GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: GDC Budget Baseline FY2025–FY2027: Per-Inmate Operating Cost, Programming Spending, and Multi-State Education Comparisons ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-04-29 03:10:27 EDT Research Date: 2026-04-25 Topic: GDC Budget / Fiscal Analysis JSON: https://gps.press/research-data/gdc-budget-baseline-fy2025fy2027-per-inmate-operating-cost-programming-spending-and-multi-state-education-comparisons/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- This amendment document provides canonical GDC budget data from the GPS budget database REST API, correcting and superseding several figures from prior GPS reporting (post 9639 'Mission Failure'). Key findings include that GDC's total appropriation peaked at $1.91 billion in FY2025 before declining, that State Prisons funding was cut by $187 million (16.78%) between FY2025 actual and FY2027 approved while Private Prisons grew by $20.9 million (13.69%), that the FY2027 approved budget introduced a new Opioid Settlement Trust Fund of $8.6 million as a fund-source swap for substance abuse programs, and that the legislature cut the high school diploma program by $104,000 directing GDC to explore virtual alternatives. The document also corrects the '$120 million surveillance' and '$634 million largest increase' claims from prior reporting, establishing canonical surveillance/security spending at approximately $27.1 million for AFY2026/FY2027. STATISTICS (105) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] GDC FY2024 Actual Total Budget GDC total budget for FY2024 actual was $1,526,654,104 ($1.53 billion), composed of State General Funds $1,422,978,935, Federal Funds $3,022,249, and Other Funds $100,652,921. Value: 1526654104.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint - [confirmed] GDC Total Annual Appropriation GDC's total appropriation is approximately $1.8 billion per year. This is the controlling fiscal envelope from which all programming, surveillance, staff, and facility operations are funded. Value: 1.8 billion dollars per year Tags: budget Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] GDC FY2025 Actual Total Budget — Peak Year GDC total budget for FY2025 actual was $1,913,888,054 ($1.91 billion), the peak year in the FY2024–FY2027 window. Composed of State General Funds $1,823,730,648, Federal Funds $3,309,597, and Other Funds $86,847,809. Value: 1913888054.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint - [confirmed] GDC Active In-Custody Population April 2026 As of GDC's April 2026 monthly statistical report, GDC's active in-custody population is approximately 47,282 people. Value: 47282.0 people Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GDC Monthly Statistical Profile, Profile of All Inmates, April 2026 - [confirmed] GDC FY2026 Original Budget GDC total budget for FY2026 original was $1,712,067,948 ($1.71 billion), composed of State General Funds $1,695,298,277, Federal Funds $809,589, and Other Funds $15,960,082. Value: 1712067948.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint - [confirmed] GDC Parole Population April 2026 A further 12,162 people are under parole supervision as of April 2026. Value: 12162.0 people Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics,parole Sources: GDC Monthly Statistical Profile, Profile of All Inmates, April 2026 - [confirmed] GDC FY2026 Amended Budget GDC total budget for FY2026 amended was $1,799,204,979 ($1.80 billion), composed of State General Funds $1,782,435,308, Federal Funds $809,589, and Other Funds $15,960,082. This is the specific figure corresponding to the widely cited '$1.8 billion' in GPS reporting. Value: 1799204979.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report; GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint - [confirmed] GDC Historic Records Database Total The broader GDC records database contains 302,343 historic GDC records (active + inactive + parole). Value: 302343.0 records Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GPS AI Content Index - [confirmed] GDC FY2027 Governor's Proposed Budget GDC total budget for FY2027 as proposed in the Governor's Budget was $1,778,839,635 ($1.78 billion), composed of State General Funds $1,762,069,964, Federal Funds $809,589, and Other Funds $15,960,082. Value: 1778839635.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] GDC Active Lifer Count Statewide active-lifer count: 7,993. Value: 7993.0 people Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GDC Monthly Statistical Profile, Profile of All Inmates, April 2026 - [confirmed] GDC FY2027 Approved Budget (HB 974) GDC total budget for FY2027 approved (HB 974 Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute) was $1,787,672,791 ($1.79 billion), composed of State General Funds $1,762,261,281, Federal Funds $809,589, Other Funds $15,960,082, and a new Opioid Settlement Trust Fund of $8,641,839. Value: 1787672791.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] GDC Active LWOP Count Statewide active life-without-parole (LWOP) count: 2,355. Value: 2355.0 people Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GDC Monthly Statistical Profile, Profile of All Inmates, April 2026 - [estimated] Implied Per-Inmate Operating Cost (Composite) Implied operating cost per active inmate: $1.8 billion / 47,282 = approximately $38,070 per active inmate per year. This is a top-down calculation and does not separate facility operating cost from administrative overhead, parole supervision, or capital outlay. Value: 38070.0 dollars per inmate per year Tags: budget Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Largest Corrections Funding Increase in Georgia History The AFY2026/FY2027 budget cycle contained the largest single corrections funding increase in Georgia history, totaling approximately $634 million in new corrections appropriations. Value: 634.0 million dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report; FY2025-FY2027 Criminal Legal System Budget Analysis, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute - [confirmed] State Prisons Budget Cut $187M (16.78%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's largest program (State Prisons) was reduced from $1,117,374,600 (FY2025 actual) to $929,889,321 (FY2027 approved), a reduction of $187,485,279 or 16.78%. Value: -187485279.0 dollars (vs. -16.78 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] New Spending: Thermal Cameras, CCTVs, Perimeter Security Thermal cameras, CCTVs, and perimeter security received $84.7 million in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 84.7 million dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] Private Prisons Budget Grew $20.9M (13.69%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's Private Prisons program grew from $152,648,138 (FY2025 actual) to $173,541,185 (FY2027 approved), an increase of $20,893,047 or 13.69%. Value: 20893047.0 dollars (vs. 13.69 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] New Spending: Managed Access Cell Phone Blocking Managed access cell phone blocking received $35 million or more in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 35.0 million dollars Tags: budget,contraband,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] Health Budget Grew $37.3M (9.56%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's Health program grew from $389,939,841 (FY2025 actual) to $427,216,930 (FY2027 approved), an increase of $37,277,089 or 9.56%. Value: 37277089.0 dollars (vs. 9.56 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget,medical Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] New Spending: Body Cameras and Tasers Body cameras and tasers received $7.2 million in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 7.2 million dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] New Spending: OWL Surveillance Unit OWL surveillance unit received $6.8 million in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 6.8 million dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] Offender Management Budget Grew $8.1M (15.98%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's Offender Management program grew from $50,538,361 (FY2025 actual) to $58,614,564 (FY2027 approved), an