A certified nursing assistant at Augusta State Medical Prison (ASMP) has been arrested and charged with assaulting a disabled inmate in the facility’s medical wing on Valentine’s Day.
Janette Shields, 67, of Augusta, was arrested on February 24, 2026 and charged with simple battery and exploitation of an elderly or disabled person. She was booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center and later released on bond.
Janette Shields, 67, of Augusta
According to arrest warrants, Shields allegedly struck inmate Bruce Smith, 56, with an open hand on February 14 around dinnertime. Shields was working in the prison’s medical wing at the time of the alleged assault.
Bruce Smith (GDC photo)
Smith is disabled and requires assistance with daily living tasks and medical care. He stands 6’1″ but weighs just 103 pounds according to Georgia Department of Corrections records — severely underweight for his height. He is serving a five-year sentence for aggravated stalking out of Bleckley County, with a maximum release date of June 30, 2029.
A Pattern at ASMP’s Medical Wing
The arrest raises broader questions about the treatment of disabled and medically vulnerable inmates in ASMP’s medical wing. Georgia Prisoners’ Speak has been documenting conditions at the facility through multiple sources, and the Shields arrest is consistent with a pattern of staff misconduct toward patients who are entirely dependent on their caregivers.
ASMP was established in 1981 and serves as the Georgia Department of Corrections’ primary facility for inmates with significant physical and mental health needs. Inmates housed in the medical wing are among the most vulnerable people in state custody — many cannot move, feed themselves, or perform basic bodily functions without assistance. When the people responsible for their care become their abusers, these patients have virtually no ability to protect themselves.
The question is not just whether Janette Shields struck Bruce Smith. The question is what systems are in place at ASMP to prevent abuse of patients who cannot defend themselves, and whether those systems are working.
How to Report Abuse in Georgia Prisons
If you or a loved one has experienced abuse or medical neglect in a Georgia prison, you can share your story anonymously through Tell My Story. You can also use Impact Justice AI to send advocacy emails to Georgia lawmakers and oversight agencies.
This story was first reported by The Augusta Press.