GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: DOJ Investigation of Georgia Prisons: Violence, Safety & Constitutional Violations ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-03-17 04:40:36 EDT Research Date: 2026-01-30 Topic: Legal & Constitutional JSON: https://gps.press/research-data/doj-investigation-of-georgia-prisons-violence-safety-constitutional-violations/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- This document is from the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) prisons, finding systemic constitutional violations including broken security infrastructure, dysfunctional classification and housing systems, gang control over prison operations, massive contraband problems (27,425 weapons and 12,483 cellphones recovered in under two years), severe underreporting of homicides and violent incidents, and widespread failures in incident investigation. The DOJ identifies deliberate indifference to incarcerated persons' safety, with specific case details of homicides resulting from classification failures, and recommends 82 minimum remedial measures. The findings reveal that less than 10% of fights and less than 23% of assaults were forwarded for investigation, and that GDC's mortality data systematically undercounts homicides by classifying obvious killings as 'unknown' for months or years. STATISTICS (52) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Weapons recovered from GDC prisons Nov 2021-Aug 2023 Between November 2021 and August 2023, GDC recovered 27,425 weapons from its prisons. Value: 27425.0 weapons Tags: contraband,violence,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Contraband Recovery Data (November 2021 – August 2023); GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022) - [confirmed] Cellphones recovered from GDC prisons Nov 2021-Aug 2023 Between November 2021 and August 2023, GDC recovered 12,483 cellphones from its prisons. Value: 12483.0 cellphones Tags: contraband,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Contraband Recovery Data (November 2021 – August 2023) - [confirmed] Georgia has fourth-highest state prison population Georgia is the eighth most populous state in the United States and has the fourth-highest state prison population. Value: 4.0 rank among state prison populations Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Illegal drug items recovered from GDC prisons Nov 2021-Aug 2023 Between November 2021 and August 2023, GDC recovered 2,016 illegal drug items from its prisons. Value: 2016.0 drug items Tags: contraband,drugs,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Contraband Recovery Data (November 2021 – August 2023) - [confirmed] GDC incarcerates almost 50,000 people in 34 state and 4 private prisons GDC incarcerates almost 50,000 people in 34 state-operated prisons and 4 private prisons, ranging in capacity from fewer than 500 to more than 2,500 beds. Value: 50000.0 incarcerated people (approximate) Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Drone sightings documented by GDC Nov 2021-Aug 2023 Between November 2021 and August 2023, GDC documented 262 drone sightings at its prisons. Value: 262.0 drone sightings Tags: contraband,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Contraband Recovery Data (November 2021 – August 2023) - [confirmed] GDC operates 38 total prisons GDC operates 34 state-operated prisons and 4 private prisons, totaling 38 prisons including men's medium- and close-security prisons, men's 'special mission' prisons, and women's prisons. Value: 38.0 prisons Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: facilities Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Facilities Division website; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA) - [confirmed] Fence-line throw-overs documented by GDC Nov 2021-Aug 2023 Between November 2021 and August 2023, GDC documented 346 fence-line throw-overs at its prisons. Value: 346.0 throw-overs Tags: contraband,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Contraband Recovery Data (November 2021 – August 2023) - [confirmed] Systemwide CO vacancy rate approximately 50% Staffing levels vary across the prisons, with correctional officer vacancy rates around 50% systemwide and over 70% at ten of the largest facilities. Value: 50.0 percent CO vacancy rate (approximate systemwide) (vs. 70 percent at ten largest facilities) Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Over 32,000 people classified medium security More than 32,000 of GDC's population are classified as medium security. Value: 32000.0 people classified medium security Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GDC Inmate Statistical Profile (June 1, 2024); GDC About GDC - State Prisons - [confirmed] Over 11,600 people classified close security More than 11,600 of GDC's population are classified as close security. Value: 11600.0 people classified close security Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GDC Inmate Statistical Profile (June 1, 2024); GDC About GDC - State Prisons - [confirmed] Almost 10,000 serving life or life without parole Almost 10,000 are serving a life sentence or life without parole; for the remainder, the average sentence is about 26 years. Value: 10000.0 people serving life or LWOP (approximate) Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] 67% of surveyed individuals in wrong cells at medium-security prison At one large medium-security prison, DOJ expert found that about 67% of the individuals surveyed in several different general population housing units were standing in front of cells other than those identified as theirs on GDC's roster, confirming that official cell-assignment records were not reliable. Value: 67.0 percent Tags: conditions,facilities,gangs,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Average sentence about 26 years for non-lifers For those not serving life or life without parole, the average sentence is about 26 years. Value: 26.0 years average sentence Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] GDC operates on $1.2 billion budget GDC operates on a $1.2 billion budget. Value: 1.2 billion dollars budget Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: budget Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report - [confirmed] Over 14,000 validated STG members in GDC system A small number of central-office personnel are assigned to investigate, track, and respond to incidents involving more than 14,000 validated STG (security threat group) members in the GDC system. Value: 14000.0 validated STG members Tags: gangs,demographics,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Next Generation Assessment (NGA) Classification Tool - [confirmed] 142 homicides in GDC prisons from 2018-2023 Over the six-year period from 2018 through 2023, GDC reported a total of 142 homicides in its prisons, with 48 in the first three years and a 95.8% increase in the latter three years, with 94 homicides. Value: 142.0 homicides Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] 95.8% increase in homicides from first to second three-year period GDC reported 48 homicides from 2018-2020 and 94 homicides from 2021-2023, a 95.8% increase. Value: 95.8 percent increase in homicides Tags: violence,death,trend Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Record 35 homicides in GDC prisons in 2023 Although GDC's security staffing saw some modest increases in 2023, with more staff hires than separations for the first time in years, violence remained a constant, with a record 35 homicides in the prisons by GDC's own reported numbers. Value: 35.0 homicides Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] GDC homicide numbers by year 2018-2023 According to GDC mortality reports, in 2018 there were 7 homicides systemwide; in 2019, 13 homicides; in 2020, 28 homicides; in 2021, 28 homicides; in 2022, 31 homicides; and in 2023, 35 homicides. Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [reported] 18 confirmed or suspected homicides in first five months of 2024 In the first five months of 2024, there were 18 confirmed or suspected homicides in GDC custody, based on GDC's reported homicide totals and other documentation. Value: 18.0 confirmed or suspected homicides Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Georgia homicide rate triple national average in 2019 The national average homicide rate in state prisons across the country for 2019 was 12 per 100,000 people. Georgia's rate in 2019 was almost triple, at 34 per 100,000 people, and the numbers of homicides have increased precipitously since then. Value: 34.0 homicides per 100,000 people (vs. 12 national average per 100,000) Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Bureau of Justice Statistics national prison homicide rate data; GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records; Bureau of Justice Statistics Report on National Homicide Rates in State Prisons (2019) - [confirmed] From 2011-2018 homicides never exceeded nine annually From 2011 through 2018, the number of homicides systemwide in GDC prisons never exceeded nine deaths annually. Value: 9.0 maximum annual homicides (2011-2018) Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Less than 10% of fights forwarded to OPS for investigation According to GDC's incident report records from 22 GDC prisons, less than 10% of fights from January 2022 to April 2023 were forwarded by the facility to OPS for investigation. Value: 10.0 percent (less than) Tags: investigations,violence,operations,policy Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files - [confirmed] Less than 23% of inmate-on-inmate assaults forwarded for investigation According to GDC's incident report records from 22 GDC prisons, less than 23% of inmate-on-inmate assaults from January 2022 to April 2023 were forwarded by the facility to OPS for investigation. Value: 23.0 percent (less than) Tags: investigations,violence,operations,policy Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files - [confirmed] Less than 12% of serious injury incidents forwarded for investigation Even for incidents involving a serious injury, less than 12% were forwarded by GDC facilities for OPS investigation from January 2022 to April 2023 across 22 GDC prisons. Value: 12.0 percent (less than) Tags: investigations,violence,operations Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files - [confirmed] Less than 6% of weapon incidents forwarded for investigation Of incidents involving a weapon from January 2022 to April 2023 across 22 GDC prisons, less than 6% were forwarded by the facility for OPS investigation. Value: 6.0 percent (less than) Tags: investigations,contraband,violence,operations Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files - [disputed] 6 reported vs 18 suspected homicides in first 5 months of 2024 GDC reported in its June 2024 mortality data that for the first five months of 2024, there were 6 homicides, even though at least 18 deaths were categorized as homicides in GDC incident reports and GDC assured DOJ these suspected homicides were under investigation. Value: 6.0 officially reported homicides (vs. 18 suspected homicides per incident reports) Tags: death,violence,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Seven 2022 deaths reclassified as homicides only in 2024 DOJ identified seven deaths from 2022 that GDC categorized as undetermined or natural until eventually categorizing them as homicides in 2024, although other official records made clear much earlier that the deaths were homicides. Value: 7.0 reclassified deaths Tags: death,violence,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] 1,481 grievance appeals in six months of 2023, ~480 rejected procedurally In a period of approximately six months in 2023, GDC documented 1,481 grievance appeals, approximately 480 of which were rejected for failure to follow procedural requirements for filing grievances, such as timeliness, raising multiple issues in a single grievance, or grieving a 'non-grievable' issue. Value: 1481.0 grievance appeals (vs. 480 rejected for procedural reasons) Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: legal,policy,conditions,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Grievance Appeals Data (2023) - [confirmed] Over 1,400 reported violence incidents Jan 2022-Apr 2023 From January 2022 through April 2023, there were more than 1,400 reported incidents of violence, including fights, assaults, hostage incidents, and homicides, across the close-security prisons and most of the medium-security prisons. Of these, 19.7% involved a weapon, 45.1% resulted in serious injury, and 30.5% resulted in offsite medical treatment. Value: 1400.0 reported violence incidents (minimum) Tags: violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] 19.7% of violence incidents involved a weapon Of over 1,400 reported violence incidents from January 2022 through April 2023, 19.7% involved a weapon. Value: 