increase of $8,076,203 or 15.98%. Value: 8076203.0 dollars (vs. 15.98 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] New Spending: Digital Forensics Digital forensics received $4.1 million in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 4.1 million dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] Departmental Administration Cut $9.1M (18.44%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's Departmental Administration program was reduced from $49,517,997 (FY2025 actual) to $40,386,511 (FY2027 approved), a reduction of $9,131,486 or 18.44%. Value: -9131486.0 dollars (vs. -18.44 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] New Spending: Officer Tablets Officer tablets received $2.5 million in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 2.5 million dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] Transition Centers Budget Grew $3.8M (8.14%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's Transition Centers program grew from $46,297,756 (FY2025 actual) to $50,067,051 (FY2027 approved), an increase of $3,769,295 or 8.14%. Value: 3769295.0 dollars (vs. 8.14 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget,reentry Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] New Spending: Off-Site Mail Screening Off-site mail screening received approximately $1 million in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 1.0 million dollars Tags: budget,contraband,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] AFY2026 Amended Total Line-Item Changes: $87.1M The AFY2026 amended budget contained $87,137,031 in total line-item changes. The largest category was health contract at $39,723,896, followed by security at $16,940,427 and one-time salary supplement ($2,000) at $15,064,541. Value: 87137031.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Total New Surveillance Spending AFY2026/FY2027 Total new surveillance spending across the two budget years: over $120 million. Value: 120.0 million dollars (minimum) Tags: budget,operations Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report; Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Approved Net Total Line-Item Changes: $67.0M The FY2027 approved budget (HB 974 Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute) contained $66,963,004 in net total line-item changes. The largest category was health contract at $49,944,274, followed by correctional officer staffing at $28,527,189. Value: 66963004.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] New Rehabilitation Programming AFY2026 Additional programming through offender reentry services and a high school diploma program (AFY2026): $336,851. Value: 336851.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] AFY2026 Health Contract Spending: $39.7M The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $39,723,896 for health contract line-item changes, the largest single category in that budget cycle. Value: 39723896.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] New Rehabilitation Programming FY2027 Additional programming through offender reentry services and a high school diploma program (FY2027): $992,819. Value: 992819.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] FY2027 Health Contract Spending: $49.9M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $49,944,274 for health contract line-item changes, the largest single category in that budget cycle. Value: 49944274.0 dollars Tags: budget,medical Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] Pilot Peer-Led Program at One Prison Pilot peer-led program at one prison: $150,000 in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 150000.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] AFY2026 Managed Access/Drone Detection Spending: $13.4M Within the AFY2026 security category ($16,940,427 total), managed access/drone detection accounted for $13,387,475. Value: 13387475.0 dollars Tags: budget,contraband,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Additional Programming at One Reentry Facility Additional programming at one reentry facility: $93,179 in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending. Value: 93179.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report - [confirmed] AFY2026 One-Time $2,000 Salary Supplement: $15.1M The AFY2026 amended budget included $15,064,541 for a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for correctional officers. Value: 15064541.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Total New Rehabilitation Investment AFY2026/FY2027 Total new rehabilitation investment across the two budget years: approximately $2.6 million. Value: 2.6 million dollars Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report; Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Correctional Officer Staffing: $28.5M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $28,527,189 for correctional officer staffing increases. Value: 28527189.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] FY2027 Correctional Officer Salary Adjustment ($2,000): $15.6M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $15,572,351 for a $2,000 correctional officer salary adjustment for recruitment and retention. Value: 15572351.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] Per-Inmate New Rehabilitation Investment $2.6 million / approximately 50,000 incarcerated people = approximately $52 per person per year, or approximately $0.14 per person per day. Value: 52.0 dollars per person per year (vs. 0.14 dollars per person per day) Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 OWL Unit Personnel: $1.4M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $1,443,038 for OWL Unit personnel within the security category. Value: 1443038.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] FY2027 OWL Unit Additional Technology: $5.5M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $5,521,230 for OWL Unit additional technology within the security category. Value: 5521230.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Technical/Vocational Education Programs AFY2025 Technical and vocational education programs and related equipment (AFY2025): $1.2 million. Value: 1.2 million dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: FY2025-FY2027 Criminal Legal System Budget Analysis, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute - [confirmed] FY2027 Managed Access/Drone Detection Uses $10.8M Existing Funds The FY2027 approved budget allocates $0 in new funds for managed access/drone detection, instead utilizing $10,793,600 from existing funds. Value: 10793600.0 dollars (existing funds) Tags: budget,contraband,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Technical/Vocational Education Programs FY2026 Technical and vocational education programs and related equipment (FY2026): $805,000. Value: 805000.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: FY2025-FY2027 Criminal Legal System Budget Analysis, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute - [confirmed] AFY2026 Private Prison Spending (Jenkins CI + Riverbend CI): $1.05M The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $1,054,637 for private prisons, specifically for Jenkins CI and Riverbend CI. Value: 1054637.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Vocational Education Budget FY2025 — $172,000 Vocational education budget for the entire state prison system in FY2025: $172,000 — equivalent to approximately $3.44 per active incarcerated person per year (calculated against 47,282 active inmates). Value: 172000.0 dollars (vs. 3.44 dollars per inmate per year) Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Private Prison Spending (Jenkins CI + Riverbend CI): $1.06M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $1,055,658 for private prisons, specifically for Jenkins CI and Riverbend CI. Value: 1055658.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [estimated] Education Spending as Share of GDC Budget Education spending (cited at approximately $2 million total) represents approximately 0.11% of GDC's total $1.8 billion budget. Value: 0.11 percent of total budget Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] AFY2026 Reentry Spending: $243K (Including Autry Peer-Led Pilot) The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $243,179 for reentry, including $150,000 for an Autry State Prison peer-led pilot and $93,179 for Metro Reentry Facility programming. Value: 243179.