These are accounts GPS holds, not findings of fact; the criminal cases remain the only formal adjudication.

Six Officers on Duty

The most concrete staffing fact to emerge from the riot came through an open records request. GPS's reporting, drawing on GDC's response to that request, documented that six officers were on duty at Washington State Prison when the gang war broke out on January 11, 2026.

That figure lands inside a systemwide collapse GPS has documented as an integrated structural finding. Officer vacancies in Georgia's prisons have run between 49.3 percent and 60 percent systemwide for multiple years, against a national standard of no more than 10 percent. The hiring pipeline cannot close the gap: acceptance rates run under 15 percent, and 82.7 percent of new hires leave within their first year. Georgia ranks last of 50 states for correctional-officer pay. The October 2024 DOJ findings letter concluded that "the leadership of the Georgia Department of Corrections has lost control of its facilities" and faulted GDC for placing "too much blame on gangs and insufficient emphasis on understaffing." Tyler Ryals, a former GDC sergeant forced out in 2024 after whistleblowing, told GPS he had personally been the only security person on the entire Telfair compound of roughly 1,250 maximum-security inmates; his witness statement was signed at Washington State Prison.

At this facility, GPS records show nine staffing-shortage signals over the past 12 months, spanning six months and ranging from moderate to critical severity. Multiple sources describe a facility where as few as one or two officers have been tasked with supervising six dormitories at once, where control rooms are routinely left unoccupied, and where a specialized housing unit is frequently left unmanned while the mailroom carries three to four staff. GPS has received accounts that a correctional officer left all gates and doors to a housing unit unlocked while away from the post — accounts that, if accurate, describe the physical precondition for what followed.

The Physical Plant as a Weapon Source

The AJC reported that a consultant study commissioned by Governor Brian Kemp in June 2024 found that buildings with maintenance issues enabled prisoners to strip materials to make weapons, that locks didn't work, allowing easy cell escapes, and that understaffing left movements unmonitored. Officers working alone, the consultants found, feared retribution for enforcing rules.

GPS treats infrastructure collapse as a force multiplier for the violence, classification, and mortality crises it has documented at the facility level. Most GDC facilities are 30 to 40 or more years old, with documented patterns of deferred maintenance producing broken cell-door locks, inoperative surveillance and fire-alarm systems, mold and water failures, broken kitchen sanitization equipment, and pest infestations. The DOJ's October 2024 findings, the Guidehouse 2024 assessment, and Commissioner Oliver's public "end of life" statements all corroborate the pattern.

At Washington State Prison specifically, GPS has received accounts of a four-foot-by-four-foot hole cut in an exterior wall of a housing unit to receive contraband dropped by drone, left unsecured for over a week before being patched with plywood. GPS records six equipment-failure-or-install signals at this facility over the past 12 months across six months. State Representative Billy Hitchens alleged publicly that the prison system is not making meaningful progress toward preventing inmates from jamming or disabling cell-door locks, which allows inmates to roam freely and commit attacks. In January 2025, Georgia lawmakers allocated more than $600 million in new funding to the GDC to add staffing positions, improve salaries, and tackle a maintenance backlog including lock repair.

Medical Care: Cancelled Orders and Missing Providers

GPS's mortality registry records 39 deaths at Washington State Prison since January 1, 2020 — a floor, since GDC reports deaths roughly two months late. The causes break down as 12 homicides, 11 natural or medical, six overdoses, five unknown or pending, and one each of medical neglect, suicide, use of force, accident, and other. The full list is maintained at gps.press/georgia-prison-deaths/facility/washington-state-prison/.

The most recent 25:

Isreal Moses Jones died June 14, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 68.
Courtney Davis died June 13, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending, age 43.
Deshawn Poole died June 9, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 34.
Frank Smith died May 6, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending, age 75.
Silas Rodrigioeuz Westbrook died January 17, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 42.
Teddy Dewayne Jackson died January 11, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 27.
Jimmy Lee Trammell died January 11, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 42.
Ahmod Dewayne Hatcher died January 11, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 23.
Dajhmere Ladaveon Hall died January 9, 2026, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Overdose, age 30.
Taylor Allen Howard died December 16, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Natural/Medical, age 66.
Benjamin Horne died December 15, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Overdose, age 51.
Wayne Krier died November 5, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Natural/Medical, age 77.
Darrin Gresham died August 8, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending, age 60.
William Earl Long died July 16, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Accident, age 52.
Michael Lareco Daniel died June 20, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 44.
Lamontez Winkfield died May 11, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 22.
Yoncey Jallah died April 23, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Natural/Medical, age 49.
Robert Washington died January 14, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Natural/Medical.
Dontavious Carter died January 7, 2025, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide.
Devonte Tiger Williams died August 9, 2024, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Homicide, age 26. The AJC reported he died from multiple sharp force injuries to the torso, head, and neck.
Torrey Wayne Forrester died July 1, 2024, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Natural/Medical, age 41.
Johntavis Jermaine Kellom died May 2, 2024, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Overdose, age 36.
Jacob Cole Henson died April 23, 2024, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Use of Force, age 31. The AJC reported that Henson, 31, died from multiple gunshot wounds after getting into a fight with a GDC officer who had taken him to a hospital to be treated for injuries from a stabbing earlier that day.
Jimmy Lee Reed died April 2, 2024, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending, age 66.
Ronald Wayne Kidd died October 30, 2023, at Washington State Prison; GPS's registry lists the cause as Unknown/Pending, age 61.

The AJC's homicide-tracking coverage separately documented two earlier deaths at the facility: Michael Lee Jackson, 60, died August 17, 2022, from multiple blunt force injuries in the setting of hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with an incident report showing two other inmates involved; and Marquis Reshawn Jefferson, 26, died May 12, 2022, from stab wounds to the torso and arm, with an incident report dated May 11, 2022, indicating four other inmates were involved.

Behind those numbers, GPS has received a sustained body of accounts describing medical care at Washington State Prison as the worst the men there have encountered across multiple GDC facilities. GPS records seven medical-neglect signals over the past 12 months across six months, at critical, high, and moderate severity. The recurring themes in those accounts are medication gaps, cancelled orders, and absent providers. GPS has received accounts of medication gaps averaging four to five days per month, of diabetic patients going up to 10 days without medication, of insulin administered twice daily at fixed times regardless of mealtimes or blood sugar, of CPAP users unable to obtain distilled water, and of respiratory medications cancelled outright. Multiple accounts describe a nurse practitioner cancelling physician-ordered care — heart medications without an EKG, orthotic shoes without an examination, prescribed dietary supplements, and a special diet — and of co-pays charged for medications that were then never delivered. GPS has received accounts that the facility lacked upper-level medical providers and treating RNs in early 2025 after previously having one MD and two PA/NPs, that three different medical directors resigned over a 20-month period with no MD present by mid-2026, and that the infirmary was converted to offices and storage with its staff reduced to day shift only. GPS has received accounts naming Centurion Health Care Services as the healthcare contractor.

These are accounts GPS holds, not adjudicated findings. But they sit against a documented systemwide pattern: GDC spends approximately $1.69 per person per day on food (2024) and has proposed $1.60 per day in FY27 — under 60 cents per meal — against an FDA Thrifty Food Plan estimate of roughly $10 per day for an adult man's nutritionally adequate diet, while spending approximately 14 times more on medical care ($432 million) than on food. The Marshall Project independently reported on May 16, 2026, documenting rats in kitchens, insects in food, moldy trays, and visible malnutrition across Georgia facilities.

Food, Water, and the Limits of Inspection Scores

The Georgia Department of Public Health has inspected Washington State Prison's food service repeatedly, and the scores tell a story of their own. A routine inspection on June 1, 2026 produced a score of 100 (Grade A) — and, on the same date, a second routine inspection produced an 88 (Grade B) with three violations including improper hot holding temperatures and the presence of insects, rodents, or animals. On November 7, 2025, two routine inspections produced scores of 91 (Grade A), one with a single violation for food separation and protection, the other with three violations including food-contact surfaces not cleaned and sanitized. On December 30, 2024, scores of 94 and 98 (both Grade A). On March 22, 2024, scores of 97 and 95 (both Grade A). On June 29, 2023, a score of 77 (Grade C) with four violations including improper cold holding temperatures — alongside an 88 (Grade B) the same day with violations for hot holding and the presence of pests.

GPS has documented a systemic pattern of food-service sanitation failure across GDC kitchens that DPH inspection scores systematically fail to capture: tray-sanitizing dishwashers broken for sustained periods, sustained roach and rodent infestation in kitchen and serving areas, and meals served on visibly contaminated trays. The pattern is hidden from DPH scores because inspections are scheduled walkthroughs that do not assess equipment under load, and because GPS has documented professional overlap between inspectors and facility staff in small-county settings. High DPH scores at GDC facilities coexist with sustained witness reports of equipment failure and food contamination — the contradiction is the analytical center of GPS's investigation "Dunked, Stacked, and Served."