19.7 percent involving weapon Tags: violence,contraband Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA) - [confirmed] 45.1% of violence incidents resulted in serious injury Of over 1,400 reported violence incidents from January 2022 through April 2023, 45.1% resulted in serious injury. Value: 45.1 percent resulting in serious injury Tags: violence,medical Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] 30.5% of violence incidents resulted in offsite medical treatment Of over 1,400 reported violence incidents from January 2022 through April 2023, 30.5% resulted in offsite medical treatment. Value: 30.5 percent requiring offsite medical treatment Tags: violence,medical Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Macon State Prison had 8 homicides in 2020 In 2020, eight homicides occurred at Macon State Prison, more than any other Georgia prison that year. Value: 8.0 homicides Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Phillips State Prison had most homicides in 2022 with 5 In 2022, Phillips State Prison had the most homicides of any GDC prison, with five; there were four homicides at Macon State Prison that year. Value: 5.0 homicides Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Seven incarcerated people and one CO killed at Smith State Prison in 2023 In 2023, seven incarcerated people and one CO were killed in homicides at Smith State Prison. Value: 8.0 homicides (7 incarcerated + 1 CO) Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: violence,death,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Proportion of men's population incarcerated for violent crimes increased modestly The proportion of the men's prison population incarcerated for violent crimes (not including sex offenders) increased from approximately 51% in 2016 to 56% in 2023, a modest increase that does not explain the dramatic rise in violence in the prisons. Value: 56.0 percent incarcerated for violent crimes (2023) (vs. 51 percent in 2016) Tags: demographics,violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA) - [confirmed] 635 sexual abuse allegations reported in 2022 GDC reported 635 sexual-abuse allegations in 2022 (the most recent year for which a systemwide PREA report is available). Value: 635.0 sexual abuse allegations Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,LGBTI Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); Bearchild v. Cobban, 947 F.3d 1130 (9th Cir. 2020); Crawford v. Cuomo, 796 F.3d 252 (2d Cir. 2015); PREA Standards (National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape); GDC PREA Annual Reports (2019-2022); State Board of Pardons and Paroles Records - [confirmed] Sexual abuse allegations by year 2019-2022 GDC reported 635 sexual-abuse allegations in 2022, 639 in 2021, 702 in 2020, and 653 in 2019. These numbers likely fail to capture the full scope of harm. Tags: violence,LGBTI Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); PREA Standards (National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape); GDC PREA Annual Reports (2019-2022); State Board of Pardons and Paroles Records - [confirmed] Hundreds of GDC officers arrested in past six years In the past six years, hundreds of GDC officers have been arrested on criminal charges arising out of acts committed in or in relation to the prisons, including acts with victims outside of the prisons. The vast majority were contraband-related arrests, while other charges involved violence, extortion, or sexual assault; gangs with members inside and outside the prisons often played a role. Dozens more officers have been fired, but not arrested, for misconduct related to contraband. Tags: corruption,contraband,gangs,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] GDC average CO vacancy rate 49.3% in 2021, 56.3% in 2022, 52.5% in 2023 GDC's average CO vacancy rate was 49.3% in 2021, 56.3% in 2022, and 52.5% in 2023. Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Staffing Records and Rosters - [confirmed] Over 2,800 unfilled CO positions as of end of 2023 As of the end of 2023, GDC still had over 2,800 unfilled CO positions, despite claims of hiring more security staff than they lost. Value: 2800.0 unfilled CO positions Date: 2023-12-01 Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] 18 prisons had CO vacancy rates over 60% in December 2023 In December 2023, 18 GDC prisons had CO vacancy rates over 60%, and 10 of those were over 70%. Value: 18.0 prisons with over 60% CO vacancy rate (vs. 10 prisons with over 70% CO vacancy rate) Date: 2023-12-01 Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); GDC Staffing Records and Rosters - [confirmed] 20 prisons had CO vacancy over 60% in April 2023, 12 over 70% In April 2023, the CO vacancy rate was over 60% at 20 medium- and close-security prisons; twelve of these prisons had vacancy rates above 70%. Value: 20.0 prisons with over 60% CO vacancy rate (vs. 12 prisons with over 70% vacancy rate) Date: 2023-04-01 Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA) - [confirmed] 11 prisons had 100+ vacant CO positions each in December 2023 In December 2023, at eleven close- and medium-security GDC prisons, 100 or more officer positions per facility remained vacant. Value: 11.0 prisons with 100+ CO vacancies each Date: 2023-12-01 Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post) - [confirmed] Over 15 state prisons saw net loss in filled CO positions Oct 2022-Dec 2023 Between October 2022 and the end of 2023, more than 15 state prisons housing individuals at the medium- and close-security levels saw a net loss in filled CO positions, while several others saw increases only in the single digits. Value: 15.0 prisons with net loss in COs (minimum) Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); Bureau of Justice Statistics Report on National Homicide Rates in State Prisons (2019) - [confirmed] CO starting salaries $40,000-$44,000 per year Following a recent salary increase, COs currently make starting salaries in the $40,000 – $44,000 per year range, depending on the security level of the facility at which they work. Value: 40000.0 dollars starting salary (low end) (vs. 44000 dollars starting salary (high end)) Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: staffing,budget Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] 12 of 13 prison audits found failure to document 30-minute cell checks In a sampling of internal GDC audits from 2023, in 12 out of 13 prison audits, staff failed to properly document required 30-minute cell checks in segregated housing units, with auditors noting lengthy periods with no documented checks, or evidence that checks had been documented before or after the fact instead of contemporaneously. Value: 12.0 of 13 audited prisons failing cell check documentation Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [reported] EMS delayed average 30 minutes waiting for prison gates to open One EMS director estimated that EMS teams are delayed an average of 30 minutes during emergency responses to a GDC prison, waiting for security staff to open the three gates necessary to access the prison's medical department. Value: 30.0 minutes average EMS delay Tags: staffing,medical Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Four deaths in 2021 with bodies found in rigor mortis GDC records on four deaths of incarcerated persons in 2021 describe bodies that were discovered by staff after the onset of rigor mortis, indicating that hours had likely passed since the individual had died. Value: 4.0 deaths with delayed discovery (rigor mortis) Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: death,staffing,medical Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] Average GDC prison over 30 years old and reaching 'end of life' The average GDC prison is over 30 years old and reaching 'end of life,' according to a recent public presentation by the Commissioner. Value: 30.0 years average prison age Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: facilities,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report FINDINGS (35) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] DOJ finds reasonable cause of Eighth Amendment violations in Georgia prisons After an extensive investigation in Georgia's prisons housing people at the medium- and close-security levels, the Department of Justice concludes that there is reasonable cause to believe that the State of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Corrections violate the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: legal,violence,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); U.S. Constitution, Eighth Amendment; Van Riper v. Wexford Health Sources, Inc., 67 F. App'x 501 (10th Cir. 2003); Porter v. Clarke, 923 F.3d 348 (4th Cir. 2019); Bearchild v. Cobban, 947 F.3d 1130 (9th Cir. 2020); Crawford v. Cuomo, 796 F.3d 252 (2d Cir. 2015); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018) - [reported] Non-working medical unit door locks for 17+ years Staff at a GDC prison reported that doors in the medical unit, including doors leading to administrative offices, have not had working locks for at least 17 years. Incarcerated people walk into the staff breakroom and steal food from the refrigerator on a regular basis. Tags: conditions,facilities,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Padlocks used on cell doors violating national standards DOJ confirmed that GDC sometimes inappropriately uses padlocks on cell doors due to broken primary locks. Using padlocks on cell doors is a violation of national correctional standards. GDC's fire safety inspections have identified this as a violation. This practice exposes incarcerated people to unacceptable risk of harm in fire or other emergencies due to additional evacuation time. Tags: conditions,facilities,policy Sources: Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Fire safety systems non-operational in some prisons In some GDC prisons, entire fire safety systems or most alarms are nonoperational due to GDC's failure to fix them. For prisons with inoperable fire alarm systems, staff is required to conduct fire watch rounds every 30 minutes, but DOJ review of logbooks and audits confirmed these rounds do not always occur with the required frequency. Tags: conditions,facilities,policy Sources: Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Counselor staffing rates at 50% or lower at several prisons In a review of data from 16 GDC prisons from January 2022 to August 2023, DOJ found that most prisons reviewed failed to fully staff allotted counselor positions, and several had counselor staffing rates in the 50% range or lower. Tags: staffing,operations Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Segregation lapses in at least nine prisons per 2023 audits GDC's 2023 internal audits found severe lapses in staff and supervisor rounds in segregation units in at least nine prisons. At one medium-security men's prison, the audit found long gaps between checks and some days with no checks at all, and noted that all check sheets reviewed by the auditor were incomplete. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: solitary,staffing,operations,facilities Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [reported] Incarcerated people held in shower cages for up to a week at Rogers At Rogers State Prison, incarcerated individuals described being held in kiosks and shower cages for up to a week when segregation cells were unavailable. Some individuals described having to defecate and urinate in the cages. One incarcerated person reported going six weeks without a shower and receiving no outside recreation. Tags: solitary,conditions,facilities Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987) - [confirmed] Gang control dictates housing, meals, showers, jobs, and unit operations DOJ found that gangs have unacceptable levels of control over large sections of Georgia's prison system. Inadequate policies and programs have allowed gangs to dictate where individuals live, who eats, who showers, who gets a job, and how units operate. Tags: gangs,conditions,operations,violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Incident miscoding systematically underreports violence DOJ identified numerous instances at multiple prisons where staff completed incident reports for violent incidents with narratives clearly describing an assault or fight, but the incident report did not code the incident as an assault or fight. Instead, incidents were recorded as 'injury,' 'disruptive event,' or 'special hospital transport,' excluding them from violent incident totals. Tags: violence,operations,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Incident Reports and Records; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] OPS communication breakdown with Facilities Division The OPS director cited a 'communication breakdown' between OPS and the Facilities Division prior to his tenure, and explained that he believed more information should be shared on a regular basis. Facility wardens and officials explained they do not receive investigation reports or summaries and that OPS only informs facilities of results on a case-by-case basis or upon request, largely verbal and informal. Tags: investigations,operations,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files - [confirmed] Employee background check deficiencies DOJ identified problems with employee background-check and screening processes in GDC employee personnel files. Concerns about criminal histories, financial problems, and possibly gang-affiliated associates were identified in the background-check process, but individuals had been hired without documentation of mitigating circumstances or why their hiring was appropriate despite identified concerns. Tags: corruption,staffing,gangs,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] GDC fails to conduct required window and door security checks Several 2023 GDC facility audits found that GDC fails to perform required checks of windows and doors to ensure they have not been cut or modified. Several facility audits also found GDC fails to maintain accurate key and tool inventories and to document key counts and checks. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: conditions,facilities,operations,policy Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] GDC disclosing less to public about prison conditions In the midst of its awareness of pervasive violence problems, GDC has been disclosing less to the public about conditions and harm in the prisons, providing more minimal updates and generally only high-level information to the press regarding inquiries about deaths, violence, and other harm. Families of incarcerated people who are injured in violent incidents report receiving partial or delayed information, if any, from GDC. Tags: policy,death,violence,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data - [confirmed] Gangs use illicit prison funds to corrupt officials Gangs use funds from illicit prison activities to corrupt officials and further their illegal enterprises. Incarcerated persons reported that practically all gang members 'have to' own weapons, sometimes multiple weapons. Tags: gangs,corruption,contraband,violence Sources: Assault on Human Rights; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Lane v. Philbin, 835 F.3d 1302 (11th Cir. 2016); GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022) - [confirmed] Extensive pre-visit repairs at prisons before DOJ site visits DOJ was told repeatedly by incarcerated people, including those who work maintenance details, and some staff that an enormous amount of repair work was undertaken prior to DOJ's site visits to each prison. Despite these efforts, DOJ experts still observed physical building and maintenance issues affecting security during visits. Tags: conditions,facilities,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] GDC rolling lock hardening project insufficient GDC acknowledged problems maintaining secure door locks and informed DOJ during site inspections that various housing units were temporarily closed due to a rolling 'lock hardening project.' GDC leadership also informed of lock upgrades underway. However, DOJ found such projects are not sufficient because GDC lacks sufficient security staff to supervise incarcerated persons and prevent further damage to locks. Tags: conditions,facilities,staffing,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [reported] District Attorneys report increasing violent crimes originating in prisons District Attorneys from around the state told DOJ that the proportion of violent crimes originating in the prisons, including homicides, has increased in recent years, straining prosecutorial resources. Tags: violence,gangs,legal Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] GDC refused document production until subpoena enforcement GDC refused to produce most requested materials until mid-2023, after DOJ issued an administrative subpoena and sought and obtained court enforcement of the subpoena. GDC also severely limited DOJ's access to prison facilities and staff interviews until the district court entered a protective order. Tags: investigations,legal Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Officers assigned to supervise multiple buildings of hundreds of beds each Staff at several GDC prisons have adopted a practice of assigning one CO to single-handedly supervise two buildings at a time, each comprising two or more housing units and hundreds of incarcerated people, for an entire 12-hour shift. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] One officer responsible for nearly 400 beds at close-security prison At a large close-security men's prison known for gang problems and violence, staffing rosters from mid-2023 confirmed there was at least one, and sometimes up to four, officers assigned to two buildings at a time; each officer was single-handedly responsible for nearly 400 beds. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Staffing Records and Rosters - [confirmed] Officers required to switch posts every 30 minutes leaving units unsupervised A Regional Director acknowledged that staff assigned to multiple posts are required to switch posts every 30 minutes to check on incarcerated persons in multiple buildings, leaving units and entire buildings unsupervised during those times. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) Investigations - [reported] No day with every building covered by at least one officer at medium-security prison A shift supervisor at a large medium-security men's prison reported that in a given month, there is unlikely to be a single day on which each building in the prison is covered by at least one officer. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Surveillance video in housing units not monitored in real time At multiple facilities, security and leadership staff reported that surveillance video in the housing units is not monitored in the housing unit control centers or from central control. While the warden generally has access to housing-unit surveillance video, the shift supervisor and lower-level security staff do not. Nobody is supervising the population in real time. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,operations,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Caldwell v. Warden, FCI Talladega, 748 F.3d 1090 (11th Cir. 2014) - [confirmed] Control centers appeared unmanned at most prisons DOJ visited In most of the 17 prisons DOJ toured, experts repeatedly noted that control centers in housing units appeared to be unmanned and found little evidence that they were consistently occupied (e.g., officers' personal belongings, computer equipment such as a mouse or working monitor). Tags: staffing,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Caldwell v. Warden, FCI Talladega, 748 F.3d 1090 (11th Cir. 2014) - [confirmed] Gangs control housing units and direct where people sleep Gangs that run housing units often target LGBTI individuals with physical and sexual violence. Gangs control housing units, directing where other incarcerated people sleep and extorting incarcerated people and their families for money. Incarcerated persons consistently reported that other incarcerated persons who have more power tell people where to sleep, and officers do not notice or fail to correct the relocation. Tags: gangs,violence,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA) - [confirmed] Contraband weapons, drugs, and cellphones commonplace across the system Contraband weapons, illicit drugs, and cellphones are commonplace across the system. In interviews at 16 of the 17 GDC prisons visited, incarcerated people consistently reported that weapons are widespread. A steady stream of contraband cellphone videos and photographs showing assaults, injuries, weapons, and drug use have been shared to social media. Tags: contraband,drugs,violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); Bearchild v. Cobban, 947 F.3d 1130 (9th Cir. 2020); Crawford v. Cuomo, 796 F.3d 252 (2d Cir. 2015); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023); GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022) - [confirmed] Walker State Prison notably safer exception with better staffing Walker State Prison was a notable exception, with fewer incarcerated people reporting they feared for their lives, a much higher proportion of security staff positions filled, more robust programming, and no reported homicides in the past several years. DOJ believes Walker shows that larger-scale improvement is possible with appropriate strategy and sufficient resources. Tags: staffing,violence,facilities Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Incarcerated people treating their own wounds with toothpaste, coffee grounds, dirt DOJ interviewed incarcerated people who reported cleaning and dressing their own or others' wounds in unsupervised prison areas, using things like toothpaste, coffee grounds, dirt, and makeshift bandages to dress open wounds; medical records corroborated some of these accounts. Tags: medical,conditions,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] Incarcerated persons not reporting violence due to fear and futility In interviews with DOJ, incarcerated people explained that they do not always report incidents because they do not expect staff to take any action in response. Sexual assaults are not reported either for fear of retaliation from those who assaulted them, or because incarcerated people believe GDC will fail to address their complaints. Tags: violence,data_gap,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Extortion of incarcerated people and their families via contraband cellphones Incarcerated persons and their loved ones report that other incarcerated people have been assaulted or threatened with violence in efforts to extort money from family or loved ones outside the prisons, and GDC's own homicide investigations have uncovered evidence of extortion. Tags: gangs,contraband,violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release); Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] Pre-COVID staffing crisis already underway by February 2020 By February 2020, three close-security men's prisons had CO vacancy rates near or over 50%. In January 2020, GDC hired 146 COs and lost 175; in February 2020, GDC hired 134 COs and lost 131. GDC's severe understaffing predates the pandemic. Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Staffing Records and Rosters - [confirmed] Logbooks carried between buildings or called in to central control Security staff from different facilities reported that in some cases an officer covering two separate buildings carries a logbook from building to building to log during their shift. At another facility, security staff call logbook entries to central control, where they are logged by the officer on duty there. Logbooks were labeled for more than one housing building. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Internal audits found widespread documentation and compliance failures GDC's 2023 facility audits found: supervisors clearing counts despite discrepancies; inaccurate count documentation; delays in submitting incident reports; inaccuracies in contraband control documentation; incomplete visitor records; inconsistent segregated housing checks; failure to maintain chemical/tool inventories; and inadequate inspection procedures. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: operations,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); Bearchild v. Cobban, 947 F.3d 1130 (9th Cir. 2020); Crawford v. Cuomo, 796 F.3d 252 (2d Cir. 2015); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023); GDC Incident Reports and Records; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [reported] Staffing too low to conduct mandated searches One officer reported that staff often are unable to conduct the searches mandated by policy. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,contraband,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Employee morale survey cited safety, staffing, morale as biggest challenges In employee morale surveys conducted at several facilities in 2023, employees cited as the 'worst' aspects of their jobs or as the 'biggest challenges' facing GDC: 'retaining quality staff,' 'staff morale,' 'work environment,' and the 'safety and security of facilities.' Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Employee Morale Surveys (2023) CASE DETAILS (55) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Calhoun State Prison homicide: 21-year-old killed by cellmate May 2022 In May 2022, a 21-year-old man was killed by his cellmate at Calhoun State Prison following multiple failures in GDC's classification and housing systems. Staff moved the assailant out of segregation to general population and back to segregation without following procedures. The assailant requested a particular cell and staff housed him there. The next day, both cellmates told an orderly they wanted to be separated, which was communicated to an officer. One day later, an orderly saw the individual being beaten. The man died from blunt force trauma injuries and a stab wound to the neck. GDC closed its criminal investigation without a thorough administrative review. No discipline or counseling appeared in the personnel files of three employees whose errors contributed to the death. Date: 2022-05-01 Tags: death,violence,gangs,operations,facilities Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC About GDC - State Prisons; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987); Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] STG member killed non-gang cellmate in segregation October 2022 On October 3, 2022, a validated STG member was placed in a segregation cell with a non-gang member who was classified as sexually aggressive. The STG member killed the cellmate. Putting two individuals with these classification factors together in a segregation cell would not normally be defensible under a classification scheme. Date: 2022-10-03 Tags: death,violence,gangs,operations Sources: GDC About GDC - State Prisons; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987); GDC Next Generation Assessment (NGA) Classification Tool - [confirmed] Gang war erupted at multiple prisons September-October 2022 In September 2022, following the homicide at Phillips State Prison of a young Bloods member, a gang war erupted at multiple GDC prisons. With Bloods attacking Crips in the several days that followed, twenty incarcerated people were hospitalized following gang-related violence, including 13 from Macon State Prison on October 2, 2022, 5 from Ware State Prison on October 1, 2022, and 2 from Coffee State Prison on October 1, 2022. Tags: gangs,violence,death,facilities Sources: Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release); Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA) - [confirmed] Smith State Prison gang fight after warden's arrest Feb 2023 Hours after the arrest of Smith State Prison's Warden Brian Adams was announced on February 8, 2023, a gang fight broke out in a housing unit at Smith. Nine incarcerated persons were injured from stabbing wounds, six requiring hospitalization, with two airlifted. Incarcerated persons videorecorded the fighting and posted footage on social media showing groups chasing and stabbing others. Almost 90 minutes elapsed between when staff first observed the fighting and when the first wounded person was airlifted to a hospital. Date: 2023-02-08 Tags: gangs,violence,corruption,facilities,staffing Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) Investigations - [confirmed] Ware State Prison gang melee February 2022 In early February 2022, after a Bloods gang member was stabbed inside a housing unit at Ware State Prison, Bloods members attacked 'Hispanic' gang members on the yard. At least eight gang members were involved; 11 knives were later found. Seven men were injured with stabbing wounds, four requiring hospitalization. Date: 2022-02-01 Tags: gangs,violence,contraband,facilities Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Assault on Human Rights; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Lane v. Philbin, 835 F.3d 1302 (11th Cir. 2016) - [confirmed] Macon State Prison gang attack and stabbing death March 2023 In March 2023, four Bloods gang members at Macon State Prison moved past an officer onto the yard, ran to the kitchen and stabbed an incarcerated person working there. The victim later died. Adjacent housing unit incarcerated persons began obtaining weapons and fighting. Officers deployed 75 pepper balls and several other munitions. Eleven incarcerated persons were stabbed, six needing hospital transport. The first ambulance was called just over an hour after fighting began. Date: 2023-03-01 Tags: gangs,violence,death,facilities,staffing Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Assault on Human Rights; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Lane v. Philbin, 835 F.3d 1302 (11th Cir. 2016); GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022); Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] Dooly State Prison gang fight June 2022 On a morning in mid-June 2022, a large gang fight between Gangster Disciples and Bloods erupted at Dooly State Prison, involving gang members from multiple housing units. Four windows were broken and seven incarcerated people were transported to outside hospitals for lacerations and puncture wounds. Staff were overwhelmed by the sheer number participating. Date: 2022-06-01 Tags: gangs,violence,facilities Sources: Assault on Human Rights; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Lane v. Philbin, 835 F.3d 1302 (11th Cir. 2016) - [confirmed] Dooly State Prison STG sergeant position vacant for three months On June 23, 2023, a gang fight broke out at Dooly State Prison. Around the same time, the STG sergeant's position had been vacant for three months. Date: 2023-06-23 Tags: gangs,staffing,violence,facilities Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Five homicides at four prisons in December 2023 In December 2023, GDC experienced five homicides at four different prisons (Central State Prison, Macon State Prison, Coastal State Prison, Telfair State Prison), along with serious incidents at other facilities. Date: 2023-12-01 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Prisoner Stabs Warden at Telfair State Prison; Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Central State Prison stabbing death December 8-18, 2023 On December 8, 2023, a man in his 20s was stabbed in the barber shop at Central State Prison, in Bibb County. He received treatment at an outside hospital, returned to the prison, and died after going into cardiac arrest 'secondary to stabbing' on December 18. Date: 2023-12-08 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Central State Prison second stabbing death December 17, 2023 On December 17, 2023, another man, also in his 20s, was stabbed to death at Central State Prison; three other incarcerated people were criminally charged in early January 2024 for their roles in his death. Date: 2023-12-17 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Macon State Prison cellmate altercation death December 10, 2023 On December 10, 2023, an incarcerated person died after an altercation with his cellmate at Macon State Prison. Date: 2023-12-10 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Coastal State Prison altercation death December 13, 2023 On December 13, 2023, an incarcerated person at Coastal State Prison, in Chatham County, died after an altercation with other incarcerated persons; he was due to be released in 2024. Date: 2023-12-13 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Telfair State Prison altercation death December 22, 2023 On December 22, 2023, an incarcerated person at Telfair State Prison died after an altercation with another incarcerated person. Date: 2023-12-22 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Prisoner Stabs Warden at Telfair State Prison - [confirmed] Phillips State Prison stabbing and fire December 2023 On December 17, 2023, an incarcerated person at Phillips State Prison whom DOJ had interviewed earlier in 2023 required hospitalization for six or more stab wounds. The same day, video circulated on social media of a fire set by incarcerated persons the previous day in the sallyport area of a housing unit at Phillips. Date: 2023-12-17 Tags: violence,contraband Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] Smith State Prison death and assault April 2023 On April 5, 2023, an incarcerated man at Smith State Prison was discovered dead, possibly strangled to death by his roommate in a segregated housing unit. The local coroner noted the body was badly decomposed and the man likely had been dead for over two days. Four days prior, on April 1, another person was assaulted by multiple incarcerated people; a video of the assault was uploaded to social media showing the victim with hands tied behind his back being punched, kicked, and stabbed. Date: 2023-04-01 Tags: violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023); Local Coroner Reports - [confirmed] GDCP mass assault January 6, 2023 On January 6, 2023, a Lieutenant at GDCP responded to a housing unit where two wounded incarcerated people were found. One appeared to have broken an ankle jumping from the upper-level walkway to escape assault; another had a jaw laceration. Six other incarcerated persons had assault wounds including stabbings and lacerations. Six individuals were hospitalized from gang-on-gang attacks. Four nights later, four more persons were assaulted in the same housing unit, including one attacked by masked men with a 'sword' who demanded his CashApp account. Date: 2023-01-06 Tags: violence,gangs Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Assault on Human Rights; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Hancock State Prison LGBTI homicide May 2022 On May 22, 2022, an incarcerated person who identified as LGBTI was beaten and stabbed to death by multiple gang members inside a dorm at Hancock State Prison. The victim tried to escape by jumping through stair railings, where attackers circled and continued to stab and curse at the victim. Another incarcerated person was severely injured while attempting to stop the assault. The victim had reportedly asked to be moved the day before because their life was in danger. Date: 2022-05-22 Tags: violence,death,gangs,LGBTI Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Assault on Human Rights; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Lane v. Philbin, 835 F.3d 1302 (11th Cir. 2016) - [confirmed] Georgia State Prison abuse case - 'Shameful' In October 2020, at Georgia State Prison, an incarcerated man was taken to hospital for a cut to his forehead and dark ligature marks around his neck after his bunkmate tried to kill him. Less than five months later, an ambulance returned for the same man with yellow and purple bruising on the right side of his face, possible jaw fracture, and multiple human bite marks all over his body. He was so malnourished every bone in his spine was bruised. He reported being kicked in the face, having food stolen for months, being sexually assaulted and raped by his bunkmate, and not eating in five days. Date: 2020-10-01 Tags: violence,medical,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [reported] Ware State Prison sexual assault victim held in segregation for 9 months An incarcerated individual at Ware who was sexually assaulted stayed in segregation for a month after reporting the assault. He was moved back into a housing unit but experienced gang member problems, then was placed in administrative segregation for refusing housing. At the time of the DOJ interview, he had been in segregation for nine months. Tags: solitary,violence,gangs,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987); GDC SOP 209.06 Administrative Segregation (effective February 19, 2021) - [reported] Assault victim held naked in suicide cell at Hays An incarcerated individual was placed in a suicide-watch cell at Hays after he was assaulted, suffering a cut to his eye. All his property had been stolen. He was held naked in the suicide cell with no mattress or blanket. After continuously beating on the window, staff moved him to administrative segregation for refusing housing. Tags: violence,solitary,conditions Sources: Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987); GDC SOP 209.06 Administrative Segregation (effective February 19, 2021) - [confirmed] Coastal State Prison assault failure and subsequent cellmate homicide at GDCP In March 2020, an assault at Coastal State Prison was forwarded to OPS for investigation, but no records indicated such investigation took place. The same assailant reentered the prison system in 2022 and strangled his cellmate to death at GDCP. The victim was an older man who used a wheelchair serving a sentence for a non-violent charge. Tags: death,violence,investigations,facilities Sources: Assault on Human Rights; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files - [confirmed] Calhoun County Sheriff arrested 20 people in one week for contraband In June 2021, the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department arrested 20 people in one week for trying to introduce contraband, including cellphones and methamphetamines, into Calhoun State Prison. Date: 2021-06-01 Tags: contraband,drugs,corruption,facilities Sources: Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] Former Calhoun officer sentenced to 5 years for smuggling In September 2022, a former Calhoun correctional officer received a five-year federal prison sentence for attempting to smuggle two pounds of methamphetamine and eight cellphones into Calhoun State Prison. Date: 2022-09-01 Tags: corruption,drugs,contraband,facilities Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Contraband gun murder-suicide at Smith State Prison June 2024 In June 2024, an incarcerated person at Smith State Prison used a contraband gun to kill a food-service worker and then take his own life. Date: 2024-06-01 Tags: violence,death,contraband Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] Telfair State Prison warden stabbed March 2024 In March 2024, the Warden of Telfair State Prison was stabbed by an incarcerated person during a disturbance that arose after a shakedown. Date: 2024-03-01 Tags: violence,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Prisoner Stabs Warden at Telfair State Prison - [confirmed] Major riot at Ware State Prison in 2020 In 2020, there was a major riot at Ware State Prison in which incarcerated persons obtained facility keys, let scores of other incarcerated persons out of housing units including restrictive housing, held officers hostage and stabbed officers, set fires, burned a GDC transport cart, and broke into an office obtaining officers' weapons and defensive gear. Several hospital transports resulted, including four officers, one via helicopter life-flight. Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: violence,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post); GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC SOP 209.06 Administrative Segregation (effective February 19, 2021); GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022); Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] Sexual abuse investigation of gay man deemed unsubstantiated despite evidence In May 2022, a gay man reported his cellmate sexually assaulted him. The cellmate was part of a gang that ordered the cellmate to get the man out of his cell because he was openly gay. The cellmate injured the man with a shank, tied him up, and raped him. GDC investigators deemed the matter unsubstantiated, despite both men confirming the man was tied up, that sexual relations occurred, and that a gang ordered the cellmate to drive the man out. Date: 2022-05-01 Tags: violence,LGBTI,investigations,gangs Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); PREA Standards (National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape); GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files - [confirmed] Transgender woman coerced for oral sex through chow port In March 2021, a transgender woman alleged that an incarcerated man in the protective custody unit ordered her to provide oral sex through the chow port in her cell door to receive a meal tray. The man denied sexual contact but admitted to taking drugs and sticking his erect penis through the chow port. No evidence that GDC took any administrative action despite the man's admission. Date: 2021-03-01 Tags: violence,LGBTI,investigations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022) - [confirmed] Smith State Prison Warden Brian Adams arrested on RICO charges In February 2023, the Warden of Smith State Prison, Brian Adams, was arrested on Georgia RICO charges for his alleged involvement in an extensive drug-smuggling conspiracy led by a person incarcerated at Smith. The same incarcerated man allegedly directed two 2021 murders in the local community: the death of Bobby Kicklighter in his home in January 2021 (botched murder-for-hire) and the death of Jessica Gerling, a former GDC CO, in June 2021. Date: 2023-02-01 Tags: corruption,contraband,gangs,death,investigations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds - [confirmed] Baldwin State Prison assault victim housed with same gang in segregation At Baldwin State Prison, a person was assaulted in his housing unit by members of the Gangster Disciples gang with a lock in a sock. Following the assault, the victim was placed in segregation in a cell with an individual from the same gang that had attacked him. Tags: violence,gangs,solitary,facilities Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987) - [confirmed] Thomas White guilty plea for directing drive-by shooting from prison In September 2023, Thomas White, a person incarcerated by GDC, pleaded guilty to multiple criminal counts related to his involvement in a drive-by shooting near a Marietta, Georgia, apartment complex and Home Depot in 2021. Mr. White allegedly used a contraband cellphone from a GDC prison to instruct his free-world associates to commit the shooting. Date: 2023-09-01 Tags: contraband,violence,gangs Sources: Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release); Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] Calhoun segregation homicide: 7-foot assailant requested victim's cell At Calhoun State Prison, an individual was killed by his cellmate in segregation. An officer had previously reported the two men should not have been in the same cell because of both men's STG status and because the assailant was significantly bigger (seven feet tall and 340 pounds). A supervisor failed to verify room status. An officer failed to respond to an orderly's report the men wanted to be separated. The victim died of multiple blunt force traumas and a stab wound to the neck, beaten with a fan motor in a net bag. Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: death,violence,gangs,solitary,facilities Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987); Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] 23-person federal indictment for gang crimes from inside GDC prisons In November 2023, 23 individuals, including several incarcerated at six different GDC prisons, were charged in a sweeping federal indictment stemming from gang-related crimes committed from inside and outside GDC prisons, including stabbings and assaults at multiple prisons in 2020, a shooting death in Griffin, Georgia in December 2020, and a home arson in early 2021. Date: 2023-11-01 Tags: gangs,violence,investigations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release); Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] Telfair gang leader sentenced to life for drug trafficking In November 2023, a man incarcerated at Telfair State Prison received a federal sentence of life in prison for his leadership role in a massive, gang-related drug trafficking conspiracy; a GDC CO also was sentenced for helping to move contraband into the prison at the incarcerated gang leader's direction. Date: 2023-11-01 Tags: gangs,contraband,drugs,corruption Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release); Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Prisoner Stabs Warden at Telfair State Prison; At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] Homicide investigation found no staff checks for 12 hours before death An investigation of a homicide at a GDC men's prison in 2021 found that no staff checks had been done after 9:20 p.m. the night before the death; the body was found the next morning around 9:00 a.m. Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: staffing,death,violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Man killed while handcuffed, officer supervising control center and both sides of housing unit In 2022, at a close-security men's prison, an incarcerated man was killed after being assaulted while handcuffed. The investigation found that the officer on duty was single-handedly supervising a control center as well as both sides of the housing unit building where the homicide took place. Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: staffing,violence,death Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Stabbing victim stabbed 32 times; officer assigned to three buildings On a weekend day shift in August 2023, at a large men's prison, one officer was assigned to three separate buildings. A victim was stabbed 32 times in his back, head, and stomach. The next day, the same officer was again assigned to three buildings. The logbook from the building where the stabbing took place has no entries after 8:54 a.m. on the day of the stabbing. The following day, no officer was assigned to that building for the second shift. Date: 2023-08-01 Tags: violence,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Pulaski State Prison assault - woman attacked by 10+ people In August 2022, staff at Pulaski State Prison received a call from outside the prison advising an incarcerated person was being stabbed. Staff initially reported all was secure. Later, they heard a faint cry for help. An incarcerated woman was found locked in her cell, slumped over the toilet with a gash on her head, bleeding profusely, with dark red marks across her back and a bruise in the shape of a footprint. She reported being assaulted hours ago by more than 10 people, stomped on, hit, and kicked, then forced into the shower to wash off the blood. Date: 2022-08-01 Tags: violence,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Pulaski State Prison sexual assault with hot sauce bottle At Pulaski State Prison, in February 2022, an incarcerated woman was transported to the hospital for vaginal bleeding and stomach pain. She alleged her roommate sexually assaulted her with a hot sauce bottle and that she yelled for an officer but no one came to the cell to help. Date: 2022-02-01 Tags: violence,LGBTI,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Smith State Prison waterboarding and sexual assault May 2020 At Smith State Prison, in May 2020, an incarcerated person had been tied up, beaten, and waterboarded by his cellmate. The cellmate also inserted multiple bars of soap into the victim's rectum. The victim suffered multiple contusions to his face and chest, was bleeding heavily from his nose and mouth, had ligature marks on his neck and binding around his wrist. Most of his upper teeth had been broken during the assault. 150 milliliters of blood was suctioned from his airway. Date: 2020-05-01 Tags: violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Phillips State Prison hostage case - man held and tortured for almost four days On August 3, 2020, an officer at Phillips State Prison was conducting rounds when an incarcerated person handed him a note stating that a person in another cell had been held hostage for days. In May 2023, DOJ interviewed the victim who reported being held and tortured for almost four days, stabbed from behind with his eye pierced, and suffering a traumatic brain injury. Almost exactly a year later, the same assailant assaulted another person at the same prison. Date: 2020-08-01 Tags: violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post) - [confirmed] Ware State Prison man died of drug overdose after DOJ interview On June 29, 2022, an incarcerated person at Ware State Prison reported to DOJ that he had gone almost a year without a mattress, was blocked from the bathroom, chased with a broom and rock, described PTSD worse than military combat, and said drugs are easy to acquire. Four days later he died from acute methamphetamine toxicity. His body was found slumped over a second-floor railing and left there for several hours because there were no officers in the control center. Date: 2022-07-03 Tags: death,drugs,overdose,staffing,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022); Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] Ware State Prison man blindfolded, tied, beaten, burned during DOJ visit On June 27, 2022, the second day of DOJ's site visit to Ware State Prison, an incarcerated person was blindfolded, tied up, beaten, and burned by other incarcerated people. He was diagnosed with first- and second-degree burns. The victim said he reported the assault to staff but they did nothing. Date: 2022-06-27 Tags: violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] Wilcox State Prison officers allowed incarcerated assailant to drag victim Before DOJ visited Wilcox State Prison in June 2023, video showed an incarcerated person assaulting another outdoors while an officer watched. GDC records confirm that multiple officers brought a 'warden's orderly' to the victim's housing unit, and staff then allowed the assailant to strike the victim and use a cart to drag the limp victim along an outdoor walkway. Two COs were terminated. Date: 2023-06-01 Tags: violence,staffing,corruption Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Smith State Prison Ramadan breakfast melee March 2023 On March 27, 2023, Smith State Prison went into lockdown immediately before a DOJ site inspection due to a fight with weapons following a Ramadan breakfast inside the D-2 dorm. Seven individuals required hospitalization, two by air evacuation. The melee began when members of various gangs retaliated while there were no officers in the dorm. The Incident Response Team took about an hour to respond. Date: 2023-03-27 Tags: violence,gangs,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); GDC Incident Reports and Records; GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022) - [confirmed] Coastal State Prison transgender woman died of apparent suicide after DOJ interview Shortly after DOJ interviewed several incarcerated people at Coastal State Prison in fall 2022, one of the people interviewed, a transgender woman with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and a history of mental health issues, died of an apparent suicide. Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: death,LGBTI,mental_health Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Macon State Prison interviewee later killed at Augusta State Medical Prison In late May 2024, an incarcerated man whom DOJ interviewed at Macon State Prison in early 2023 reportedly died by homicide at Augusta State Medical Prison, where he had been transferred. He had been attacked on multiple occasions prior to his death. Two incarcerated people and a GDC CO have been criminally charged. Date: 2024-05-01 Tags: violence,death,corruption Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Calhoun State Prison dehydration death February 2023 In February 2023, an incarcerated person was found dead in his restrictive-housing cell at Calhoun State Prison, leaning against the door and wrapped in mattress padding. The body was stiff; the coroner believed the person had been dead for seven to eight hours before discovery. No one had entered his cell for two days; the flap in the door had been locked shut. Incarcerated people reported staff had shut off the water supply, closed the flap, and did not deliver meals. Cause of death was dehydration with renal failure. Date: 2023-02-01 Tags: death,conditions,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Local Coroner Reports - [confirmed] Incarcerated people cut through fencing to reach medical unit In August 2023 at a large close-security men's prison, three incarcerated men wheeled another incarcerated person on a cart to the medical unit. The officer noted that the incarcerated people likely exited their housing unit through a fire-exit door and cut a large hole in fencing to reach the medical unit. Date: 2023-08-01 Tags: medical,conditions,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post) - [confirmed] Georgia State Prison burn victim waited 5+ hours for medical transport On December 8, 2020, at Georgia State Prison, an incarcerated person suffered burns to 90% or more of his body. The incident was suspected to have happened around 4-5 p.m. but the person was not brought to the medical unit until around 10:24 p.m. Transport to hospital was delayed because prison security staff did not have an officer ready to go. Date: 2020-12-08 Tags: medical,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] Georgia State Prison man tied up and stabbed all night August 2021 On August 20, 2021, at Georgia State Prison, an incarcerated person reported that he was hog tied all night, stabbed, and then released in the morning after being tied up for over eight hours. Emergency responders noted indentations on his arms and legs. He was airlifted to hospital. Date: 2021-08-20 Tags: violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Ware State Prison stabbing - 30 minute delay, no follow-up interview On May 23, 2022, at Ware State Prison, an incarcerated person was stabbed multiple times. There was no security staff in the dorm, so other incarcerated people beat on the window to draw attention. It took half an hour for someone to respond. The victim was diagnosed with a collapsed lung. After five days in hospital, he returned and was locked down in isolation. He was never interviewed about the incident. Date: 2022-05-23 Tags: violence,staffing,investigations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell - [confirmed] Coastal State Prison overdose death with body in rigor mortis June 2022 In June 2022, emergency services responded to Coastal State Prison for an unresponsive person. The incarcerated man lay dead on the ground with rigor mortis, 'pale and cool to the touch.' Staff informed responders they found a syringe near his bed. Cause of death was overdose. Date: 2022-06-01 Tags: death,drugs,overdose,staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records; Local Coroner Reports - [confirmed] Medical worker denied entry to housing unit due to insufficient security staff after fatal assault In mid-2023, an incarcerated man at a large men's prison died after being badly injured in a fight. A supervisory member of the medical staff recounted that a nurse who responded was 'distraught' because medical personnel were not permitted to enter the housing unit due to insufficient security staff to escort them. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: death,staffing,medical Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) TRENDS (3) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Georgia prison population more than doubled since 1990 Since 1990, Georgia's prison population has more than doubled, from a little over 21,000 in 1990 to almost 50,000. Tags: demographics,trend Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] CO vacancy rate trajectory: 11% in 2014 to over 50% by 2021 From 2014 to 2018, GDC's annual average CO vacancy rate climbed from almost 11% to over 18%. Between 2018 and 2023, staffing levels fell precipitously, reaching a systemwide CO vacancy rate of 60% in April 2023, with over 2,800 vacant officer positions. Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release) - [confirmed] Staffing crisis predates by decades The circumstances within Georgia's prisons did not develop overnight, but rather represent decades of inaction to address a growing and changing incarcerated population, aging infrastructure, and years of declining staffing rates. In the 1980s, Georgia funded prison expansion despite insufficient COs; this trend continued into the 1990s. Tags: staffing,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons DATA GAPS (5) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] DOJ identified additional homicides not in GDC totals DOJ identified multiple additional homicide deaths that GDC's reported homicide totals fail to reflect. Tags: violence,death,data_gap Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Man Killed in Georgia Prison Laid There for Hours Before Guards Came, Autopsy Suggests; GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] GDC mortality data undercounts homicides by classifying them as unknown GDC's mortality data categorizes many deaths that obviously were homicides as having an unknown reason or unknown verified cause of death. GDC reported in its June 2024 mortality data that for the first five months of 2024, there were 6 homicides, even though at least 18 deaths were categorized as homicides in GDC incident reports. GDC's June 2024 mortality data also still classified at least 2 homicides from 2021 as having an 'unknown' cause of death. Tags: death,violence,operations,policy Sources: Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data; GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023); GDC Incident Reports and Records; Local Coroner Reports - [reported] NGA classification tool validation status unclear GDC personnel claimed that the Next Generation Assessment (NGA) classification tool has been validated, although GDC did not provide a specific date or year of validation. The last validation was at least a few years ago, and it is unclear whether GDC plans to re-validate. Despite repeated requests, GDC did not provide documentation to confirm validation or explain the criteria, formulas, and scoring mechanisms. Tags: operations,policy Sources: GDC About GDC - State Prisons; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Next Generation Assessment (NGA) Classification Tool - [confirmed] Violence consistently underreported in GDC prisons Violent incidents are consistently underreported due to a lack of staff supervision and other factors, causing some incidents never to be reported at all. Violent incidents are often mischaracterized using inappropriate incident-type categories, resulting in under-counting of violent incidents such as assaults and fights. Tags: violence,data_gap,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); GDC Incident Reports and Records - [confirmed] GDC failed to produce comprehensive staffing analyses Other than facility staffing plans, GDC has not produced any staffing analyses that GDC may have conducted. DOJ notes that a comprehensive staffing study and review needs to be conducted as part of any remedy. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: staffing,data_gap Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons POLICYS (9) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] GDC segregation policy: max 30 days disciplinary segregation Under GDC policy, no incarcerated person can be placed in disciplinary segregation for more than thirty days. Tags: solitary,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017); Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018); Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987) - [confirmed] GDC does not have centralized policies for facility-level investigations GDC informed DOJ that there are no centralized policies or procedures governing facility-level investigations or incident reviews. The lack of such policies may explain why GDC staff interviewed were confused about these topics. Tags: investigations,policy,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] GDC does not provide effective gang renouncement off-ramp GDC does not provide an effective off-ramp for incarcerated people to renounce or disavow STG membership, which effectively encourages STG members to remain affiliated for protection and other benefits. Tags: gangs,policy,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Governor Kemp announces GDC assessment with consultants June 2024 The State announced it retained high-profile consultants to conduct a comprehensive one-year assessment of GDC to 'identify current strengths, opportunities, and recommendations to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness' and to 'begin implementation support.' DOJ noted any results would be years in the future. Date: 2024-06-17 Tags: policy,operations,budget Sources: GDC Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report; Gov. Kemp Announces GDC Assessment as Next Phase of Public Safety Improvements - [confirmed] DOJ recommends 82 minimum remedial measures The DOJ Findings Report includes 82 minimum remedial measures organized into short-term/immediate measures and long-term measures covering: strategic assessment, staffing and supervision, incident response/reporting/investigations, classification and housing, contraband and STG management, facility conditions, sexual safety, public transparency, and use of data. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: policy,legal,operations Sources: Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; GDC About GDC - State Prisons; DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] GDC houses transgender women with men based on external genitalia Instead of making individualized assessments, GDC houses transgender women with men based on their external genitalia despite the risk this poses to their safety. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: LGBTI,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] DOJ recommends 90% CO staffing target (10% max vacancy) DOJ recommends that GDC properly screen, hire, and fully train sufficient correctional officers to staff all mandatory posts and bring all GDC facilities within 90% of currently allotted posts (i.e., 10% or lower CO vacancy rate). Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: staffing,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) Investigations - [confirmed] DOJ recommends 90-day video retention and 72-hour equipment replacement DOJ recommends that all video footage should be retained for 90 days unless an incident occurs, in which case it should be preserved until fully investigated and prosecuted or dismissed. Any out-of-service video equipment should be replaced within 72 hours. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: policy,operations,facilities Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [reported] GDC consulting contract to become 'certified as great place to work by 2027' GDC officials said they hope that a relatively new contract with a consulting firm to help GDC become 'certified as a great place to work by 2027' will increase officer retention through staff training and workshops. Tags: staffing,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files QUOTES (5) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] EMS provider quote on Georgia State Prison abuse The emergency services provider wrote: 'This patient is scared. His body is wasting away and covered in signs of abuse. How this has not been noticed by prison staff and tended to before now is shameful.' Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: medical,conditions,violence Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records - [confirmed] GDC HR Director acknowledges salary lag GDC's Human Resources Director acknowledged that GDC still 'lag[s] behind in the salary market,' so pay remains 'a factor.' Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing,budget Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] Quote from contraband cellphone video at Ware State Prison In the contraband cellphone video showing an apparently deceased man draped over an upper-tier railing at Ware State Prison, the individual holding the camera says: 'we have an inmate here that is dead . . . for the past two-and-a-half hours. It's crazy. This is crazy.' Date: 2022-07-03 Tags: death,staffing,drugs Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes; Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release); At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds; Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020); GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023) - [confirmed] Coroner quote on Calhoun State Prison death Speaking to emergency dispatch after examining the body at Calhoun State Prison, the coroner said there was 'some shit that ain't right about this inmate.' Date: 2023-02-01 Tags: death,conditions Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Local Coroner Reports - [confirmed] Commissioner Oliver acknowledged calling and passion important for retention Commissioner Oliver acknowledged that in addition to compensation, ensuring that the work is a 'calling' and that officers have 'passion' for their jobs are important to retention. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; GDC Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report LEGAL FACTS (3) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] CRIPA 49-day deadline for State response before potential lawsuit DOJ advised that 49 days after issuance of the findings letter, the Attorney General may initiate a lawsuit pursuant to CRIPA to correct deficiencies if State officials have not satisfactorily addressed concerns. The Attorney General may also move to intervene in related private suits 15 days after issuance. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: legal,policy Sources: DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) - [confirmed] Farmer v. Brennan standard: state cannot let state of nature take its course The Supreme Court has explained that the State, after incarcerating people and 'having stripped them of virtually every means of self-protection and foreclosed their access to outside aid,' is 'not free to let the state of nature take its course.' Date: 1994-01-01 Tags: legal Sources: Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1994) - [confirmed] CRIPA legal authority for DOJ investigation Consistent with the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1997 et seq. (CRIPA), the DOJ provides this Report to notify Georgia and GDC of the Department's conclusions, the facts supporting those conclusions, and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the violations identified. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: legal Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) METHODOLOGY NOTES (5) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] DOJ investigation launched in 2016, expanded in 2021 In 2016, DOJ launched a statewide investigation into whether GDC adequately protects incarcerated persons who are LGBTI from sexual abuse by staff and other incarcerated persons. In 2021, DOJ expanded the investigation to include protection of all incarcerated persons at medium- and close-security-level prisons from violence by other incarcerated persons. Tags: investigations,legal Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA); DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA); PREA Standards (National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape) - [confirmed] DOJ visited 17 GDC prisons in 2022-2023 Between 2022 and 2023, DOJ visited 17 GDC prisons – about half of the state prisons – representing geographically and demographically diverse areas throughout the state. DOJ conducted hundreds of private, one-on-one interviews with incarcerated persons, dozens of interviews with GDC staff and leadership, and reviewed tens of thousands of records. Tags: investigations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons; Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release); Bureau of Justice Statistics Report on National Homicide Rates in State Prisons (2019) - [confirmed] GDC ultimately produced over 19,000 records Although GDC ultimately produced over 19,000 records, the process of obtaining records and information from GDC was unnecessarily contentious and lengthy. Tags: investigations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] DOJ received over 1,000 letters and communications from incarcerated people and families DOJ received more than one thousand letters, emails, and other communications from people who are currently incarcerated in Georgia prisons, as well as their loved ones and grassroots advocates. Tags: investigations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons - [confirmed] GDC did not allow DOJ to tour spontaneously GDC insisted on setting all of DOJ's site visits several weeks or months in advance, required Special Operations staff to facilitate visits, repeatedly informed DOJ that their group could not split up due to security challenges, and did not permit DOJ to tour spontaneously and observe normal operations. Tags: investigations,operations Sources: DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons DATASETS (8) ---------------------------------------- # GDC Reported Homicides by Year (2018-2023) Annual homicide counts in GDC prisons as reported by GDC mortality reports Year Homicides ----------------- 2018 7 2019 13 2020 28 2021 28 2022 31 2023 35 # Contraband recovered from GDC prisons Nov 2021-Aug 2023 Total contraband items recovered by GDC across all prisons during the DOJ investigation period, including weapons, cellphones, drugs, drone sightings, and fence-line throw-overs Category Count ------------------------------- Weapons 27425 Cellphones 12483 Illegal drug items 2016 Fence-line throw-overs 346 Drone sightings 262 # GDC Systemwide CO Vacancy Rates (2021-2023) Average annual correctional officer vacancy rates across the GDC system Year CO Vacancy Rate ----------------------- 2021 49.3 2022 56.3 2023 52.5 # Percentage of incidents forwarded to OPS for investigation Jan 2022-Apr 2023 Percentage of various incident types from 22 GDC prisons that were forwarded by facilities to OPS for investigation Incident Type Percent Forwarded ------------------------------------------------------- Fights Less than 10% Inmate-on-inmate assaults Less than 23% Incidents involving serious injury Less than 12% Incidents involving a weapon Less than 6% # GDC Sexual Abuse Allegations by Year (2019-2022) Annual sexual abuse allegations reported systemwide in GDC, including abuse by other incarcerated people and by staff Year Sexual Abuse Allegations -------------------------------- 2019 653 2020 702 2021 639 2022 635 # Gang war hospitalizations October 2022 Hospitalizations resulting from Bloods vs Crips gang war across multiple GDC prisons following Phillips State Prison homicide in September 2022 Facility Date Hospitalized ----------------------------------------------- Macon State Prison 2022-10-02 13 Ware State Prison 2022-10-01 5 Coffee State Prison 2022-10-01 2 # GDC Prisons with High CO Vacancy Rates (April vs December 2023) Number of medium- and close-security prisons exceeding vacancy rate thresholds Date Prisons Over 60% Vacancy Prisons Over 70% Vacancy ------------------------------------------------------------------- April 2023 20 12 December 2023 18 10 # GDC Average CO Vacancy Rate Trend (2014-2023) Trajectory of CO vacancy rates from pre-crisis to crisis levels Year CO Vacancy Rate ----------------------------- 2014 ~11% 2018 ~18% 2021 49.3% 2022 56.3% April 2023 60% 2023 52.5% KEY ENTITIES (43) ---------------------------------------- - Augusta State Medical Prison [facility]: Georgia state medical prison visited by DOJ during 2022-2023 investigation (aka: Augusta State Medical) - Baldwin State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where 26 grams of methamphetamine were found on a visitor in November 2025. - Bobby Kicklighter [person]: Elderly citizen killed in his home in January 2021 in an apparently botched murder-for-hire allegedly directed by an incarcerated person at Smith State Prison - Brian Adams [person]: Former Warden of Smith State Prison, arrested on Georgia RICO charges in February 2023 for alleged involvement in drug-smuggling conspiracy - Calhoun County Sheriff's Department [organization]: Local law enforcement that arrested 20 people in one week in June 2021 for trying to introduce contraband into Calhoun State Prison - Calhoun State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where two female correctional officers were arrested in 2020 for allegedly smuggling methamphetamine in Hot Pockets; cases dismissed due to GDC failure to test evidence. - Central State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison with GCI garment and linen manufacturing. - Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act [legislation]: Federal statute authorizing DOJ to investigate and sue state/local governments for pattern or practice of constitutional violations in prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, mental health facilities, nursing homes, and disability institutions (aka: CRIPA, 42 U.S.C. § 1997) - Coastal State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison visited by DOJ during 2022-2023 investigation (aka: Coastal) - Coffee State Prison [facility]: GDC state prison where 2 were hospitalized in October 2022 gang war - Dooly State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where Jackie Kavaskia McMillan led drug trafficking network; second highest cell phone seizure count by end of 2016 (1,342 phones). - Farmer v. Brennan [case]: U.S. Supreme Court case establishing the deliberate indifference two-part test (objective + subjective components) for Eighth Amendment prison conditions claims. The bedrock case for all prisoner rights litigation. (aka: 511 U.S. 825 (1994)) - Georgia Bureau of Investigation [organization]: Georgia state law enforcement agency that conducts some criminal investigations involving the prisons (aka: GBI) - Georgia Department of Corrections [organization]: State agency responsible for operating Georgia's prison system. Subject of federal DOJ investigation in 2022-2023 for constitutional violations including food-related deaths. (aka: GDC) - Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison from which David 'Toro' Zavala operated drug trafficking while serving time for armed robbery. - Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council [organization]: Separate state agency that investigates some cases of involuntary GDC officer terminations, suspensions, and alleged criminal involvement (aka: POST) - Georgia State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where Chad Ashley Allen, serving a life sentence for murder, operated drug trafficking enterprise with Ghost Face Gangsters. - Governor Brian Kemp [person]: Current Georgia Governor whose administration reversed the Deal-era justice reinvestment approach, returning to a warehousing-first model with escalating costs (aka: Kemp) - Hancock State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where THC gummies, white powdery substances, and marijuana were recovered in January 2024. - Hays State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison visited by DOJ during 2022-2023 investigation (aka: Hays) - Human and Civil Rights Coalition of Georgia [organization]: Community stakeholder organization that shared Phillips State Prison fire video on social media - Jessica Gerling [person]: Young woman and former GDC CO killed in June 2021, allegedly at the direction of an incarcerated person at Smith State Prison - Lee Arrendale State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where drug-coated paper was found being passed in November 2025. - Macon State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison visited by DOJ during 2022-2023 investigation (aka: Macon) - National Institute of Corrections [organization]: Federal agency that provides classification resources and standards; states the primary goal of classification is managing inmate risk and ensuring safety. (aka: NIC) - Next Generation Assessment [program]: Georgia's automated classification tool that generates