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] AFY2026 Inmate Assignment Decision Support System: $125,892 The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $125,892 for technology, specifically an inmate assignment decision support system. Value: 125892.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Top Offense: Aggravated Assault Top offense in GDC historic records database: aggravated assault with 29,302 records. Value: 29302.0 records Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GPS AI Content Index - [confirmed] AFY2026 High School Diploma Program Staff: $93,672 The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $93,672 for high school diploma program staff for accreditation. Value: 93672.0 dollars Tags: budget,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Top Offense: Pre-July 2012 Burglary Second top offense in GDC historic records database: pre-July 2012 burglary with 20,780 records. Value: 20780.0 records Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GPS AI Content Index - [confirmed] Top Offense: Possession of Cocaine Third top offense in GDC historic records database: possession of cocaine with 14,096 records. Value: 14096.0 records Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics,drugs Sources: GPS AI Content Index - [confirmed] Top Offense: Armed Robbery Fourth top offense in GDC historic records database: armed robbery with 13,275 records. Value: 13275.0 records Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GPS AI Content Index - [confirmed] New Opioid Settlement Trust Fund: $8,641,839 in FY2027 The FY2027 approved budget contains a new Opioid Settlement Trust Fund line of $8,641,839, appearing as a new fund source for the first time. This fund derives from settlement funds Georgia is receiving from opioid manufacturers and distributors through multi-state litigation. Value: 8641839.0 dollars Tags: budget,drugs,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] Top Offense: Pre-July 2012 First-Degree Forgery Fifth top offense in GDC historic records database: pre-July 2012 first-degree forgery with 10,252 records. Value: 10252.0 records Date: 2026-04-01 Tags: demographics Sources: GPS AI Content Index - [reported] Cited Per-Person Incarceration Cost ($34,000) The 'Mission Failure' GPS analysis cited a per-person incarceration cost of approximately $34,000 per year as the basis for calculating the cost of recidivism reincarcerations. This is the facility-only operating cost figure, as opposed to the $38,070 composite figure that includes administrative overhead, parole supervision, and capital outlay. Value: 34000.0 dollars per inmate per year (vs. 38070 composite per-inmate cost including overhead) Tags: budget Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Substance Abuse Reduction in Detention Centers: $2.2M The FY2027 approved budget reduced State General Funds for substance abuse in Detention Centers by $2,178,619, shifting to Opioid Settlement Trust Funds. Value: -2178619.0 dollars Tags: budget,drugs Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [reported] Florida Prison Education Spending Florida spends approximately $91 million on prison education, equivalent to approximately $1,028 per inmate per year. Florida increased its prison education spending by 119% across three years. Value: 91.0 million dollars (vs. 1028 dollars per inmate per year) Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Substance Abuse Reduction in State Prisons: $6.1M The FY2027 approved budget reduced State General Funds for substance abuse in State Prisons by $6,094,804, shifting to Opioid Settlement Trust Funds. Value: -6094804.0 dollars Tags: budget,drugs Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [reported] Florida Prison Education Spending Increase Florida increased its prison education spending by 119% across three years. Value: 119.0 percent increase Tags: budget,policy,trend Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [reported] Florida Recidivism Rate Florida's stated recidivism rate: 21%. Value: 21.0 percent Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: reentry Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [reported] Texas Prison Education Spending via Windham School District Texas spends approximately $66 to $76 million through the Windham School District, a dedicated educational agency within the Texas prison system with its own superintendent and more than 1,000 staff. Per-inmate education spending: approximately $508 to $585 per year. Value: 66.0 million dollars (low estimate) (vs. 76 million dollars (high estimate)) Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Canonical Surveillance-to-Rehabilitation Ratio: 22:1 (Not 46:1) The surveillance-to-rehabilitation ratio computed from canonical line-item changes is approximately $27.1M / $1.23M ≈ 22:1 across AFY2026 amended + FY2027 approved combined. This is significantly different from article 9639's 46:1 figure but still substantial. Value: 22.0 ratio (surveillance:rehabilitation) (vs. 46 ratio from article 9639) Tags: budget,policy,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; GPS Post 9639 — Mission Failure - [reported] Texas Recidivism Rate Texas's stated recidivism rate: 15%. Value: 15.0 percent Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: reentry Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Canonical Two-Budget-Cycle Rehabilitation Investment: ~$1.23M (Not $2.6M) The approved two-budget-cycle rehabilitation investment (AFY2026 amended + FY2027 approved) is approximately $1,225,705, not the $2.6 million cited in article 9639. Value: 1225705.0 dollars (vs. 2600000 dollars (article 9639 claim)) Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; GPS Post 9639 — Mission Failure - [reported] Alabama Prison Education Spending Alabama spends approximately $19.3 million on prison education, equivalent to approximately $742 per inmate per year. Alabama operates under federal oversight for unconstitutional prison conditions but still outspends Georgia on prison education by approximately 19 to 1 on a per-inmate basis. Value: 19.3 million dollars (vs. 742 dollars per inmate per year) Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2024 to FY2025 Budget Increase: ~$387M The FY2024 actual to FY2025 actual increase was approximately $387 million ($1.53B to $1.91B), representing the largest year-over-year increase in the visible four-year window (FY2024–FY2027). Value: 387000000.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint - [reported] Mississippi Programming Enrollment Rate Mississippi enrolls approximately 80% of its incarcerated population in programming. The state is the poorest in the United States by per-capita measures. Value: 80.0 percent of incarcerated population Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: policy,reentry Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] 38 New Positions Authorized in AFY2026/FY2027 Across all line-item changes in the GPS budget database, the AFY2026/FY2027 budget cycles authorize 38 total new positions. Value: 38.0 positions Tags: budget,staffing Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Stats Endpoint - [reported] South Carolina Prison Education Credentials South Carolina operates a dedicated prison school district. Approximately 8,300 credentials awarded annually. Value: 8300.0 credentials per year Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: policy,reentry Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Benefits Adjustment Reduction: $34.0M The FY2027 approved budget included a benefits adjustment reduction of $33,984,399. Value: -33984399.0 dollars Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [reported] South Carolina Lowest Recidivism Rate in U.S. South Carolina has a stated recidivism rate of 17.1% — the lowest in the entire United States by the cited measure. Value: 17.1 percent Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: reentry Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Offender Call Monitoring Contract: $1.1M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $1,118,244 for an offender call monitoring contract within the technology category. Value: 1118244.