Physical evidence submitted to GPS from Washington State Prison shows meals served in styrofoam bowls — rice with a tomato-based sauce — and commissary restriction notices imposing spending caps and item-level limits on rice, soup, water, drink mix, chips, candy bars, soda, cupcakes, pies, cookies, and meat. GPS records four food-quality-complaint signals and four sanitation-failure signals at this facility over the past 12 months. Family members describe commissary restrictions leaving incarcerated people with inadequate food access and relying on commissary purchases to supplement meals described as inadequate. One message passed to GPS put it plainly: "There giving us spoiled milk at washington! Only 30 in store for the last 6 months we are losing weight rapidly! Help us! Please!"

Classification Drift and Gang Control

GPS has received recurring accounts that multiple dormitory housing units at Washington State Prison have been under near-total control of security threat groups for the past one to two years, and that a significant proportion of the medium-security facility's population is classified at the higher close-security level. GPS records nine overcrowding signals at this facility over the past 12 months across five months. Physical evidence submitted to GPS shows overcrowded or cramped cell conditions; GPS staff who reviewed a photographed cell assessed it as appearing consistent with a standard general population housing unit.

The accounts describe a housing system where assigned beds are not enforced. Multiple sources report that non-gang-affiliated men are required to live in showers, under stairs, in television rooms, or on the floors of other men's cells, and that security threat groups effectively control cell assignments. GPS has received accounts that a large proportion of a dorm's residents were living in the wrong cell, that a man with a medical profile precluding three-person placement was housed in a three-man room with a bed only inches off the floor, and that a senior staff member had to escort one man to his assigned bed and order the previous occupant to relocate. GPS has received accounts that Bloods gang members were assigned to nearly all positions granting free movement around the prison, and that laundry and sanitation details — described as primary conduits for contraband — were exclusively controlled by a single gang.

The systemwide context GPS has documented: approximately 31 percent of the state's roughly 49,000 incarcerated population are validated members of 315 different security threat groups, more than double the national average. The DOJ and the Guidehouse 2024 consultant assessment independently concluded that gangs effectively run multiple facilities, controlling access to phones, showers, food, and bed assignments. GPS treats staffing collapse and gang assumption of facility control as the integrated structural finding that explains the per-facility violence, classification, mortality, and infrastructure-failure narratives.

Staff Conduct, Contraband, and the Whistleblower Problem

GPS records 12 named-staff-misconduct signals and 11 unnamed-staff-misconduct signals at this facility over the past 12 months, spanning six months each and ranging from moderate to critical severity. GPS has received accounts that a correctional officer was on the payroll of both the Bloods and the Muslims, that a correctional sergeant accepted payment to move gang-affiliated men from general population into a more desirable housing assignment, that a CERT officer was paid to facilitate transfers into an honor dorm, and that staff announced shakedowns in advance so contraband could be moved and replaced within hours. GPS has received accounts that a staff member overseeing laundry and sanitation resigned following the January 2026 melee, that an investigator and a correctional officer were transferred, and that a CERT officer was arrested following the disturbance.

In the immediate aftermath of the riot, the GBI and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force arrested Washington State Prison officer Adriana Carnelio, 27, roughly three days after the January 11 riot, on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and firearms offenses, with a co-defendant identified as Q. Peacock.

Contraband movement at this facility is not a marginal phenomenon. Luis Alfonso Ramirez was indicted federally, along with six accomplices, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances after an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the operation involved seizure of 35 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl valued at $225,000, plus $145,000 in cash. WGXA reported that Ramirez directed a drug trafficking network from Washington State Prison using contraband cellphones. Separately, the AJC reported that Jeffery White, serving a 20-year sentence, led a methamphetamine network from the facility believed to have distributed more than 200 pounds of crystal meth in Volusia County, Florida, in one year, prompting nearly 40 arrest warrants. The DOJ's 2024 findings described sophisticated gangs running prison black markets trafficking in drugs, weapons, and electronic devices including drones and smartphones.

GPS has received accounts of retaliation against men who raise complaints — including that officers tell incarcerated people they will not be removed from dangerous situations, will not be protected, and will not intervene in fights. GPS records four due-process-violation signals at this facility over the past 12 months. One account describes a disciplinary hearing resulting in a 90-day restriction of all phone, visitation, and commissary privileges; another describes a TACT squad late-night raid in which a man's tablet was seized and a disciplinary report issued while, by the same account, another man was not disciplined. GPS has received accounts that a mass store restriction was imposed on an entire housing unit after contraband was found on multiple people including one assigned to the warden's office, with no individual discipline following.

Leadership

Veronica M. Stewart has served as Warden of Washington State Prison since June 16, 2024. Her deputies are Tiauna F. Powell (Deputy Warden of Security, since September 2026), Tamishia V. Whipple (Deputy Warden of Security, since January 2024), Tywanda F. King (Deputy Warden of Administration, since August 2026), and Tarra L. Tomlin Jackson (Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment, since January 2021). In November 2025, Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced the appointment of Tamara Grier as Deputy Warden of Security, bringing more than 22 years of experience in Georgia's correctional system.

GPS has received accounts that the warden was present during a medical visit with nursing staff in 2026, that the warden was unaware a medevac helicopter had been called until it arrived, and that staff had to physically intervene to stop the warden from using force against a handcuffed incarcerated person during an on-camera incident. GPS has received accounts of a use-of-force incident involving the warden shortly after the warden's arrival in 2024, and that a senior staff member was recorded striking a handcuffed incarcerated person with a radio, resulting in a one-month suspension. These are accounts GPS holds; none has been adjudicated in a forum GPS can cite.

What the Record Shows

Washington State Prison was built for 500 men and now holds 980 against a rated capacity of 1,548. It runs limited educational, vocational, and faith-based programming, and work details for surrounding communities. Its food service scores well on scheduled inspections and its medical department, by the accounts GPS has collected, does not function. Its staffing, by the department's own open-records response, stood at six officers on the afternoon a gang war killed four men and injured fourteen more.

The facility has been on continuous lockdown since January 11, 2026. GPS has recorded 39 deaths there since the start of 2020, and 1,896 deaths in GDC custody systemwide since that year. Twelve men have been charged with felony murder. The question the record leaves open is not who was in the room — it is who was supposed to be watching the door.

Sources

This analysis draws on reporting from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 13WMAZ, WFXL, 11Alive, WGXA, WTOC, and 41NBC; Georgia Department of Public Health food-safety inspection records; Georgia Department of Corrections statements and open-records responses; the October 2024 U.S. Department of Justice findings letter and the 2024 Guidehouse consultant assessment commissioned by Governor Brian Kemp; federal court filings and the GA DOAS Risk Management settlement ledger; GPS's mortality registry, which records 39 deaths at Washington State Prison since January 1, 2020; and inmate, family, and staff accounts collected by GPS. GPS's own prior reporting on the January 2026 riot and its aftermath is cited throughout.

Mortality Statistics

50 deaths documented at this facility from 2020 to present.

Deaths by Year

2026: 20
2025: 10
2024: 5
2023: 6
2022: 8
2021: 0
2020: 1

View all deaths at this facility →

County Public Health Department

Food service and sanitation at WASHINGTON STATE PRISON fall under the jurisdiction of the Washington 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: Environmental Health Director
Address: 201 Morningside Drive
Sandersville, GA 31082
Phone: (478) 552-3210
Email: washington.eh@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.

Email the Inspector

Food Safety Inspections

Georgia Department of Public Health

Latest score: 88 (Jun 1, 2026)

View DPH report ↗

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
Jun 1, 2026	88	Routine
Nov 7, 2025	91	Routine
Dec 30, 2024	98	Routine
Mar 22, 2024	95	Routine
Jun 29, 2023	88	Routine

Source: Georgia Department of Public Health — data last refreshed October 4, 2026. Search all Georgia inspections ↗

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 peas in Cambro unit at 99 F. Except during preparation, cooking, or cooling, or when time is used as the public health control, time/temperature control for safety food shall be maintained at 41°F (5°C) or below or 135°F (57°C) or above, except that roasts cooked to a temperature and for a time specified in subsection (5)(a)2 of this Rule and reheated using the same temperature and time conditions as cooking may be held at a temperature of 130°F (54°C) or above.PIC discarded food item.
1B	proper hot holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p) Corrected	9	Observed rice in Cambro unit at 125 F. Except during preparation, cooking, or cooling, or when time is used as the public health control, time/temperature control for safety food shall be maintained at 41°F (5°C) or below or 135°F (57°C) or above, except that roasts cooked to a temperature and for a time specified in subsection (5)(a)2 of this Rule and reheated using the same temperature and time conditions as cooking may be held at a temperature of 130°F (54°C) or above.Rice was removed from Cambro unit and reheated to 165 F.
18	insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c)	3	Observed evidence of pests in WIC containing dry goods.The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled to minimize their presence on the premises by:1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments of food and supplies;2. Routinely inspecting the premises for evidence of pests;3. Using methods, if pests are found, such as trapping devices or other means of pest control as specified under subsections (6)(e), (6)(m), and (6)(n) of this Rule; Pf and4. Eliminating harborage conditions.

