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Tillman, Alexander
Status: active
Profile written August 2, 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
Alexander Tillman began his Georgia Department of Corrections career in 2005 as a Behavioral Health Counselor at Emanuel Probation Detention Center and later held various social-service and counseling roles across the state. By 2021 Tillman was assigned to Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison (GDCP), where he advanced from Behavioral Health Counselor to Unit Manager and, in July 2024, to Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment. GPS records attribute 15 deaths to GDCP during Tillman’s leadership tenures—all occurring after his appointment as deputy warden. One federal civil‑rights lawsuit naming Tillman as a defendant was filed in 2025, and systemic reports document severe overcrowding and security lapses at the prison.What happened on their watch
Unit Manager (2023–2024) at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison
As a unit supervisor, Tillman oversaw housing operations during a period when GDCP was already under scrutiny. Per GPS incident records, in April 2024 inmate Ronald Allen suffered severe frostbite injuries to his hands after being ordered to separate frozen beef patties with inadequate protective equipment; a federal lawsuit over the resulting amputations would be filed in 2026. In June 2024, the Atlanta Journal‑Constitution reported that newly convicted inmate Shane Tassi was photographed inside GDCP displaying a homemade shank and a contraband cell phone just days after arrival—an incident that, according to the publication, led a Georgia district attorney to warn that prison conditions threaten public safety. No deaths are attributed to Tillman’s unit‑manager tenure.Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment (July 2024–present)
After Tillman became deputy warden, GPS records show 15 people died at GDCP between September 2024 and August 2025. The decedents ranged in age from 27 to 76. Among them:- Joshua Holliday, 43, died by suicide on October 21, 2024; a GBI autopsy confirmed ligature hanging and positive toxicology for methamphetamine. GPS records note a disputed timeline and ongoing family concerns.
- William Rhodes, 38, and Jacob Wilcox, 27, were both classified as homicides on the GPS mortality ledger.
- Mark Smith, 53, died in June 2025; according to GPS event‑level documentation, he suffered from advanced Parkinson’s disease and had been denied transfer to a medical unit.
The remaining deaths carry a cause‑category that GPS records denote as “6,” indicating unknown or multiple causes. During the same period, the Atlanta Journal‑Constitution published investigation reports alleging that GDCP was plagued by inmate‑on‑inmate violence, staff corruption, and “widespread infrastructure failures.” GPS capacity analyses note that the facility, designed for 800 people, held approximately 4,540—operating at 568% of its original design capacity.
Litigation
- Miller v. Holt — U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia (Case No. 5:25‑cv‑00356), filed August 25, 2025, and pending. The complaint names Alexander Tillman as a defendant; no further details are available in GPS records.
Sources
- Georgia Prisoners’ Speak personnel and mortality records
- Atlanta Journal‑Constitution — multiple investigative reports on conditions at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (2024‑2025)
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia — docket for Miller v. Holt
- GBI autopsy report for Joshua Holliday (referenced in GPS research)
- GPS capacity and incident reports (2024‑2026)
Positions Held
| Title | Facility | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| DEPUTY WARDEN | 2025-01-01 → present | |
| Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment | GEORGIA DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION STATE PRISON | 2024-07-16 → 2025-08-31 |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL UNIT MANAGER | 2024-01-01 → 2024-07-15 | |
| CSM CORRECTIONAL UNIT MANAGER | GEORGIA DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION STATE PRISON | 2023-01-01 → 2023-12-31 |
| SOCIAL SVCS PRGM CONSULTANT 3 | GEORGIA DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION STATE PRISON | 2022-01-01 → 2022-12-31 |
| BEHAVIORAL HLTH COUNSELOR 2 | GEORGIA DIAGNOSTIC AND CLASSIFICATION STATE PRISON | 2021-01-01 → 2021-12-31 |
| BEHAVIORAL HLTH COUNSELOR 2 | 2020-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | |
| SOCIAL SVCS PRGM CONSULTANT 3 | 2017-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | |
| EMPLOYMENT SVCS SPEC 3 | 2016-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | |
| BEH HEALTH/COUNSELOR (WL) | 2015-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | |
| Behavioral Health Counselor | EMANUEL PROBATION DETENTION CENTER | 2011-01-01 → 2011-12-31 |
| Behavioral Health Counselor | EMANUEL PROBATION DETENTION CENTER | 2007-01-01 → 2007-12-31 |
| Behavioral Health Counselor | EMANUEL PROBATION DETENTION CENTER | 2005-01-01 → 2005-12-31 |
Lawsuits as defendant
| Case # | Court | Filed | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:25-cv-00356 | GAMD | 2025-08-25 | pending |
Deaths attributed during tenure
15 people died at facilities under Tillman, Alexander's leadership.
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