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [reported] Georgia Prison Education Spending — Dead Last Among Southern States Georgia spends approximately $2 million on prison education for approximately 51,000 inmates, equivalent to approximately $39 per person per year. Ranked dead last among Southern states in per-inmate education spending. Value: 39.0 dollars per inmate per year Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Data Intelligence Annual Maintenance: $1.75M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $1,750,000 for data intelligence annual maintenance within the technology category. Value: 1750000.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Georgia 3-Year Reconviction Rate GDC's official three-year reconviction rate is reported at 25 to 27%, equating to approximately 3,000 to 3,200 reconvictions per year from each annual release cohort. Value: 25.0 percent (low estimate) (vs. 27 percent (high estimate)) Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: reentry Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] FY2027 Tablet One-Time Funding Reduced: –$1.5M The FY2027 approved budget reduced tablet one-time funding by $1,538,700 within the technology category. Value: -1538700.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] FY2027 Technology Category Net Total: $1.59M The FY2027 approved budget technology category net total was $1,587,344, comprising inmate assignment decision support $257,800, offender call monitoring contract $1,118,244, data intelligence annual maintenance $1,750,000, and tablets one-time funding reduction –$1,538,700. Value: 1587344.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] BJS 30-State Recidivism Rates The Bureau of Justice Statistics 30-state recidivism dataset (which includes Georgia) reports a three-year rearrest rate of 68%, a six-year rate of 79%, and a nine-year rate of 83%. Value: 68.0 percent (3-year rearrest) (vs. 83 percent (9-year rearrest)) Tags: reentry Sources: 2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-Up Period (2005-2014), Bureau of Justice Statistics - [confirmed] FY2027 Security Category Total: $8.4M The FY2027 approved budget security category total was $8,445,494, comprising canine handlers $695,018, security threat group coordinators $377,168, managed access analysts $409,040, OWL Unit personnel $1,443,038, and OWL Unit additional technology $5,521,230. Value: 8445494.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [estimated] Fiscal Impact of 10 Percentage Point Recidivism Reduction Reducing Georgia's reconviction rate by 10 percentage points would equate to approximately 1,200 fewer reconvictions per year, or approximately $40 million per year in avoided incarceration costs — more than fifteen times GDC's current annual rehabilitation programming spending. Value: 40.0 million dollars per year saved (vs. 1200 fewer reconvictions per year) Tags: budget,reentry Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] AFY2026 Canine Handlers: $964,650 The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $964,650 for canine handlers within the security category. Value: 964650.0 dollars Tags: budget,contraband,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] AFY2026 Security Threat Group Coordinators: $137,802 The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $137,802 for security threat group coordinators within the security category. Value: 137802.0 dollars Tags: budget,gangs,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] RAND: Prison Education ROI $4-$5 Per Dollar The RAND Corporation found a return on investment of $4 to $5 per dollar invested in prison education. Value: 4.0 dollars return per dollar invested (low) (vs. 5 dollars return per dollar invested (high)) Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: RAND Corporation, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education, 2013 - [confirmed] AFY2026 Public Safety Supplies/Equipment: $2.45M The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $2,450,500 for public safety supplies and equipment within the security category. Value: 2450500.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] RAND: Vocational Training 205% ROI Vocational training produces an estimated 205% return on investment. Value: 205.0 percent ROI Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: budget,reentry,policy Sources: RAND Corporation, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education, 2013 - [confirmed] AFY2026 Operations Category: $6.24M The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $6,242,030 for the operations category. Value: 6242030.0 dollars Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] GDC Vocational Completers Recidivism Rate GDC's own internal data shows vocational program completers recidivate at approximately 13.64% — roughly half the general population rate. Value: 13.64 percent (vs. 25 percent (general population reconviction rate)) Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: reentry,policy Sources: GDC Reentry and Cognitive Programming Fact Sheet - [confirmed] AFY2026 Correctional Officer Staffing: $4.98M The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $4,982,902 for correctional officer staffing. Value: 4982902.0 dollars Tags: budget,staffing Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] AFY2026 Facility Ops: $2.67M The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $2,665,855 for facility operations. Value: 2665855.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] SCI Chester 'Little Scandinavia' Per-Bed Setup Cost Pennsylvania's 'Little Scandinavia' pilot at SCI Chester: 64 beds at approximately $310,000 setup cost. Per-bed setup cost: approximately $4,844 per bed. Operating since 2022. Value: 4844.0 dollars per bed (setup) (vs. 310000 total setup cost) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: budget,policy,facilities Sources: Fish Tanks, Plants and Podcast Studios — Some States Try a New Approach to Incarceration; GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [confirmed] FY2027 Facility Ops: $4.23M The FY2027 approved budget allocated $4,232,901 for facility operations. Value: 4232901.0 dollars Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [reported] SCI Chester Staff-to-Inmate Ratio vs Standard Housing The Little Scandinavia unit at SCI Chester has a staff-to-inmate ratio of approximately 1:8, compared to approximately 1:128 in standard SCI Chester housing. Value: 8.0 inmates per staff (Little Scandinavia) (vs. 128 inmates per staff (standard housing)) Date: 2025-01-01 Tags: staffing,policy Sources: GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [confirmed] San Quentin Rehabilitation Center Per-Bed Cost California's San Quentin Rehabilitation Center: 2,500-bed capacity at approximately $239 million construction cost. Per-bed construction cost: approximately $95,600 per bed. Scheduled to open January 2026. Value: 95600.0 dollars per bed (construction) (vs. 239 million dollars total construction) Tags: budget,policy,facilities Sources: San Quentin rehabilitation center: California's $239 million Scandinavia-inspired prison project - [confirmed] Autry State Prison Peer-Led Reentry Pilot: $150,000 The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $150,000 for an Autry State Prison peer-led pilot within the reentry category. Value: 150000.