View full inspector report on DPH →

Code	Violation	Pts	Inspector notes
2B	food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized 511-6-1.05(7)(b) - food contact surfaces and utensils - cleaning frequency (p, c)	4	Observed bulk ice machines with black substance on deflector plates. In equipment such as ice bins and beverage dispensing nozzles and enclosed components of equipment such as ice makers, cooking oil storage tanks and distribution lines, beverage and syrup dispensing lines or tubes, coffee bean grinders, and water vending equipment:(I) At a frequency specified by the manufacturer; or(II) Absent manufacturer specifications, at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil or mold.Increase cleaning frequency of ice machines. Machine should be sanitized before being put back into use.
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 broken pipe from 3-compartment sink in pots and pan area draining directly onto the floor. Observed floor tiles broken, missing throughout the facility. Some areas holding water. All areas should be maintained in good condition. This has been an ongoing issue for years. Some of the tiles have been removed in large areas. Continue efforts toward compliance.
18	insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c)	3	Observed live pests and evidence of rodents and pests. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled to minimize their presence on the premises by:1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments of food and supplies;2. Routinely inspecting the premises for evidence of pests;3. Using methods, if pests are found, such as trapping devices or other means of pest control as specified under subsections (6)(e), (6)(m), and (6)(n) of this Rule; Pf and4. Eliminating harborage conditions.

View full inspector report on DPH →

Code	Violation	Pts	Inspector notes
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 broken pipe from 3-compartment sink in pots and pan area draining directly onto the floor. Observed floor tiles broken, missing throughout the facility. Some areas holding water. All areas should be maintained in good condition. This has been an ongoing issue for years. Some of the tiles have been removed in large areas. Continue efforts toward compliance.

View full inspector report on DPH →

Code	Violation	Pts	Inspector notes
10D	food properly labeled; original container 511-6-1.04(4)(d) - food storage containers identified with common name of food (c) Corrected	3	Observed storage container with dry ingredients with no label. Could not determine if it was sugar or salt by looking at it. Except for containers holding food that can be readily and unmistakably recognized, such as dry pasta, working containers holding food or food ingredients that are removed from their original packages for use in the food establishment, such as cooking oils, flour, herbs, potato flakes, salt, spices, and sugar shall be clearly and legibly identified, in English, with the common name of the food.
15A	food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used 511-6-1.05(2)(a) - equipment and utensils, constructed of durable materials (c)	1	Observed dry goods being stored in broken storage bin in bakery area. Equipment and utensils shall be designed and constructed to be durable and to retain their characteristic qualities under normal use conditions.
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 broken pipe from 3-compartment sink in pots and pan area draining directly onto the floor. Observed floor tiles broken, missing throughout the facility. Some areas holding water. All areas should be maintained in good condition. This has been an ongoing issue for years. Some of the tiles have been removed in large areas. Continue efforts toward compliance.

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Code	Violation	Pts	Inspector notes
1B	proper hot holding temperatures 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p)	9	Observed several food items (see comments) being hot held below 135F in Cambro units . Except during preparation, cooking, or cooling, or when time is used as the public health control, time/temperature control for safety food shall be maintained at 41°F (5°C) or below or 135°F (57°C) or above, except that roasts cooked to a temperature and for a time specified in subsection (5)(a)2 of this Rule and reheated using the same temperature and time conditions as cooking may be held at a temperature of 130°F (54°C) or above. Reheated.
18	insects, rodents, and animals not present 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c)	3	Observed live pests and evidence of rodents and pests. The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled to minimize their presence on the premises by:1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments of food and supplies;2. Routinely inspecting the premises for evidence of pests;3. Using methods, if pests are found, such as trapping devices or other means of pest control as specified under subsections (6)(e), (6)(m), and (6)(n) of this Rule; Pf and4. Eliminating harborage conditions.

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Recent reports (39)

Source-attributed observations and allegations from news coverage and reports submitted to GPS. Each entry credits its source.

