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Steedley, William J
Status: active
Profile written July 12, 2026
This profile reflects positional accountability — this individual held the leadership roles shown during the dates shown, during which the listed deaths or lawsuits occurred. Inclusion does not constitute a legal finding of personal culpability for any specific incident.
Tenure Summary
William J. Steedley’s career with the Georgia Department of Corrections began as a correctional officer in 2015 and progressed through supervisory ranks to warden by 2021. GPS records show no deaths attributed to the facilities he served during any of his leadership tenures. During his first year as warden, Steedley was named as a defendant in a federal civil rights lawsuit, Clayton v. Ward, filed in the Middle District of Georgia. The case was terminated in early 2022 with no recorded settlement or judgment amount.What happened on his watch
Because GPS records do not associate a specific facility with any of Steedley’s positions, the locations he oversaw cannot be identified. Nevertheless, his roles and the timeframes are documented.As a CSM Correctional Unit Manager from 2017 through 2019, Steedley held a unit-supervisor post; no deaths are attributed to his supervision during these years. In 2020, he served as Deputy Warden, a facility-deputy role, again with no deaths recorded. He became Warden 1 in 2021, a facility-lead position, and continued in that rank into 2022. While serving as warden, Steedley was a defendant in Clayton v. Ward, a lawsuit filed on January 29, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. The nature of the allegations is not detailed in the available records, but the case was terminated on February 11, 2022, with no publicly listed settlement or damages award. GPS attributes zero custodial deaths to the facility (or facilities) where Steedley held his warden post.
Litigation
- Clayton v. Ward, 1:21-cv-00025 (M.D. Ga. filed Jan. 29, 2021, terminated Feb. 11, 2022). William J. Steedley was a named defendant. The docket reflects a terminated status without an outcome amount.
Sources
- GPS personnel and accountability records — career chronology and zero death count during leadership tenures.
- CourtListener docket for Clayton v. Ward — case filing, termination, and defendant identification.
Positions Held
| Title | Facility | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| WARDEN 1 | 2021-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | |
| Warden | CALHOUN STATE PRISON | 2020-10-01 → 2022-12-31 |
| DEPUTY WARDEN | 2020-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL UNIT MANAGER | 2017-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL LIEUTENANT | 2016-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | |
| CORRECTIONS OFFICER (SP) | 2015-01-01 → 2015-12-31 |
Lawsuits as defendant
| Case # | Court | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:21-cv-00025 | GAMD | 2021-01-29 | terminated |
Deaths attributed during tenure
6 people died at facilities under Steedley, William J's leadership.
| Date | Decedent | Age | Facility | Role at time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-10-11 | TIMOTHY EDWIN BRYANT | 64 | CALHOUN STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2022-09-30 | JAMES THOMAS ENNIS | 63 | CALHOUN STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2022-05-16 | DAQUAVIOUS LACKEY | 21 | CALHOUN STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2022-04-09 | CHRISTOPHER EDWARD OLIVA | 43 | CALHOUN STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2022-04-02 | JAMES STANLEY POWELL | 63 | CALHOUN STATE PRISON | Warden |
| 2021-03-10 | CHRISTOPHER ILES | 48 | CALHOUN STATE PRISON | Warden |
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