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Metro Reentry Facility Programming: $93,179 The AFY2026 amended budget allocated $93,179 for Metro Reentry Facility programming within the reentry category. Value: 93179.0 dollars Tags: budget,reentry Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] CDCR FY2026-27 Budget California's proposed FY2026-27 corrections budget is approximately $14.2 billion, with much of the increase attributed to officer pay growing at approximately three times the rate of inflation. Value: 14.2 billion dollars Tags: budget Sources: CA Should Send Prisoners Home Instead of Spending Millions on New Facilities, Truthout - [confirmed] Food and Farm Operations Cut $487K (1.53%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's Food and Farm Operations program was reduced from $31,748,617 (FY2025 actual) to $31,261,736 (FY2027 approved), a reduction of $486,881 or 1.53%. Value: -486881.0 dollars (vs. -1.53 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget,conditions Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] Detention Centers Budget Grew $873K (1.15%) from FY2025 to FY2027 GDC's Detention Centers program grew from $75,822,744 (FY2025 actual) to $76,695,493 (FY2027 approved), an increase of $872,749 or 1.15%. Value: 872749.0 dollars (vs. 1.15 percent change FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved) Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] RAND: Education Improves Employment by 13 Percentage Points The RAND Corporation's meta-analysis found that correctional education participants had employment outcomes 13 percentage points higher than non-participants. Value: 13.0 percentage points higher employment Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: reentry,policy Sources: RAND Corporation, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education, 2013 METHODOLOGY NOTES (5) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Correction: '$1.8 billion' refers to FY2026 amended, not FY2025 The '$1.8 billion' figure widely cited in GPS reporting (including post 9639 'Mission Failure') corresponds specifically to the FY2026 amended budget total ($1,799,204,979). It is not the FY2025 actual, which was higher at $1.91 billion. GDC's total appropriation peaked in FY2025 at approximately $1.91 billion before declining to ~$1.79–1.80 billion in FY2026 and FY2027. Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint - [confirmed] Correction: '$120M Surveillance' Claim Cannot Be Reconciled with AFY2026/FY2027 Line Items Article 9639 ('Mission Failure') cited 'over $120 million' in surveillance and security technology spending across the AFY2026/FY2027 budget cycle. The canonical line-item changes data shows new spending in security and technology categories totaling approximately $27.1 million across AFY2026 amended and FY2027 approved combined. Even adding officer salary/staffing increases (~$49M across both cycles) does not bring the total to $120M. The $120M figure likely includes capital outlays from earlier fiscal years or multi-year cumulative program spending. Tags: budget,operations Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; GPS Post 9639 — Mission Failure - [confirmed] Correction: '$634M Largest Corrections Increase' Cannot Be Reconciled Article 9639 characterized the AFY2026/FY2027 budget cycle as containing $634 million in new corrections appropriations — 'the largest single corrections funding increase in Georgia history.' The canonical total of line-item changes across AFY2026 amended and FY2027 approved is approximately $154 million combined ($87.1M + $67.0M), not $634M. The FY2024→FY2025 actual increase was approximately $387 million ($1.53B→$1.91B), which is the largest year-over-year increase in the visible four-year window but still does not equal $634M. The '$634M' claim should be re-sourced. Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint; GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; GPS Post 9639 — Mission Failure - [confirmed] Georgia Only Measures Reconvictions, Not Rearrests Georgia measures only reconvictions (not rearrests), uses only a three-year window, and excludes deaths from the dataset. Only nine states report all three recidivism measures (reconviction, rearrest, return to incarceration); Georgia is not among them. Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: reentry,data_gap Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation; 2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-Up Period (2005-2014), Bureau of Justice Statistics - [confirmed] GPS Budget Database Covers Nine REST API Endpoints The GPS budget database REST API (gps-budget-data/v1) exposes nine endpoints: /budget, /budget/totals, /budget/compare, /budget/trend/{program}, /department, /changes, /programs, /stats, and /fiscal-years. Data is current to April 4, 2026 and backed by the Governor's Budget Report and HB 974. Date: 2026-04-04 Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Discovery TRENDS (1) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] GDC Budget Peaked in FY2025 Then Declined GDC's total appropriation peaked in FY2025 at approximately $1.91 billion, then declined to approximately $1.80 billion (FY2026 amended) and $1.79 billion (FY2027 approved), representing a decline of approximately $126 million from FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved. Tags: budget Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint FINDINGS (19) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Spending Shift from State Prisons to Private Prisons, Health, and Offender Management Between FY2025 actual and FY2027 approved, the redistribution within the GDC budget moved spending away from state-operated facilities (State Prisons –$187M, –16.78%) toward private contractors (Private Prisons +$20.9M, +13.69%), medical/health services (Health +$37.3M, +9.56%), and offender management (+$8.1M, +15.98%). This represents a meaningful shift in GDC's operational composition. Tags: budget,facilities,medical,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint - [confirmed] Surveillance-to-Rehabilitation Ratio in New Spending Surveillance-to-rehabilitation ratio in new AFY2026/FY2027 spending: over $120 million surveillance / $2.6 million rehabilitation ≈ 46 to 1. Tags: budget,policy,operations Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Education Not a Standalone Line Item in GDC Budget Education is not a standalone line item in GDC's budget. It is embedded within the broader 'State Prisons' appropriation, which ranges from approximately $901 million to $938 million across the two budget years, with no dedicated allocation for education within that envelope. Tags: budget,policy Sources: FY2025-FY2027 Criminal Legal System Budget Analysis, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute - [confirmed] Surveillance Budget 60x Larger Than Education Total The new surveillance technology budget alone (over $120 million) is approximately 60 times larger than the cited education total (~$2 million). Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Two-Budget-Cycle Prison Education Investment: ~$942,705 (Not $1.3M) The combined AFY2026 and FY2027 approved investment in expanded prison education programming through the high school diploma program is approximately $942,705, not the approximately $1.3M that would have resulted from full adoption of the Governor's proposal ($93,672 AFY2026 + $849,033 FY2027 approved vs. $93,672 + $953,033 proposed). Tags: budget,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] Substance Abuse Fund-Source Swap: $8.3M State Funds Replaced by Opioid Settlement Funds The FY2027 approved budget reduced State General Funds spending on substance abuse programs by $8,273,423 (Detention Centers –$2,178,619 and State Prisons –$6,094,804), offset by the new $8,641,839 Opioid Settlement Trust Fund. Both reductions are explicitly described as 'Reduce funds and utilize Opioid Settlement Trust Funds for opioid abuse programs, services, and supports.' Net effect is a small increase of approximately $368,000, but this is a fund-source swap, not a program reduction. Tags: budget,drugs,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint; GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [reported] Alabama Outspends Georgia 19:1 Per-Inmate on Education Alabama, despite operating under federal oversight for unconstitutional prison conditions, still outspends Georgia on prison education by approximately 19 to 1 on a per-inmate basis. Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [estimated] GPS Estimate of Georgia's Actual Recidivism Rate The GPS Research Library estimates Georgia's actual return-to-incarceration rate is closer to 50% — approximately double the official figure — using rearrest and longer windows. Date: 2026-01-01 Tags: reentry,data_gap Sources: GPS Research Library Collection #86 — GDC Mission vs. Reality - [confirmed] RAND: Correctional Education Reduces Recidivism by 43% The RAND Corporation's meta-analysis of correctional education found that participants in educational programs are 43% less likely to recidivate, with employment outcomes 13 percentage points higher and a return on investment of $4 to $5 per dollar invested in prison education. Date: 2013-01-01 Tags: reentry,policy Sources: RAND Corporation, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education, 2013 - [estimated] Hypothetical 2% Education Budget Allocation If Georgia matched approximately 2% of its corrections budget for education (the approximate share Texas and Florida allocate), that would equal approximately $30 million per year — roughly fifteen times current per-capita levels and still less than what GDC spends on private prison contracts. Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] California vs Pennsylvania Per-Bed Cost Ratio California's per-bed setup cost is approximately 19.7 times higher than Pennsylvania's per-bed setup cost ($95,600 vs. $4,844). Tags: budget,facilities Sources: GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [confirmed] Cost of Chester-Style Pilot vs GDC Digital Forensics Budget The GDC AFY2026/FY2027 budget allocated approximately $4.1 million to digital forensics alone — more than thirteen times the cost of standing up a SCI Chester–scale rehabilitation pilot ($310,000). Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation; GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [confirmed] Cost of Chester-Style Pilot vs GDC Thermal Camera Budget The GDC AFY2026/FY2027 budget allocated approximately $84.7 million to thermal cameras, CCTVs, and perimeter security — approximately 273 times the cost of a SCI Chester–scale pilot ($310,000). Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation; GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [estimated] San Quentin-Scale Facility as Share of GDC Budget A San Quentin–scale 2,500-bed Nordic-inspired facility's implied capital cost of approximately $239 million would represent approximately 13.3% of GDC's annual budget or approximately 38% of the new $634 million corrections increase. Tags: budget,policy,facilities Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation; GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [confirmed] Walker State Prison: DOJ Notable Exception The October 2024 DOJ findings report singled out Walker State Prison as a 'notable exception' within GDC. Walker has more staff positions filled than other Georgia prisons, more programming, fewer incarcerated people reporting fear of violence, and zero homicides in years. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: staffing,violence,policy,facilities Sources: Investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division - [confirmed] Walker as Internal Evidence for Staffing + Programming Walker is GDC's own internal evidence that the formula of adequate staffing plus programming produces measurable safety outcomes within the existing GDC system, without any Nordic or Scandinavian framing or capital expenditure beyond standard facility operations. Date: 2024-10-01 Tags: staffing,violence,policy,facilities Sources: Investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division - [reported] CDCR Officer Pay Growing 3x Rate of Inflation Much of the increase in California's proposed FY2026-27 corrections budget is attributed to officer pay growing at approximately three times the rate of inflation. Tags: budget,staffing Sources: CA Should Send Prisoners Home Instead of Spending Millions on New Facilities, Truthout - [estimated] Chester-Style Pilot = 0.017% of GDC Budget A SCI Chester-style 64-bed unit at approximately $310,000 setup cost would be approximately one-thirteen-thousandth of GDC's annual budget, or approximately 0.017%. Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation; GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [confirmed] New Spending Skewed Toward Surveillance Over Rehabilitation The allocation of the $634 million in new corrections dollars is heavily skewed toward surveillance and security technology rather than rehabilitation, education, or staffing-for-programming. Tags: budget,policy Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation; FY2025-FY2027 Criminal Legal System Budget Analysis, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute POLICYS (2) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] FY2027 High School Diploma Program Cut by $104,000 The Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute (HB 974) reduced the high school diploma program by $104,000, with budget language directing GDC to 'explore virtual high school options.' The Governor's FY2027 proposed budget had included $953,033 for required staff; the legislature reduced this to approximately $849,033. Tags: budget,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint; HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute - [confirmed] Legislature Directed GDC to 'Explore Virtual High School Options' The HB 974 Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute (April 4, 2026) included budget language directing GDC to 'explore virtual high school options' as part of reducing the high school diploma program by $104,000, specifying a virtual-delivery alternative rather than staffing-based delivery. Date: 2026-04-04 Tags: policy,budget Sources: HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute DATA GAPS (7) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Opioid Settlement Fund Substitution Risk Flagged as GPS Reporting Target Tracking how Georgia spends opioid settlement funds — and whether they substitute for, rather than supplement, State General Fund spending on substance abuse — is a documented GPS reporting target for FY2027 and beyond. Tags: budget,drugs,policy Sources: GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint - [confirmed] Data Gap: GDC Total Education Spending Across All Line Items GDC total education spending across all line items, including any embedded education spending within the $901-to-$938 million 'State Prisons' appropriation, remains unresolved by published GDC documentation. Without this figure, no per-inmate education spending calculation for Georgia can be done with full precision. Tags: budget,policy,data_gap Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Data Gap: GDC Capital Outlay History FY2020-FY2027 GDC capital outlay history for FY2020 through FY2027 — including any new facility construction, renovation, or major rehabilitation costs — is needed to enable per-bed cost comparison against the SCI Chester ($4,844/bed) and San Quentin ($95,600/bed) reference points. Tags: budget,facilities,data_gap Sources: GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States - [confirmed] Data Gap: GDC Private Prison Contract Spending GDC private prison contract spending — specifically the line items referenced as exceeding the proposed $30 million education scaling figure — needs confirmation through the Department of Administrative Services contract database. Tags: budget,data_gap Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Data Gap: GDC Per-Inmate Operating Cost (Own Calculation) GDC per-inmate operating cost as calculated by GDC itself, separating facility-only operating cost from administrative overhead, parole supervision, and capital outlay, should be requested from GDC's Office of Strategic and Administrative Services. Tags: budget,data_gap Sources: Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation - [confirmed] Data Gap: Walker State Prison Full Budget Allocation Walker State Prison's full FY2025-FY2027 budget allocation, including staffing, programming, and security technology line items, is needed to support Walker as the within-system comparative anchor. Tags: budget,staffing,facilities,data_gap Sources: Investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division - [confirmed] Data Gap: GDC Programming Participation and Completion Data GDC data on programming participation, completion, and recidivism by program type (vocational, GED/HSE, cognitive-behavioral, substance abuse) is needed to validate or update the cited 13.64% vocational completer recidivism figure. Tags: reentry,policy,data_gap Sources: GDC