ALLEGATION According to WGXA Published: May 27, 2026
Luis Alfonso Ramirez directed a drug trafficking network from Washington State Prison using contraband cellphones.
"A Washington state prison inmate, Luis Alfonso Ramirez, has been indicted for allegedly directing a major fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking network from inside Georgia’s Washington State Prison using contraband cellphones, according to federal prosecutors."
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ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 21, 2025
A GDC officer fatally shot inmate Jacob Cole Henson during a fight at a hospital while transporting him for medical treatment.
"He was fatally shot after getting into a fight with a GDC officer who had taken him to a hospital to be treated for injuries he suffered in a stabbing incident earlier that day, according to police."
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ALLEGATION According to 11Alive Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
GDC alleges the inmates involved in the deadly brawl were believed to be involved with gang activity.
"The inmates involved in Sunday's deadly brawl at Washington State Prison were believed to be involved with gang activity, according to a press release from the Georgia Department of Corrections."
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
The GDC alleged that the inmates involved in the deadly brawl were believed to be involved with gang activity.
"The inmates involved in Sunday's deadly brawl at Washington State Prison were believed to be involved with gang activity, according to a press release from the Georgia Department of Corrections."
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ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 12, 2026
Buildings with maintenance issues enabled prisoners to strip materials to make weapons, locks didn't work allowing easy cell escapes, and understaffing left movements unmonitored.
"Consultants hired for a yearlong study in June 2024 by Gov. Brian Kemp found that buildings with maintenance issues enabled prisoners to strip off materials from walls and ceilings to make weapons. They could also easily leave cells because the locks didn't work. Understaffing meant there often were no officers around to monitor the movements, the consultants reported, and officers working alone reported being fearful of retribution if they enforced the rules."
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ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 12, 2026
A U.S. DOJ report described violence, sexual assaults, and gang-run prisons in Georgia fueled by a culture of indifference.
"A scathing report published by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2024 described violence, sexual assaults and gang-run prisons in Georgia, fueled by a culture of indifference."
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ALLEGATION According to 41NBC Published: Jan 23, 2026
The Department of Justice found in 2024 that Georgia prison officials are 'deliberately indifferent' to unchecked deadly violence, widespread drug use, extortion and sexual abuse at state lockups.
"The Department of Justice in 2024 issued a report saying Georgia prison officials are 'deliberately indifferent' to unchecked deadly violence, widespread drug use, extortion and sexual abuse at state lockups."
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ALLEGATION According to 41NBC Published: Jan 23, 2026
Sophisticated gangs run prison black markets trafficking in drugs, weapons and electronic devices such as drones and smart phones, according to DOJ investigators.
"The report, following a civil rights investigation, found sophisticated gangs run prison black markets trafficking in drugs, weapons and electronic devices such as drones and smart phones."
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ALLEGATION According to 41NBC Published: Jan 23, 2026
State Rep. Billy Hitchens alleged the prison system is not making meaningful progress toward preventing inmates from jamming or disabling cell-door locks, which allows inmates to roam freely and commit attacks.
"State Rep. Billy Hitchens, a Republican from Rincon, said at the December hearing that he's concerned the prison system isn't making meaningful progress toward preventing inmates from jamming or disabling cell-door locks. Broken locks allow inmates to roam freely and commit attacks."
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Former inmates allege the riot was the predictable outcome of years of neglect, understaffing, and lost opportunities inside Georgia's prison system.
"two former Georgia inmates say the violence was not an isolated incident — but the predictable outcome of years of neglect, understaffing, and lost opportunities inside the state's prison system."
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Earl White alleges overcrowded dorms, chronic staffing shortages, and little to no supervision create an environment ripe for riots and inmate-on-inmate violence.
"He describes conditions he believes create the environment for riots like the one at Washington State Prison: overcrowded dorms, chronic staffing shortages, and little to no supervision."
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Earl White alleges that dorms house more than 50 men with just two televisions, no education programs, no job training, no recreation, mold in showers, rats, insects, poor medical care, and sometimes spoiled food.
"He says many dorms house more than 50 men with just two televisions, no education programs, no job training, and no recreation. White also describes filthy conditions — mold in showers, rats, insects, poor medical care, and food he says is sometimes spoiled."
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Earl White alleges that educational and vocational programs that once existed in Georgia prisons have disappeared, contributing to increased violence.
""When I first came to prison, they had GEDs, technical college, programs," he said. "Now there's nothing. And then everybody complains about the violence.""
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Brandon alleges that gangs dominate daily life at Washington State Prison, committing robberies and stabbings regularly, and that he personally was robbed, beaten, and stabbed multiple times.
"Brandon says gangs dominate daily life, committing robberies and stabbings regularly. He says he was robbed, beaten, and stabbed multiple times during his incarceration."
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Brandon alleges that Washington State Prison is the worst prison he attended, describing it as a dangerous environment where people carry and use deadly knives daily with no intervention.
""Washington State Prison is the worst prison I went to. I've never seen evil like I've seen inside the Georgia Department of Corrections," he said. "People are running around with very deadly knives, using them every day. It's a third world country in there.""
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Brandon alleges that incarcerated people are left entirely alone and that no staff come to help even in life-or-death situations.
""The system — it is broken. It does not exist," Brandon said. "You are alone in there. If it comes to life or death, there is no one coming to help you.""
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ALLEGATION According to WGXA Published: Jan 13, 2026
The brother of deceased inmate Jimmy Trammell alleged the prison is responsible for his death and demanded answers.
""He got a death sentence. They killed him. I need answers. We all need answers, and Washington State Prison needs to provide those answers.""
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ALLEGATION According to WGXA Published: Jan 21, 2026
The GDC characterized the disturbance as a 'gang-affiliated' incident, though this is described as suspected.
"after the suspected 'gang-affiliated disturbance' that left three inmates dead and over a dozen more injured at the facility in Davisboro on Jan. 11"
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ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Jan 14, 2026
The GDC described the deadly Washington State Prison brawl as a gang-affiliated disturbance.
"That's where — a day earlier — three inmates were killed and 13 others were injured during what the GDC described as a gang-affiliated "disturbance" Sunday afternoon."
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ALLEGATION According to WFXL Published: Apr 28, 2026
Twelve inmates are alleged to have participated in a gang-affiliated disturbance involving felony murder, aggravated assault, gang participation, and unlawful acts of violence.
"The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) confirmed that the 12 male offenders have been charged with Felony murder, aggravated assault, gang participation and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution in connection to the investigation of the deadly incident at the prison located in Davisboro."
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ALLEGATION According to 13WMAZ Recorded by GPS: May 5, 2026
Twelve named inmates are charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, gang participation, and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution for their alleged roles in the deadly January 2026 riot.
"The Department of Corrections says 12 inmates were charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, gang participation, and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution for their role in the riot at Washington State Prison."
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ALLEGATION According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published: Apr 28, 2026
Twelve inmates are accused of murder and other crimes in connection with a violent altercation that killed four inmates and injured twelve others.
"Twelve inmates at Washington State Prison in Davisboro have been charged with murder and other crimes following a violent altercation in January that resulted in four inmate deaths and twelve injuries."
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ALLEGATION Submitted via GPS public submission form Recorded by GPS: Feb 22, 2026
INCIDENT — WASHINGTON STATE PRISON: Family member reports that Washington State Prison has been on continuous lockdown for approximately 50 days following riots…
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Jul 30, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on July 30, 2026: "THIS VIDEO IS NOT JUST A VIDEO — IT IS A WARNING SIGN. Watch this video. Listen to what is being said. Then ask yourself one question: How did Georgia’s prisons get to this point? For years, families, incarcerated individuals, former correctional officers, and advocates have been sounding the alarm. This is not a new problem. This did not happen overnight. This is what happens when a system is allowed to fail for years. When prisons are severely understaffed… When facilities are overcrowded… When violence becomes normalized… When gangs gain control because there are not enough officers or resources to maintain order… When people who have spent decades proving they can safely return to society continue to sit behind bars while prisons continue to collapse. Former GDC officer Tyler Ryals has spoken publicly about concerns regarding staffing shortages, violence, and safety issues inside Georgia prisons. The question is not just “What is happening inside these walls?” The question is: Who allowed it to get this bad? Because the truth is — this crisis did not come from one person. It is the result of years of decisions made by leadership, legislators, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Georgia Parole Board. We cannot ignore the thousands of people who were sentenced under Georgia’s former 7-year and 14-year life laws. Many have spent decades incarcerated, maintained clean disciplinary records, completed programs, and demonstrated change — yet remain denied parole while prisons continue to struggle with overcrowding. Releasing those who have earned a second chance would not solve every problem overnight, but it would be one step toward reducing overcrowding and allowing resources to be focused where they are desperately needed. Instead, what we are seeing is a cycle: More overcrowding More violence More lockdowns More restrictions More trauma for incarcerated individuals, families, and even correctional staff Look at Washington State Prison. After the deadly January 2026 violence that left multiple people dead and others injured, the facility became a symbol of the crisis many families have been warning about. But the solution cannot simply be locking people down for months and hoping the problem disappears. Isolation does not fix broken systems. Punishment without rehabilitation does not create safer prisons. Ignoring the root causes does not protect anyone. The men and women inside these facilities are human beings. Their families are […]"