security levels based on an algorithm weighing sentence length, crime nature, criminal history, violence history, medical and treatment risks and needs. (aka: NGA) - Office of Professional Standards [organization]: GDC's primary investigative division responsible for internal investigation of serious incidents including felonies related to deaths, assaults, riots, and drugs (aka: OPS) - Peace Officer Standards and Training Council [organization]: Georgia state entity that trains and in some cases investigates GDC officers (aka: POST) - Phillips State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison visited by DOJ during 2022-2023 investigation (aka: Phillips) - Prison Rape Elimination Act [legislation]: Federal law requiring zero tolerance for sexual abuse and sexual harassment in prisons and mandating specific classification screening to protect vulnerable populations. (aka: PREA, 28 C.F.R. Part 115) - Pulaski State Prison [facility]: Georgia women's state prison where Christina Buttery died on December 21, 2022, from a methamphetamine and fentanyl overdose. - Rogers State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison where two violent incidents occurred during a 2-day DOJ visit in March 2023, including gang fight with multiple knives, 2 airlifts, 5 ambulance transports; warden had been arrested for gang participation less than 2 months prior - Smith State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison targeted by drone smuggling networks; subject of Operation Night Drop indictments. - State Board of Corrections [organization]: Georgia board to which the GDC Commissioner reports, along with the Governor - State Board of Pardons and Paroles [organization]: Georgia state entity that serves as a reporting entity for sexual abuse allegations in prisons - Telfair State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison involved in Operation Ghost Busted (Desiree Briley) and Operation Night Drop drone smuggling network. - Thomas White [person]: Person incarcerated by GDC who pleaded guilty in September 2023 to criminal counts related to directing a drive-by shooting from prison using a contraband cellphone - Timothy Ward [person]: Former GDC Commissioner who retired before Tyrone Oliver took over in January 2023 - Tyrone Oliver [person]: Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections who in March 2024 stopped including preliminary cause of death in monthly mortality reports. (aka: Commissioner Oliver, GDC Commissioner) - U.S. Department of Justice [organization]: Federal agency that published October 2024 findings report on unconstitutional conditions in Georgia prisons. (aka: DOJ) - Walker State Prison [facility]: A Georgia state prison noted as a positive exception by the DOJ, with fewer incarcerated people reporting fear and a higher proportion of staff positions filled. - Ware State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison leading all GDC facilities in cell phone seizures by end of 2016, with 1,392 phones confiscated. - Wilcox State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison visited by DOJ during 2022-2023 investigation (aka: Wilcox) SOURCES (63) ---------------------------------------- - 28 C.F.R. § 115.43 – PREA Standards on Protective Custody, Code of Federal Regulations [legislation, primary] - Alberti v. Klevenhagen, 790 F.2d 1220 (5th Cir. 1986), U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1986-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Assault on Human Rights, Medium by David Morris (2023-12-13) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://perma.cc/4EDW-TFDJ - At least 360 Georgia prison guards have been arrested for contraband since 2018, newspaper finds, AP News by Associated Press (2023-09-25) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://perma.cc/H39T-N6EL - Bearchild v. Cobban, 947 F.3d 1130 (9th Cir. 2020), U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2020-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Bowen v. Warden Baldwin State Prison, 826 F.3d 1312 (11th Cir. 2016), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2016-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Braggs v. Dunn, 257 F. Supp. 3d 1171 (M.D. Ala. 2017), U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama (2017-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Bureau of Justice Statistics national prison homicide rate data, Bureau of Justice Statistics by BJS (2019-01-01) [official_report, primary] - Bureau of Justice Statistics Report on National Homicide Rates in State Prisons (2019), Bureau of Justice Statistics (2019-01-01) [official_report, primary] - Caldwell v. Warden, FCI Talladega, 748 F.3d 1090 (11th Cir. 2014), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2014-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), United States Code [legislation, primary] - Correctional Officer Killed (Press Release), Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC (2023-10-01) [press_release, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/Q3YM-BN5M - Crawford v. Cuomo, 796 F.3d 252 (2d Cir. 2015), U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (2015-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Dickinson v. Cochran, 833 F. App'x 268 (11th Cir. 2020), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2020-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - DOJ CRIPA Findings Report on Georgia Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division by U.S. Department of Justice (2024-01-01) [official_report, primary] - DOJ CRIPA Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division by U.S. Department of Justice (2024-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - DOJ Investigation Findings Report on Georgia Department of Corrections (CRIPA), U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section (2024-01-01) [official_report, primary] - Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Reports and Provider Records, Various local EMS providers [official_report, primary] - Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825 (1994), U.S. Supreme Court (1994-06-06) [legal_document, primary] URL: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/511/825/ - Four Convicted in Gang-Related Drive-by Shooting (Press Release), Georgia Office of the Attorney General by Georgia Office of the Attorney General (2023-11-01) [press_release, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/M82F-VKKW - Gates v. Collier, 501 F.2d 1291 (5th Cir. 1974), U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1974-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - GDC About GDC - State Prisons, Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC [data_portal, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/9M7Z-DUCH - GDC Contraband Recovery Data (November 2021 – August 2023), Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] - GDC Employee Morale Surveys (2023), Georgia Department of Corrections (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] - GDC Facebook Post – Contraband Seized at Multiple State Prisons (July 22, 2022), Georgia Department of Corrections (Facebook) (2022-07-22) [press_release, primary] - GDC Facilities Division website, Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC [data_portal, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/DU5Y-W2YF - GDC Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report, Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/NA52-CVBP - GDC Grievance Appeals Data (2023), Georgia Department of Corrections (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] - GDC Incident Reports and Records, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] - GDC Inmate Statistical Profile (June 1, 2024), Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC (2024-06-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/P8EG-C5V2 - GDC Internal Facility Audits (2023), Georgia Department of Corrections (2023-01-01) [official_report, primary] - GDC Mortality Reports / Mortality Data, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] - GDC Next Generation Assessment (NGA) Classification Tool, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] - GDC Office of Professional Standards (OPS) Investigation Files, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] - GDC PREA Annual Reports (2019-2022), Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] - GDC SOP 209.06 Administrative Segregation (effective February 19, 2021), Georgia Department of Corrections (2021-01-01) [official_report, primary] - GDC Staffing Records and Rosters, Georgia Department of Corrections [official_report, primary] - Georgia Advoc. Off. v. Jackson, No. 1:19-cv-1634-WMR-JFK (N.D. Ga. 2019), U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia (2019-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Autopsy Records / Office of the Medical Examiner, Georgia Bureau of Investigation [official_report, primary] - Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) Investigations, Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council [official_report, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/L9WB-LZWU - Gov. Kemp Announces GDC Assessment as Next Phase of Public Safety Improvements, Office of the Governor of Georgia by Office of the Governor (2024-06-17) [press_release, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/4KU4-5CA6 - Governor's Office of Planning and Budget Records, Georgia Governor's Office of Planning and Budget [official_report, primary] - Hundreds of GA prison employees had a lucrative side hustle: They aided prisoners' criminal schemes, Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Danny Robbins & Carrie Teegardin (2023-09-21) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://perma.cc/2P34-TXLJ - Inmates Record Horrific Beating, Stabbing Inside Georgia Prison Cell, 11 Alive by Cody Alcorn (2023-04-08) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://perma.cc/K2EN-HXAM - LaMarca v. Turner, 995 F.2d 1526 (11th Cir. 1993), U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (1993-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Lane v. Philbin, 835 F.3d 1302 (11th Cir. 2016), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2016-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Local Coroner Reports, Various Georgia county coroners [official_report, primary] - Man Killed in Georgia Prison Laid There for Hours Before Guards Came, Autopsy Suggests, FOX 5 Atlanta by Rob DiRienzo (2024-06-10) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://perma.cc/YPW2-5T8V - Marbury v. Warden, 936 F.3d 1227 (11th Cir. 2019), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2019-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Phillips State Prison fire video (Facebook post), Human and Civil Rights Coalition of Georgia (Facebook) by Human and Civil Rights Coalition of Georgia (2023-12-18) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://perma.cc/RGF6-ETQ4 - Porter v. Clarke, 923 F.3d 348 (4th Cir. 2019), U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (2019-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - PREA Standards (National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape), Code of Federal Regulations [legislation, primary] - PREA Standards § 115.68 Post-Allegation Protective Custody – National PREA Resource Center, National PREA Resource Center [official_report, primary] URL: https://perma.cc/EXB6-7R7Q - Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), United States Congress [legislation, primary] - Prisoner Stabs Warden at Telfair State Prison, Atlanta Journal-Constitution by Carrie Teegardin & Danny Robbins (2024-03-20) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://perma.cc/RF9S-ZPL9 - Q.F. v. Daniel, 768 F. App'x 935 (11th Cir. 2019), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2019-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Quintilla v. Bryson, 730 F. App'x 738 (11th Cir. 2018), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2018-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Sconiers v. Lockhart, 946 F.3d 1256 (11th Cir. 2020), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2020-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - Sheley v. Dugger, 833 F.2d 1420 (11th Cir. 1987), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (1987-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - State Board of Pardons and Paroles Records, Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles [official_report, primary] - Thomas v. Bryant, 614 F.3d 1288 (11th Cir. 2010), U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2010-01-01) [legal_document, primary] - U.S. Constitution, Eighth Amendment [legal_document, primary] - Van Riper v. Wexford Health Sources, Inc., 67 F. App'x 501 (10th Cir. 2003), U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit (2003-01-01) [legal_document, primary]