Reentry and Cognitive Programming Fact Sheet CASE DETAILS (1) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] Pennsylvania Expansion of Little Scandinavia Model Pennsylvania announced March 2025 expansion of the Little Scandinavia model to three additional facilities, expected to include a maximum-security site and a women's prison. Date: 2025-03-01 Tags: policy,facilities Sources: Fish Tanks, Plants and Podcast Studios — Some States Try a New Approach to Incarceration DATASETS (14) ---------------------------------------- # AFY2026/FY2027 New Surveillance Spending by Category Breakdown of new surveillance and security technology spending in the AFY2026/FY2027 Georgia corrections budget cycle Category Amount ---------------------------------------------------- Thermal cameras, CCTVs, perimeter security 84.7 Managed access cell phone blocking 35 Body cameras and tasers 7.2 OWL surveillance unit 6.8 Digital forensics 4.1 Officer tablets 2.5 Off-site mail screening 1 # GDC Total Budget Trajectory FY2024–FY2027 Canonical GDC total budget by fiscal year, budget type, and fund source from the GPS budget database REST API department endpoint. Fiscal Year Budget Type Total Budget State General Funds Federal Funds Other Funds Opioid Settlement Trust Fund ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FY2024 actual 1526654104 1422978935 3022249 100652921 0 FY2025 actual 1913888054 1823730648 3309597 86847809 0 FY2026 original 1712067948 1695298277 809589 15960082 0 FY2026 amended 1799204979 1782435308 809589 15960082 0 FY2027 proposed 1778839635 1762069964 809589 15960082 0 FY2027 approved 1787672791 1762261281 809589 15960082 8641839 # AFY2026/FY2027 New Rehabilitation Spending by Category Breakdown of new rehabilitation and education programming spending in the AFY2026/FY2027 Georgia corrections budget cycle Category Amount -------------------------------------------------------------------- Reentry services and high school diploma program (AFY2026) 336851 Reentry services and high school diploma program (FY2027) 992819 Pilot peer-led program at one prison 150000 Additional programming at one reentry facility 93179 # GDC Program-Level Budget Comparison: FY2025 Actual vs FY2027 Approved Year-over-year comparison of GDC program budgets from FY2025 actual to FY2027 approved (HB 974), from the GPS budget database budget/compare endpoint. Program FY2025 Actual FY2027 Approved Change ($) Change (%) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Departmental Administration (DOC) 49517997 40386511 -9131486 -18.44 Detention Centers 75822744 76695493 872749 1.15 Food and Farm Operations 31748617 31261736 -486881 -1.53 Health 389939841 427216930 37277089 9.56 Offender Management 50538361 58614564 8076203 15.98 Private Prisons 152648138 173541185 20893047 13.69 State Prisons 1117374600 929889321 -187485279 -16.78 Transition Centers 46297756 50067051 3769295 8.14 # Multi-State Per-Inmate Prison Education Spending Comparison Per-inmate prison education spending and recidivism rates across Southern peer states as compiled by GPS State Total Education Spending Per-Inmate Education Spending Recidivism Rate ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Florida ~$91M 1028 21% Alabama ~$19.3M 742 N/A Texas ~$66-76M 508 15% South Carolina N/A 17.1% Mississippi N/A N/A Georgia ~$2M 39 25-27% # AFY2026 Amended Line-Item Changes by Category Category-level totals for line-item changes in the AFY2026 amended budget from the GPS budget database changes endpoint. Category Amount ----------------------------------------------- Health contract 39723896 Security 16940427 Salary supplement (one-time $2,000) 15064541 Operations 6242030 Correctional officer staffing 4982902 Facility ops 2665855 Private prisons 1054637 Reentry 243179 Technology 125892 Education 93672 # GDC Population Framework for Per-Capita Calculations (April 2026) Population denominators for GDC per-capita fiscal calculations as of April 2026 Category Count ----------------------------------------- Active in-custody population 47282 Parole population 12162 Active + parole combined 59444 Historic records (all statuses) 302343 Active lifers 7993 Active LWOP 2355 # FY2027 Approved Line-Item Changes by Category Category-level totals for line-item changes in the FY2027 approved budget (HB 974 Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute) from the GPS budget database changes endpoint. Net total: $66,963,004. Category Amount ------------------------------------------------------------ Health contract 49944274 Correctional officer staffing 28527189 Correctional officer salary ($2,000 adjustment) 15572351 Security 8445494 Facility ops 4232901 Technology 1587344 Private prisons 1055658 Education -104000 Substance abuse -8273423 Operations -34163 Administrative -6222 Benefits adjustment -33984399 # Top Five Major Offenses in GDC Records Database Top five major offenses by count in the GDC historic records database, reflecting offense composition across the broader population Offense Count ------------------------------------------- Aggravated assault 29302 Pre-July 2012 burglary 20780 Possession of cocaine 14096 Armed robbery 13275 Pre-July 2012 first-degree forgery 10252 # AFY2026 Security Category Detail Breakdown of the AFY2026 amended security category ($16,940,427 total) by sub-item. Sub-Item Amount ---------------------------------------------- Managed access/drone detection 13387475 Public safety supplies/equipment 2450500 Canine handlers 964650 Security threat group coordinators 137802 # U.S. Scandinavian-Inspired Pilot Per-Bed Costs Per-bed setup/construction costs of the two leading U.S. Nordic-inspired prison reform pilots Program State Beds Total Cost Per-Bed Cost ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Little Scandinavia (SCI Chester) Pennsylvania 64 $310,000 4844 San Quentin Rehabilitation Center California 2500 $239,000,000 95600 # FY2027 Security Category Detail Breakdown of the FY2027 approved security category ($8,445,494 total) by sub-item. Sub-Item Amount --------------------------------------------- OWL Unit additional technology 5521230 OWL Unit personnel 1443038 Canine handlers 695018 Managed access analysts 409040 Security threat group coordinators 377168 # BJS 30-State Recidivism Rates by Time Window Rearrest rates from the Bureau of Justice Statistics 30-state recidivism dataset at 3, 6, and 9 year windows Window Rearrest Rate ----------------------- 3-year 68 6-year 79 9-year 83 # FY2027 Technology Category Detail Breakdown of the FY2027 approved technology category ($1,587,344 net total) by sub-item. Sub-Item Amount ------------------------------------------------ Data intelligence annual maintenance 1750000 Offender call monitoring contract 1118244 Inmate assignment decision support 257800 Tablets one-time funding (reduction) -1538700 KEY ENTITIES (27) ---------------------------------------- - Alabama Department of Corrections [organization]: Alabama state corrections agency spending approximately $19.3 million on prison education (~$742/inmate/year) while under federal oversight for unconstitutional conditions - Autry State Prison [facility]: Georgia state prison with GCI shoe/boot manufacturing and garment operations. - Bureau of Justice Statistics [organization]: Federal statistical agency within DOJ that collected and published mortality in correctional institutions data from approximately 2000 until 2019. (aka: BJS) - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation [organization]: California state agency responsible for operating the state prison system; defendant in Brown v. Plata litigation (aka: CDCR, California prisons) - Florida Department of Corrections [organization]: Florida state corrections agency referenced in analysis of contractor profit margins from penny-per-meal savings in a 90,000-prisoner system. - GDC [organization]: Georgia state corrections department operating 12 reentry centers with 2,344 beds and various cognitive programming initiatives. (aka: Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia DOC) - Georgia Budget and Policy Institute [organization]: Georgia-based policy research organization that published the FY2025 criminal legal systems budget primer and the Labor Day 2022 analysis of