"THIS VIDEO IS NOT JUST A VIDEO — IT IS A WARNING SIGN. Watch this video. Listen to what is being said. Then ask yourself one question: How did Georgia’s prisons get to this point? For years, families, incarcerated individuals, former correctional officers, and advocates have been sounding the alarm. This is not a new problem. This did not happen overnight. This is what happens when a system is allowed to fail for years. When prisons are severely understaffed… When facilities are overcrowded… When violence becomes normalized… When gangs gain control because there are not enough officers or resources to maintain order… When people who have spent decades proving they can safely return to society continue to sit behind bars while prisons continue to collapse. Former GDC officer Tyler Ryals has spoken publicly about concerns regarding staffing shortages, violence, and safety issues inside Georgia prisons. The question is not just “What is happening inside these walls?” The question is: Who allowed it to get this bad? Because the truth is — this crisis did not come from one person. It is the result of years of decisions made by leadership, legislators, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and the Georgia Parole Board. We cannot ignore the thousands of people who were sentenced under Georgia’s former 7-year and 14-year life laws. Many have spent decades incarcerated, maintained clean disciplinary records, completed programs, and demonstrated change — yet remain denied parole while prisons continue to struggle with overcrowding. Releasing those who have earned a second chance would not solve every problem overnight, but it would be one step toward reducing overcrowding and allowing resources to be focused where they are desperately needed. Instead, what we are seeing is a cycle: More overcrowding More violence More lockdowns More restrictions More trauma for incarcerated individuals, families, and even correctional staff Look at Washington State Prison. After the deadly January 2026 violence that left multiple people dead and others injured, the facility became a symbol of the crisis many families have been warning about. But the solution cannot simply be locking people down for months and hoping the problem disappears. Isolation does not fix broken systems. Punishment without rehabilitation does not create safer prisons. Ignoring the root causes does not protect anyone. The men and women inside these facilities are human beings. Their families are human beings. The officers who walk into dangerous conditions every day are human beings. Everyone deserves a system that actually works. At WorldWide Chain Breakers, we will continue bringing awareness, amplifying voices, and demanding accountability. We are asking: Where is the transparency? Where is the accountability? Where is the plan to actually fix this crisis? Because silence has not solved anything. Awareness creates pressure. Pressure creates change. And we are not going away. Follow, share, and help bring attention to what is happening behind Georgia’s prison walls. #WorldWideChainBreakers #GeorgiaPrisons #PrisonReform #AccountabilityNow #LetThemBeHeard #HonorTheOriginalSentence #GeorgiaNeedsChange Stephanie Navarrete Founder & CEO, WorldWide Chain Breakers"
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 7, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 7, 2026: "WASHINGTON STATE PRISON HAS BEEN LOCKED DOWN FOR MORE THAN 250 DAYS. THAT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE—THAT IS A COLLAPSED INSTITUTION. On September 19, we will stand outside Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, because what is reportedly happening behind those walls can no longer be excused, minimized or hidden beneath the word “lockdown.” Washington State Prison has reportedly been operating under some form of lockdown since the deadly violence of January 11, 2026. Four incarcerated men ultimately died. Approximately a dozen others were injured. A correctional officer was also hurt. The Georgia Department of Corrections claimed the immediate disturbance was brought under control in approximately 90 minutes. But more than eight months later, the prison population is still being punished as though the emergency never ended. Since January 11, incarcerated people have reportedly remained confined inside their dormitories with little or no outdoor recreation, no normal visitation, severely restricted movement, limited commissary, interrupted programming and reduced access to ordinary communication. Then, on August 20, the lockdown reportedly became even more restrictive in some dormitories. Men who had already spent more than seven months confined inside their housing units were placed behind their individual cell doors. They were locked down inside a prison that was already locked down. By September 19, some men will reportedly have spent approximately one full month behind those cell doors—and more than 250 days under restrictions that began after January 11. Let us stop calling this temporary. Let us stop calling it an emergency response. Let us stop pretending this is evidence of security. This is evidence that Washington State Prison has not been able to restore safe, lawful and normal operations for more than eight months. If a state prison cannot safely provide movement, recreation, visitation, programming, medical access and basic human contact for more than 250 days, then the problem is not simply the people incarcerated there. The problem is the institution. The problem is its staffing. The problem is its leadership. The problem is its infrastructure. The problem is the Georgia Department of Corrections. And the problem is a state government that continues allowing human beings to be locked behind doors rather than publicly admitting that one of its prisons is unable to function. LOCKDOWN HAS BECOME GEORGIA’S COVER FOR INSTITUTIONAL […]"
"WASHINGTON STATE PRISON HAS BEEN LOCKED DOWN FOR MORE THAN 250 DAYS. THAT IS NOT AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE—THAT IS A COLLAPSED INSTITUTION. On September 19, we will stand outside Washington State Prison in Davisboro, Georgia, because what is reportedly happening behind those walls can no longer be excused, minimized or hidden beneath the word “lockdown.” Washington State Prison has reportedly been operating under some form of lockdown since the deadly violence of January 11, 2026. Four incarcerated men ultimately died. Approximately a dozen others were injured. A correctional officer was also hurt. The Georgia Department of Corrections claimed the immediate disturbance was brought under control in approximately 90 minutes. But more than eight months later, the prison population is still being punished as though the emergency never ended. Since January 11, incarcerated people have reportedly remained confined inside their dormitories with little or no outdoor recreation, no normal visitation, severely restricted movement, limited commissary, interrupted programming and reduced access to ordinary communication. Then, on August 20, the lockdown reportedly became even more restrictive in some dormitories. Men who had already spent more than seven months confined inside their housing units were placed behind their individual cell doors. They were locked down inside a prison that was already locked down. By September 19, some men will reportedly have spent approximately one full month behind those cell doors—and more than 250 days under restrictions that began after January 11. Let us stop calling this temporary. Let us stop calling it an emergency response. Let us stop pretending this is evidence of security. This is evidence that Washington State Prison has not been able to restore safe, lawful and normal operations for more than eight months. If a state prison cannot safely provide movement, recreation, visitation, programming, medical access and basic human contact for more than 250 days, then the problem is not simply the people incarcerated there. The problem is the institution. The problem is its staffing. The problem is its leadership. The problem is its infrastructure. The problem is the Georgia Department of Corrections. And the problem is a state government that continues allowing human beings to be locked behind doors rather than publicly admitting that one of its prisons is unable to function. LOCKDOWN HAS BECOME GEORGIA’S COVER FOR INSTITUTIONAL FAILURE A lockdown is supposed to be a limited response to an immediate and identifiable threat. It should have a documented reason. It should have a beginning. It should be reviewed regularly. It should have measurable conditions for ending it. And it should never be used indefinitely as a substitute for adequate staffing, functioning locks, proper classification, working cameras, responsible leadership and meaningful supervision. Where is Washington State Prison’s written recovery plan? What specific emergency still requires restrictions more than eight months after January 11? Who authorized the continuing dormitory lockdown? Who authorized the August 20 behind-the-door restrictions? Which dormitories are affected? How often are those decisions reviewed? What specific criteria must be met before each restriction is lifted? What is the projected date for restoring normal operations? Why have families not been given clear answers? GDC has had more than 250 days to answer these questions. Silence is no longer an acceptable response. “Security reasons” is not an acceptable response. “Facility operations” is not an acceptable response. “Lockdown” is not an explanation. It is a word being used to conceal the fact that Washington State Prison has apparently remained unable to perform some of its most basic functions for most of 2026. THIS IS WHAT COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT LOOKS LIKE The people confined at Washington State Prison have different convictions, different sentences, different disciplinary histories and different levels of responsibility. They did not all participate in the January 11 violence. They did not all possess weapons. They did not all threaten anyone. They did not all violate prison rules. Yet the consequences of that day have reportedly been imposed across entire dormitories for more than eight months. When hundreds of people lose recreation, visitation, movement and programming because of the conduct of others, that is not individualized discipline. When men are locked behind cell doors without being told what they personally did, how long the restriction will last or what they must do to regain normal movement, that is not correction. That is collective punishment created by institutional incapacity. It is easier to lock down an entire dormitory than to safely staff it. It is easier to cancel visitation than to provide enough officers to supervise it. It is easier to restrict movement than to repair broken doors and locks. It is easier to suspend programming than to properly escort people. It is easier to keep people behind cell doors than to admit that the state cannot operate the prison it built. But convenience for GDC does not erase the humanity of the people bearing the consequences. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON WAS ALREADY OPERATING WITH A REPORTED 72% SECURITY VACANCY RATE Public reporting indicated that approximately 72% of Washington State Prison’s authorized correctional-officer positions were vacant as of July 2025. The reported figures showed approximately 224 authorized positions—but only 63 filled. That is not a minor staffing shortage. That is an institutional emergency. It means the prison reportedly had fewer than three out of every ten authorized correctional positions filled. Those employees must cover multiple shifts, days off, medical leave, transportation, hospital details, perimeter security, visitation, searches, emergency response and the direct supervision of more than 1,000 incarcerated people. Not every employee is inside a dormitory at the same time. Not every filled position is present on every shift. Not every officer can be assigned to direct housing-unit supervision. So how many officers are actually inside Washington State Prison’s dormitories at night? How many officers are present on weekends? How many housing units are being supervised from outside a locked door? How many required rounds are being missed? How long could someone call for help before an officer physically enters? How many officers are being forced to work mandatory overtime inside an environment that is unsafe for them too? GDC must release the current numbers—not old numbers, not statewide averages and not authorized positions that exist only on paper. We demand the actual number of officers physically working each shift at Washington State Prison. We demand to know how many officers are assigned to every occupied dormitory. We demand to know how many supervisory positions remain vacant. We demand to know how many employees have resigned, transferred, been terminated or been arrested since January 11. If staffing is the reason normal operations cannot resume, then GDC must say so publicly. Do not hide a staffing collapse by locking human beings behind steel doors. BEHIND-THE-DOOR CONFINEMENT CREATES ITS OWN EMERGENCY Locking people inside cells does not make their medical conditions disappear. It does not stop diabetes. It does not prevent seizures. It does not lower blood pressure. It does not treat infections. It does not stop strokes, heart attacks or psychiatric crises. It does not cool an overheated cell. It does not guarantee that someone in distress will be heard. When movement is restricted, every basic need depends upon an officer opening a door or responding to a call. Medical treatment depends upon staffing. Medication distribution depends upon staffing. Showers depend upon staffing. Clean clothing and bedding depend upon staffing. Recreation depends upon staffing. Emergency evacuation depends upon staffing. If Washington State Prison does not have enough officers to provide those services consistently, then locking people behind cell doors magnifies the danger—it does not solve it. Families deserve to know: How frequently are the men behind these doors receiving showers? How much time are they allowed outside their cells each day? Are they receiving outdoor recreation and direct sunlight? Are meals delivered on schedule and at safe temperatures? Are medications distributed on time? Are sick-call requests collected and answered? Are medical appointments being canceled because officers are unavailable for escorts? Are mental-health professionals conducting rounds? Are temperature logs being maintained inside occupied cells? Are drinking water, toilets and sinks functioning? Are fire alarms working? Can every cell door be opened during an emergency? Are officers completing physical wellness checks—or merely signing paperwork? Who independently verifies the records? These are not privileges. These are the minimum responsibilities assumed by the State of Georgia when it locks a human being behind a door and removes his ability to seek help for himself. A PRISON SENTENCE IS NOT PERMISSION FOR GOVERNMENT ABANDONMENT Prison is the punishment. Being held in a state of permanent emergency is not the punishment. Being deprived of months of family contact is not the punishment. Being denied normal movement because the state cannot hire enough officers is not the punishment. Being trapped behind a cell door while medical needs go unanswered is not the punishment. Being denied sunlight, recreation and meaningful human contact is not the punishment. Living under constant tactical-unit presence because ordinary prison operations have collapsed is not the punishment. Being punished for violence committed by other people is not the punishment. And being hidden from public view while GDC refuses to explain when normal operations will return is not the punishment. The State of Georgia sentenced people to incarceration. It did not sentence them to indefinite institutional abandonment. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON LEADERSHIP MUST ANSWER PUBLICLY We are demanding direct answers from Washington State Prison leadership and the Georgia Department of Corrections: 1. Is Washington State Prison still under the lockdown imposed after January 11? 2. If so, what documented emergency currently justifies it? 3. Which dormitories have been confined behind cell doors since August 20? 4. What written authority was used to impose those restrictions? 5. Are incarcerated people receiving written notice explaining the restrictions? 6. How often is each dormitory’s status reviewed? 7. What is the current number of filled correctional-officer positions? 8. How many officers are physically assigned to each shift and dormitory? 9. How much out-of-cell time is each person receiving? 10. When will outdoor recreation and normal movement be restored? 11. When will visitation resume? 12. How many medical appointments have been delayed or canceled during the lockdown? 13. How many uses of force, assaults, overdoses, suicide attempts, medical emergencies and deaths have occurred since January 11? 14. Are cell temperatures, officer rounds, showers, meals and medication distributions being documented? 15. Who outside GDC is independently inspecting and verifying those records? 16. What repairs to doors, locks, cameras, plumbing, ventilation and fire-safety systems remain incomplete? 17. What is the written plan—with actual deadlines—for returning Washington State Prison to normal operation? These questions require answers. Not a public-relations statement. Not another carefully worded press release. Not another promise that the facility is “safe and secure.” If Washington State Prison were truly safe, secure and fully operational, hundreds of people would not still be living under emergency restrictions more than eight months later. SEPTEMBER 19 IS NOT JUST A PROTEST—IT IS PUBLIC NOTICE On September 19, 2026, we will gather peacefully outside Washington State Prison. We are placing the State of Georgia on public notice that these conditions are known. The dates are known. The reported restrictions are known. The staffing crisis is known. The lack of transparency is known. After September 19, no official should be able to claim that families and advocates remained silent. We will not create chaos. We will expose the chaos already hidden behind those walls. We will not threaten anyone. We will stand peacefully and lawfully while demanding that the state meet its own legal and moral responsibilities. We will not interfere with prison operations. We will ask why normal prison operations have apparently been impossible for more than 250 days. We will not apologize for demanding proof that the people inside are alive, medically cared for, protected and treated as human beings. PEACEFUL PROTEST SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 11:00 AM–3:00 PM WASHINGTON STATE PRISON 13262 Highway 24 East Davisboro, Georgia 31018 Come stand for incarcerated people. Come stand for their families. Come stand for correctional employees being forced to work inside a dangerously understaffed institution. Come stand for transparency, constitutional treatment and public safety. Bring signs. Bring water. Bring your voice. Remain peaceful, lawful and together. Our message will be clear: MORE THAN 250 DAYS IS NOT TEMPORARY. A 72% VACANCY RATE IS NOT SAFE STAFFING. A LOCKDOWN INSIDE A LOCKDOWN IS NOT REHABILITATION. COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT IS NOT CORRECTION. SILENCE IS NOT TRANSPARENCY. AND LOCKING THE DOORS DOES NOT ERASE THE STATE’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERY LIFE BEHIND THEM. Washington State Prison must restore lawful operations. GDC must release the facts. Independent inspectors must be allowed inside. Families deserve answers. The people behind those doors must be heard. OPEN THE DOORS. RESTORE VISITATION. RESTORE RECREATION. RESTORE MEDICAL ACCESS. RELEASE THE STAFFING NUMBERS. RELEASE THE INCIDENT DATA. END THE COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT. LET THEM BE HEARD. We are watching. We are documenting. We are showing up. And on September 19, we will stand directly outside the walls where Georgia hoped silence would remain locked inside."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 1, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 1, 2026: "THE MOVEMENT DOES NOT STOP AT ONE PRISON. What is happening inside Georgia’s prison system is bigger than one facility, one family, one organization, or one voice. And after standing together at Telfair State Prison, we are continuing the movement. THE NEXT PEACEFUL PROTEST IS SET. Washington State Prison Saturday, September 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM We are once again calling on families, advocates, advocacy organizations, reform groups, faith leaders, formerly incarcerated individuals, and concerned citizens to come together peacefully. Because this is not about who gets recognition. This is not about whose organization has the biggest following. This is not about politics, personal agendas, or competition. THIS IS ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN LIVING BEHIND THOSE WALLS. The ones who cannot come outside the gates to protest for themselves. The ones whose families are left searching for answers. The ones living every day with the consequences of a prison system that families and advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about. We will continue to stand for: Humanity Accountability Transparency Humane living conditions Adequate medical care Safety for everyone inside An end to preventable suffering and neglect The voices of those who feel they have been forgotten And just as before, let us be absolutely clear: THIS IS A PEACEFUL PROTEST. We are not coming to create violence. We are not coming to threaten anyone. We are not coming to damage property or interfere with operations. We are coming to PEACEFULLY exercise our voices and stand together for human beings who cannot stand outside those gates themselves. We ask everyone attending to respect the rules: Remain in lawful public areas. Do not enter restricted prison property. Do not block roads, entrances, gates, or emergency access. No violence. No threats. No destruction of property. Do not engage in confrontations. Follow lawful instructions from law enforcement. If someone attempts to provoke you — DO NOT ENGAGE. Our power is not in chaos. OUR POWER IS IN UNITY. One person speaking can be ignored. But families, advocates, organizations, and communities standing together send a message that cannot be easily dismissed. So once again, we extend the invitation to EVERY advocacy organization working for justice, prison reform, humane conditions, accountability, sentencing reform, parole reform, and the protection of human lives: COME STAND WITH US. Bring your organization. Bring your […]"
"THE MOVEMENT DOES NOT STOP AT ONE PRISON. What is happening inside Georgia’s prison system is bigger than one facility, one family, one organization, or one voice. And after standing together at Telfair State Prison, we are continuing the movement. THE NEXT PEACEFUL PROTEST IS SET. Washington State Prison Saturday, September 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM We are once again calling on families, advocates, advocacy organizations, reform groups, faith leaders, formerly incarcerated individuals, and concerned citizens to come together peacefully. Because this is not about who gets recognition. This is not about whose organization has the biggest following. This is not about politics, personal agendas, or competition. THIS IS ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN LIVING BEHIND THOSE WALLS. The ones who cannot come outside the gates to protest for themselves. The ones whose families are left searching for answers. The ones living every day with the consequences of a prison system that families and advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about. We will continue to stand for: Humanity Accountability Transparency Humane living conditions Adequate medical care Safety for everyone inside An end to preventable suffering and neglect The voices of those who feel they have been forgotten And just as before, let us be absolutely clear: THIS IS A PEACEFUL PROTEST. We are not coming to create violence. We are not coming to threaten anyone. We are not coming to damage property or interfere with operations. We are coming to PEACEFULLY exercise our voices and stand together for human beings who cannot stand outside those gates themselves. We ask everyone attending to respect the rules: Remain in lawful public areas. Do not enter restricted prison property. Do not block roads, entrances, gates, or emergency access. No violence. No threats. No destruction of property. Do not engage in confrontations. Follow lawful instructions from law enforcement. If someone attempts to provoke you — DO NOT ENGAGE. Our power is not in chaos. OUR POWER IS IN UNITY. One person speaking can be ignored. But families, advocates, organizations, and communities standing together send a message that cannot be easily dismissed. So once again, we extend the invitation to EVERY advocacy organization working for justice, prison reform, humane conditions, accountability, sentencing reform, parole reform, and the protection of human lives: COME STAND WITH US. Bring your organization. Bring your banners. Bring your signs. Bring your families. Bring your voices. But most importantly—bring your heart for the people we are standing for. Because at the end of the day… THEY ARE INCARCERATED. THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. THEY CAN’T COME OUTSIDE THOSE GATES TO FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES. SO WE WILL. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM SAVE THE DATE. SHARE THIS POST. INVITE OTHERS. This is bigger than one protest. This is a movement. WorldWide Chain Breakers Breaking Chains. Building Freedom. #WashingtonStatePrison #GeorgiaPrisonCrisis #GeorgiaPrisonReform #PeacefulProtest #StandForThoseWhoCant #Humanity #Accountability #Transparency #WorldWideChainBreakers #TheMovementContinues"
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 2, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 2, 2026: "SEPTEMBER IS HERE — AND WE’RE NOT SLOWING DOWN! WorldWide Chain Breakers and our advocacy partners have a full month ahead, and we want YOU involved. Whether you can join us from your living room, share our information, attend in person, or simply help spread the word—every voice matters. SAVE THIS POSTER TO YOUR PHONE! Screenshot it. Save it. Share it. Send it to a friend. Keep these dates where you can find them, because September is about showing up, speaking out, and keeping Georgia’s prison crisis in the public eye. SEPTEMBER 7 • 9:00 PM EST Facebook Live — Discussing Georgia Prisons SEPTEMBER 14 • 9:00 PM EST SPECIAL LIVE INTERVIEW WITH DARBY BEGGARLY Darby brings experience in mediation, reentry, rehabilitation, and working with incarcerated people. This is a conversation you’re going to want to hear. Come prepared to listen, learn, and ask questions. SEPTEMBER 19 • 11:00 AM–3:00 PM PEACEFUL PROTEST — WASHINGTON STATE PRISON We will stand together peacefully and lawfully to bring attention to the conditions, treatment, accountability, and change families have been demanding. SEPTEMBER 21 • 9:00 PM EST Facebook Live — Discussing Georgia Prisons SEPTEMBER 28 • 9:00 PM EST Facebook Live — Discussing Georgia Prisons We cannot expect change while remaining silent. SAVE THE POSTER. SHARE THE POSTER. INVITE SOMEONE. SHOW UP. You don’t have to have an incarcerated loved one to care about what happens behind prison walls. You simply have to believe that accountability, safety, rehabilitation, transparency, and basic human dignity matter. Our voices become harder to ignore every time another person joins the conversation. OUR VOICE. OUR PEOPLE. OUR CHANGE. Let Them Be Heard. Let Them Be Free. Stephanie Navarrete Founder & CEO WorldWide Chain Breakers"