Georgia's correctional control. (aka: GBPI) - 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 Office of Planning and Budget [organization]: State agency that evaluated RSAT programs including recidivism and cost avoidance data. (aka: OPB) - Georgia Prisoners' Speak [organization]: Advocacy organization documenting conditions inside Georgia prisons through photos and insider accounts, including food inadequacy. (aka: GPS) - Governor's Office of Planning and Budget [organization]: Georgia agency responsible for developing the Governor's Budget Report (aka: OPB) - GPS Post 9639 — Mission Failure [case]: GPS article (post 9639) that cited several budget figures now corrected by canonical REST API data, including the '$1.8 billion', '$120 million surveillance', '$634 million largest increase', '46:1 surveillance-to-rehabilitation ratio', and '$2.6 million rehabilitation' claims. (aka: Article 9639, Mission Failure) - HB 974 [legislation]: The General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2027 in Georgia, approved by the General Assembly on March 24, 2026 (Sine Die). The SAC substitute is the final enacted version. (aka: FY 2027G General Appropriations Act) - Jenkins Correctional Institution [facility]: Private prison facility in Georgia receiving increased funding to fully utilize available beds. - Metro Reentry Facility [facility]: A reopened state prison facility remissioned to function as a re-entry facility for the Metro Atlanta area, focusing on recidivism reduction. (aka: Re-Entry Facility) - Mississippi Department of Corrections [organization]: Mississippi state corrections agency that canceled its Aramark contract in 2021 after a federal lawsuit described contaminated food. (aka: MDOC Mississippi) - Opioid Settlement Trust Fund [program]: Georgia trust fund created from opioid settlement proceeds. In FY2027, $8,641,839 was allocated to GDC as a funding source shift from State General Funds, not new spending. - OWL Unit [program]: GDC surveillance and tactical unit that received $6,964,268 in new funding ($1,443,038 personnel + $5,521,230 technology) in the FY2027 approved budget. - RAND Corporation [organization]: Research organization that conducted the correctional education meta-analysis (2013) and evaluated Oregon's Measure 11. (aka: RAND) - Riverbend Correctional Institution [facility]: Private prison facility in Georgia receiving increased funding to fully utilize available beds. - San Quentin Rehabilitation Center [facility]: Flagship California rehabilitation site with 80,000 sq ft Learning Center opened February 2026. (aka: San Quentin, San Quentin State Prison) - SCI Chester [facility]: Pennsylvania state correctional institution hosting the Scandinavian Prison Project experimental housing unit. - South Carolina Department of Corrections [organization]: South Carolina state corrections agency operating a dedicated prison school district, awarding ~8,300 credentials annually, with the lowest recidivism rate in the U.S. at 17.1% - Texas Department of Criminal Justice [organization]: Texas corrections agency; former executive director testified as expert witness that overcrowding is 'primary cause' of violations (aka: TDCJ) - 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. - Windham School District [organization]: Independent school district operating within the Texas prison system, providing education to 130,000 inmates. SOURCES (22) ---------------------------------------- - 2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-Up Period (2005-2014), Bureau of Justice Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2018-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/2018-update-prisoner-recidivism-9-year-follow-period-2005-2014 - CA Should Send Prisoners Home Instead of Spending Millions on New Facilities, Truthout, Truthout by Steve Brooks (2026-04-01) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://truthout.org/articles/ca-should-send-prisoners-home-instead-of-spending-millions-on-new-facilities/ - Fish Tanks, Plants and Podcast Studios — Some States Try a New Approach to Incarceration, The Marshall Project by Jamiles Lartey (2025-04-19) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2025/04/19/pennsylvania-california-nordic-prison-units - FY2025-FY2027 Criminal Legal System Budget Analysis, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute [official_report, secondary] URL: https://gbpi.org - GDC Monthly Statistical Profile, Profile of All Inmates, April 2026, Georgia Department of Corrections (2026-04-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/document/monthly-statistical-reports - GDC Reentry and Cognitive Programming Fact Sheet, Georgia Department of Corrections by GDC [official_report, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/document/fact-sheets/reentry-and-cognitive-programming-fact-sheet/download - Governor's Office of Planning and Budget, FY 2025 Governor's Budget Report, Governor's Office of Planning and Budget [official_report, primary] URL: https://opb.georgia.gov/budget-information/budget-documents - GPS AI Content Index, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS (2026-03-29) [data_portal, secondary] URL: https://gps.press/ai-index/ - GPS Budget Data REST API — Budget Compare Endpoint, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS (2026-04-04) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://gps.press/wp-json/gps-budget-data/v1/budget/compare?year1=FY2025&type1=actual&year2=FY2027&type2=approved - GPS Budget Data REST API — Changes Endpoint, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS (2026-04-04) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://gps.press/wp-json/gps-budget-data/v1/changes - GPS Budget Data REST API — Department Endpoint, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS (2026-04-04) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://gps.press/wp-json/gps-budget-data/v1/department - GPS Budget Data REST API — Discovery, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS (2026-04-04) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://gps.press/wp-json/ - GPS Budget Data REST API — Stats Endpoint, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS (2026-04-04) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://gps.press/wp-json/gps-budget-data/v1/stats - GPS Facilities Dashboard, GDC population totals, March 2026, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS (2026-03-01) [gps_original, primary] URL: https://gps.press/gdc-statistics/ - GPS Post 9639 — Mission Failure, Georgia Prisoners' Speak by GPS [gps_original, secondary] - GPS Research Library Collection #86 — GDC Mission vs. Reality, Georgia Prisoners' Speak (GPS) (2026-01-01) [gps_original, secondary] URL: https://gps.press/gdc-mission-vs-reality-rehabilitation/ - GPS Research Library Collection #98 — Scandinavian-Inspired Prison Reform in U.S. States, Georgia Prisoners' Speak (GPS) (2026-01-01) [gps_original, secondary] URL: https://gps.press/research/ - HB 974 (FY 2027G) — Senate Appropriations Committee Substitute, Georgia General Assembly by Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee (2026-04-04) [legislation, primary] URL: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/65938 - Investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections, U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice (2024-10-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-conditions-georgia-state-prisons-violate-eighth-amendment - Mission Failure: Georgia Spends $1.8 Billion on Prisons and $52 Per Person on Rehabilitation, Georgia Prisoners' Speak (GPS) (2026-03-30) [gps_original, secondary] URL: https://gps.press/mission-failure-georgia-spends-1-8-billion-on-prisons-and-52-per-person-on-rehabilitation/ - RAND Corporation, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education, 2013, RAND Corporation (2013-01-01) [academic, primary] URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR266.html - San Quentin rehabilitation center: California's $239 million Scandinavia-inspired prison project, San Francisco Chronicle (2024-05-30) [journalism, secondary] URL: https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/san-quentin-rehabilitation-scandinavia-20240530.php