"SEPTEMBER IS HERE — AND WE’RE NOT SLOWING DOWN! WorldWide Chain Breakers and our advocacy partners have a full month ahead, and we want YOU involved. Whether you can join us from your living room, share our information, attend in person, or simply help spread the word—every voice matters. SAVE THIS POSTER TO YOUR PHONE! Screenshot it. Save it. Share it. Send it to a friend. Keep these dates where you can find them, because September is about showing up, speaking out, and keeping Georgia’s prison crisis in the public eye. SEPTEMBER 7 • 9:00 PM EST Facebook Live — Discussing Georgia Prisons SEPTEMBER 14 • 9:00 PM EST SPECIAL LIVE INTERVIEW WITH DARBY BEGGARLY Darby brings experience in mediation, reentry, rehabilitation, and working with incarcerated people. This is a conversation you’re going to want to hear. Come prepared to listen, learn, and ask questions. SEPTEMBER 19 • 11:00 AM–3:00 PM PEACEFUL PROTEST — WASHINGTON STATE PRISON We will stand together peacefully and lawfully to bring attention to the conditions, treatment, accountability, and change families have been demanding. SEPTEMBER 21 • 9:00 PM EST Facebook Live — Discussing Georgia Prisons SEPTEMBER 28 • 9:00 PM EST Facebook Live — Discussing Georgia Prisons We cannot expect change while remaining silent. SAVE THE POSTER. SHARE THE POSTER. INVITE SOMEONE. SHOW UP. You don’t have to have an incarcerated loved one to care about what happens behind prison walls. You simply have to believe that accountability, safety, rehabilitation, transparency, and basic human dignity matter. Our voices become harder to ignore every time another person joins the conversation. OUR VOICE. OUR PEOPLE. OUR CHANGE. Let Them Be Heard. Let Them Be Free. Stephanie Navarrete Founder & CEO WorldWide Chain Breakers"
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 5, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 5, 2026: "I passed out flyers and spoke with people in the community surrounding Washington State Prison earlier today in anticipation of the upcoming peaceful protest outside the prison on September 19th. EVERY interaction I had with the public there was positive. Most of them were already aware that major change is needed at WSP. One lady even said that they put the entire community at risk by having the prison so grossly understaffed that the prison lost all control during the riot in January. She's right. Word is spreading about what's going on inside the walls of Georgia's neglected and unconstitutional "prisons"."
"I passed out flyers and spoke with people in the community surrounding Washington State Prison earlier today in anticipation of the upcoming peaceful protest outside the prison on September 19th. EVERY interaction I had with the public there was positive. Most of them were already aware that major change is needed at WSP. One lady even said that they put the entire community at risk by having the prison so grossly understaffed that the prison lost all control during the riot in January. She's right. Word is spreading about what's going on inside the walls of Georgia's neglected and unconstitutional "prisons"."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 7, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 7, 2026: "I gave this interview the day after the riot at Washington State Prison in January of this year. Washington is the prison I was at when I blew the whistle and called for action on 8-1-24. I was the Instructor there at that time. The inmates inside haven't felt the sun touch their skin since that (preventable) riot took place early this January. They needed intervention in 2024, and they still need intervention now."
"I gave this interview the day after the riot at Washington State Prison in January of this year. Washington is the prison I was at when I blew the whistle and called for action on 8-1-24. I was the Instructor there at that time. The inmates inside haven't felt the sun touch their skin since that (preventable) riot took place early this January. They needed intervention in 2024, and they still need intervention now."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 13, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 13, 2026: "WASHINGTON STATE PRISON IS NEXT! The next WorldWide Chain Breakers Peaceful Protest is almost here, and we’re calling on families, advocates, organizations, faith leaders, formerly incarcerated people, and concerned citizens to COME STAND WITH US. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON — DAVISBORO, GEORGIA SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Telfair was one stop. Washington is the next. And our purpose hasn’t changed. This isn’t about getting attention for an organization. It isn’t about who gets credit, whose logo is on a shirt, or who has the biggest platform. THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THOSE WALLS. Families and advocates have continued raising serious concerns about conditions at Washington State Prison. We are going to stand peacefully outside those gates because the people living inside cannot come outside and stand for themselves. We are standing for humanity, accountability, transparency, safety, humane conditions, meaningful rehabilitation, fair parole consideration, and basic human dignity. JUST LIKE TELFAIR, THERE ARE RULES EVERYONE ATTENDING MUST FOLLOW. Our right to peacefully protest comes with the responsibility to keep this demonstration peaceful, lawful, organized, and safe. Remain in lawful public areas. Do not enter restricted prison property. Do not block roads, gates, driveways, prison entrances, employee access, or emergency vehicles. No violence, threats, or destruction of property. Do not confront, threaten, or harass correctional employees, visitors, law enforcement, or anyone else. Follow lawful instructions from law enforcement. Bring your signs. Speak. Pray. Share your stories. Make your voices heard — peacefully and respectfully. If anyone attempts to provoke an argument or confrontation, DO NOT ENGAGE. NO VIOLENCE. NO THREATS. NO CONFRONTATION. Our strength will come from our unity, our message, and our peace. Local law enforcement will also be notified of our peaceful protest, just as they were with Telfair. And once again, ALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELCOME. Bring your organization’s shirts. Bring your banners. Bring your signs. Bring your families. You don’t have to stand under the WorldWide Chain Breakers name. JUST COME STAND FOR THEM. Because when different organizations, families, advocates, and communities can put everything else aside and stand together for the people behind those walls, THAT sends a message. TELFAIR WASN’T THE FINISH LINE. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON IS NEXT. And we intend to continue taking […]"
"WASHINGTON STATE PRISON IS NEXT! The next WorldWide Chain Breakers Peaceful Protest is almost here, and we’re calling on families, advocates, organizations, faith leaders, formerly incarcerated people, and concerned citizens to COME STAND WITH US. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON — DAVISBORO, GEORGIA SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Telfair was one stop. Washington is the next. And our purpose hasn’t changed. This isn’t about getting attention for an organization. It isn’t about who gets credit, whose logo is on a shirt, or who has the biggest platform. THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THOSE WALLS. Families and advocates have continued raising serious concerns about conditions at Washington State Prison. We are going to stand peacefully outside those gates because the people living inside cannot come outside and stand for themselves. We are standing for humanity, accountability, transparency, safety, humane conditions, meaningful rehabilitation, fair parole consideration, and basic human dignity. JUST LIKE TELFAIR, THERE ARE RULES EVERYONE ATTENDING MUST FOLLOW. Our right to peacefully protest comes with the responsibility to keep this demonstration peaceful, lawful, organized, and safe. Remain in lawful public areas. Do not enter restricted prison property. Do not block roads, gates, driveways, prison entrances, employee access, or emergency vehicles. No violence, threats, or destruction of property. Do not confront, threaten, or harass correctional employees, visitors, law enforcement, or anyone else. Follow lawful instructions from law enforcement. Bring your signs. Speak. Pray. Share your stories. Make your voices heard — peacefully and respectfully. If anyone attempts to provoke an argument or confrontation, DO NOT ENGAGE. NO VIOLENCE. NO THREATS. NO CONFRONTATION. Our strength will come from our unity, our message, and our peace. Local law enforcement will also be notified of our peaceful protest, just as they were with Telfair. And once again, ALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELCOME. Bring your organization’s shirts. Bring your banners. Bring your signs. Bring your families. You don’t have to stand under the WorldWide Chain Breakers name. JUST COME STAND FOR THEM. Because when different organizations, families, advocates, and communities can put everything else aside and stand together for the people behind those walls, THAT sends a message. TELFAIR WASN’T THE FINISH LINE. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON IS NEXT. And we intend to continue taking this movement one prison at a time. THEY CAN’T STAND OUTSIDE THOSE GATES — SO WE WILL. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON — DAVISBORO, GA SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM PEACEFULLY. LAWFULLY. UNITED. SHARE THIS POST. SPREAD THE WORD. SHOW UP. WorldWide Chain Breakers Breaking Chains, Restoring Lives #WorldWideChainBreakers #WashingtonStatePrison #PeacefulProtest #GeorgiaPrisons #GeorgiaPrisonReform #Humanity #Accountability #Transparency #StandForThoseWhoCant #September19"
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 19, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 19, 2026: "Peaceful protest outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026!"
"Peaceful protest outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026!"
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 19, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 19, 2026: "Outside Washington State Prison."
"Outside Washington State Prison."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 19, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 19, 2026: "Closing remarks at the protest outside Washington State Prison earlier today. @highlight Please share, and subscribe to my You Tube channel @TylerRyalsX if you wish to support/follow my advocacy."
"Closing remarks at the protest outside Washington State Prison earlier today. @highlight Please share, and subscribe to my You Tube channel @TylerRyalsX if you wish to support/follow my advocacy."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 21, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 21, 2026: "A message from protester Danielle Wimbish outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)."
"A message from protester Danielle Wimbish outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 20, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 20, 2026: "A message from protester Kisha Smith outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)."
"A message from protester Kisha Smith outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 21, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 21, 2026: "More photos from the protest outside Washington State Prison this past Saturday."
"More photos from the protest outside Washington State Prison this past Saturday."
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OBSERVATION According to Facebook, Tyler Ryals Published: Sep 21, 2026
Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 21, 2026: "A message from protester Angela Smith outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)."
"A message from protester Angela Smith outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)."
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WITNESS CLAIM According to Manual Entry Recorded by GPS: Jun 11, 2026
Man killed in a homicide at Washington SP
FAMILY REPORT According to Manual Entry Recorded by GPS: May 9, 2026
Wife of an inmate at Washington State Prison reports legal mail (envelope marked "LEGAL MAIL") was delivered to the facility per USPS tracking on 2026-04-25 at 9:47am, but as of 2026-05-09 — 14 calendar days / ~10 working days later — her husband still has not received it. SOP 227.06 (Offender Receipt of Mail) §IV.D.1.b.i permits incoming privileged correspondence to be held only "until the end of the second working day after receipt" for sender-verification, and §IV.E.2.b states inspection "shall not prevent its delivery by the end of the next working day after receipt." Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 125-3-3-.03 places attorney mail in the privileged category. The current delay exceeds the SOP-permitted verification window by approximately 8 working days.
"This is really becoming ridiculous- LEGAL MAIL - delivered and still not received by my husband. [Sender provided a screenshot showing USPS tracking that the package arrived at Washington State Prison on April 25, 2026 at 9:47am. As of May 9, 2026, the inmate has not received the legal mail.]"

Timeline (107)

September 21, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 21, 2026: "A message from protester Danielle Wimbish outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)." report

September 21, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 21, 2026: "More photos from the protest outside Washington State Prison this past Saturday." report

September 21, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 21, 2026: "A message from protester Angela Smith outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)." report

September 20, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 20, 2026: "A message from protester Kisha Smith outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026. Please share. Immediate intervention is needed at Washington State Prison (and the majority of GDC facilities)." report

September 19, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 19, 2026: "Peaceful protest outside Washington State Prison 9-19-2026!" report

September 19, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 19, 2026: "Outside Washington State Prison." report

September 19, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 19, 2026: "Closing remarks at the protest outside Washington State Prison earlier today. @highlight Please share, and subscribe to my You Tube channel @TylerRyalsX if you wish to support/follow my advocacy." report

September 13, 2026

Tyler Ryals, a former GDC officer, wrote on Facebook on September 13, 2026: "WASHINGTON STATE PRISON IS NEXT! The next WorldWide Chain Breakers Peaceful Protest is almost here, and we’re calling on families, advocates, organizations, faith leaders, formerly incarcerated people, and concerned citizens to COME STAND WITH US. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON — DAVISBORO, GEORGIA SATURDAY • SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Telfair was one stop. Washington is the next. And our purpose hasn’t changed. This isn’t about getting attention for an organization. It isn’t about who gets credit, whose logo is on a shirt, or who has the biggest platform. THIS IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THOSE WALLS. Families and advocates have continued raising serious concerns about conditions at Washington State Prison. We are going to stand peacefully outside those gates because the people living inside cannot come outside and stand for themselves. We are standing for humanity, accountability, transparency, safety, humane conditions, meaningful rehabilitation, fair parole consideration, and basic human dignity. JUST LIKE TELFAIR, THERE ARE RULES EVERYONE ATTENDING MUST FOLLOW. Our right to peacefully protest comes with the responsibility to keep this demonstration peaceful, lawful, organized, and safe. Remain in lawful public areas. Do not enter restricted prison property. Do not block roads, gates, driveways, prison entrances, employee access, or emergency vehicles. No violence, threats, or destruction of property. Do not confront, threaten, or harass correctional employees, visitors, law enforcement, or anyone else. Follow lawful instructions from law enforcement. Bring your signs. Speak. Pray. Share your stories. Make your voices heard — peacefully and respectfully. If anyone attempts to provoke an argument or confrontation, DO NOT ENGAGE. NO VIOLENCE. NO THREATS. NO CONFRONTATION. Our strength will come from our unity, our message, and our peace. Local law enforcement will also be notified of our peaceful protest, just as they were with Telfair. And once again, ALL ORGANIZATIONS ARE WELCOME. Bring your organization’s shirts. Bring your banners. Bring your signs. Bring your families. You don’t have to stand under the WorldWide Chain Breakers name. JUST COME STAND FOR THEM. Because when different organizations, families, advocates, and communities can put everything else aside and stand together for the people behind those walls, THAT sends a message. TELFAIR WASN’T THE FINISH LINE. WASHINGTON STATE PRISON IS NEXT. And we intend to continue taking […]" report

Source Articles (55)

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Oct 9, 2026

Georgia sigue comprando cerraduras para celdas. Sus prisiones siguen usando candados.

Oct 9, 2026

How a Family Gets Medical Information Out of a Georgia Prison

Sep 20, 2026

Cómo una familia obtiene información médica de una prisión de Georgia

Sep 20, 2026

New Director of Compliance Unit Named • The Georgia Virtue

Other · by Press · Aug 30, 2026

Former leadership

Officials who previously held leadership roles at this facility.

Role	Name	Tenure	Deaths this facility / career
Warden (facility lead)	Wilkes, Scott W	2022-04-01 → 2024-06-15	15 / 15
Warden (facility lead)	Fort, Karl D	2020-07-01 → 2022-03-31	3 / 3
Warden 1 (facility lead)	Walker, Victor L	2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22	— / 69
WARDEN 1 (facility lead)	White, Jermaine M	2018-01-01 → 2019-12-31	— / 23
DEPUTY WARDEN (facility deputy)	Dogan, Helen R	2016-01-01 → 2025-12-31	30 / 30
Deputy Warden of Security (facility deputy)	Grier, Tamara	2025-11-16 → 2026-09-15	14 / 14
Deputy Warden (facility deputy)	Sanford, Paul Anthony	2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22	— / 12
Deputy Warden (facility deputy)	Alexander, Ricky	2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22	— / —
Chaplain (specialty lead)	Harris, Warren	2026-08-27 → 2026-08-27	— / —
Chaplain (specialty lead)	Harris Sr., Warren	2023-11-22 → 2023-11-22	— / —

View full GDC Leadership Accountability page →

Facility Information

Security Classification

Following Washington State Prison?

Leadership & Accountability (as of 2026 records)

About

Washington State Prison: A Gang War, a Lockdown That Never Ended, and 39 Deaths in Six Years

The January 2026 Gang War

A Lockdown With No End Date

Twelve Charged, and the Question of Who Wasn't

Six Officers on Duty

The Physical Plant as a Weapon Source

Medical Care: Cancelled Orders and Missing Providers

Food, Water, and the Limits of Inspection Scores

Classification Drift and Gang Control

Staff Conduct, Contraband, and the Whistleblower Problem

Leadership

What the Record Shows

Sources

Mortality Statistics

Deaths by Year

County Public Health Department

Contact

Why this matters

How you can help

Food Safety Inspections

Recent inspections

Recent reports (39)

Timeline (107)

Source Articles (55)

Former leadership

Location

Aerial View

Facility Information

Security Classification

Following Washington State Prison?

Leadership & Accountability (as of 2026 records)

About

Washington State Prison: A Gang War, a Lockdown That Never Ended, and 39 Deaths in Six Years

The January 2026 Gang War

A Lockdown With No End Date

Twelve Charged, and the Question of Who Wasn't

Six Officers on Duty

The Physical Plant as a Weapon Source

Medical Care: Cancelled Orders and Missing Providers

Food, Water, and the Limits of Inspection Scores

Classification Drift and Gang Control

Staff Conduct, Contraband, and the Whistleblower Problem

Leadership

What the Record Shows

Sources

Mortality Statistics

Deaths by Year

County Public Health Department

Contact

Why this matters

How you can help

Food Safety Inspections

Recent inspections

Recent reports (39)

Timeline (107)

Source Articles (55)

Related Intelligence

Violence & Safety

Staffing Crisis

Facility Conditions

Deaths in Custody

Oversight & Investigations

Former leadership

Location

Aerial View