GPS RESEARCH LIBRARY: Racial Disparities in Georgia\'s Criminal Justice System ============================================================ Georgia Prisoners' Speak — gps.press Generated: 2026-03-17 04:39:17 EDT Research Date: 2026-02-25 Topic: Demographics & Context JSON: https://gps.press/research-data/racial-disparities-in-georgias-criminal-justice-system/?format=json SUMMARY ---------------------------------------- This research compilation documents pervasive racial disparities across Georgia's criminal justice system, drawing from the Prison Policy Initiative, Vera Institute of Justice, Council of State Governments, and The Sentencing Project. Key findings include that Black Georgians constitute 31-32% of the state population but 60-61% of the prison population, are incarcerated at 2.6-2.7 times the rate of white people, and face disparities at every stage from arrest through parole. Georgia incarcerates 881 per 100,000 residents across all facility types, with 95,000 people currently behind bars and 528,000 under criminal justice supervision, while systemic issues including staffing shortages, rising pretrial detention in rural areas, and inadequate behavioral health services compound these inequities. STATISTICS (83) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Georgia overall incarceration rate Georgia incarcerates 881 per 100,000 people across prisons, jails, immigration detention, and juvenile facilities. Value: 881.0 per 100,000 people Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Prisoners in the United States; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [reported] Total people behind bars in Georgia 95,000 people are currently behind bars in Georgia. Value: 95000.0 people Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Georgia residents locked up across all facility types 102,000 Georgia residents are locked up across all facility types. Value: 102000.0 people Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [estimated] Annual local jail bookings in Georgia More than 236,000 different people are booked into local jails annually in Georgia. Value: 236000.0 people per year Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Annual Survey of Jails; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Georgia residents under criminal justice supervision 528,000 Georgia residents are under criminal justice supervision. Value: 528000.0 people Tags: demographics,parole Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] People on probation or parole in Georgia 356,000 people are on probation or parole in Georgia. Value: 356000.0 people Tags: parole,demographics Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black incarceration rate disparity in Georgia (PPI) Black individuals are incarcerated at 2.7 times the rate of white people in Georgia. Value: 2.7 times the white rate Tags: demographics,policy Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Prisoners in the United States; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black share of Georgia population vs prison population While 31% of Georgia's population is Black, 61% of people in state prisons are Black. Value: 61.0 percent of prison population (vs. 31 percent of state population) Tags: demographics Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] More than half of Georgians on parole are Black More than half of Georgians on parole are Black. Value: 50.0 percent (more than) Tags: demographics,parole Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Women's incarceration rate in Georgia Women's incarceration rate in Georgia is 177 per 100,000 residents. Value: 177.0 per 100,000 residents Tags: demographics Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Prisoners in the United States; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Women on probation or parole in Georgia 82,206 women are on probation or parole in Georgia. Value: 82206.0 women Tags: demographics,parole Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Legally innocent people in Georgia jails 59% of people in Georgia jails are legally innocent (unconvicted). Value: 59.0 percent Tags: legal,conditions Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Annual Survey of Jails; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Bureau of Justice Statistics Jail Inmates Series - [reported] Homeless individuals in Atlanta jail bookings 1 in 8 Atlanta city jail bookings involve homeless individuals. Value: 12.5 percent (1 in 8) Tags: demographics,conditions Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025) - [reported] Aging prison population in Georgia 13% of the Georgia prison population is over age 55. Value: 13.0 percent Tags: demographics,medical Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Jail phone call costs in Georgia Jail phone calls in Georgia cost up to $4.65 for 15 minutes. Value: 4.65 dollars per 15 minutes Tags: conditions,budget Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Prison phone call costs in Georgia Prison phone calls in Georgia cost $2.10 for 15 minutes. Value: 2.1 dollars per 15 minutes Tags: conditions,budget Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Money transfer fees in Georgia prisons Money transfer fees in Georgia prisons are up to 18%. Value: 18.0 percent Tags: conditions,budget Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Vera: Pretrial detainees as share of jail population In 2015, pretrial detainees constituted 56% of the total jail population in Georgia. Value: 56.0 percent Date: 2015-01-01 Tags: legal,demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Annual Survey of Jails; Bureau of Justice Statistics Census of Jails; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Vera: Georgia prison population in 2018 In 2018, there were 49,488 people in the Georgia prison system. Value: 49488.0 people Date: 2018-01-01 Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Vera: Total people locked up in Georgia A total of 84,556 people were locked up in Georgia, an increase of 329%. Value: 84556.0 people Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Vera: Black people as share of jail and prison populations In Georgia, Black people constituted 32% of state residents, but 51% of people in jail and 60% of people in prison. Value: 60.0 percent of prison population (vs. 32 percent of state population) Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Vera: White population share vs jail and prison share In Georgia, white people constituted 54% of state residents but 41% of people in jail and 36% of people in prison. Value: 36.0 percent of prison population (white) (vs. 54 percent of state population (white)) Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Vera: Latino population share vs jail and prison share In Georgia, Latino people constituted 9% of state residents but 7% of people in jail and 4% of people in prison. Value: 4.0 percent of prison population (Latino) (vs. 9 percent of state population (Latino)) Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] National context: 1 in 5 Black people born in 2001 likely to be incarcerated One in five Black people born in 2001 is likely to be incarcerated in their lifetime, compared to one in 10 Latinx people and one in 29 white people. Value: 20.0 percent lifetime incarceration probability (Black) (vs. 3.4 percent lifetime incarceration probability (white)) Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia - [confirmed] Georgia drug overdose deaths in 2022 In Georgia in 2022, 2,752 people died from drug overdoses. Value: 2752.0 deaths Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: overdose,death,drugs Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia alcohol-induced deaths in 2022 In Georgia in 2022, 2,360 deaths were alcohol induced. Value: 2360.0 deaths Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: death,drugs Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia suicides in 2022 In Georgia in 2022, 1,620 people died by suicide. Value: 1620.0 deaths Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: death,mental_health Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia homicide deaths in 2022 In Georgia in 2022, 1,234 people were victims of homicide. Value: 1234.0 deaths Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: death,violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Fentanyl/tramadol as share of Georgia drug overdose deaths In 2022, 43 percent of drug overdose deaths in Georgia were due to fentanyl or tramadol. There were 5.7 times more fentanyl deaths in 2022 than in 2015. Value: 43.0 percent of drug overdose deaths (vs. 5.7 times more fentanyl deaths than 2015) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: overdose,death,drugs Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Methamphetamine treatment admissions in Georgia In 2022, 7,548 people in Georgia were admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities for methamphetamine use. Value: 7548.0 admissions Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: drugs,medical Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health; SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Marijuana treatment admissions in Georgia In 2022, 7,467 people in Georgia were admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities for marijuana use. Value: 7467.0 admissions Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: drugs,medical Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Alcohol treatment admissions in Georgia In 2022, 5,491 people in Georgia were admitted to substance abuse treatment facilities for alcohol use. Value: 5491.0 admissions Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: drugs,medical Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Adults experiencing mental illness in Georgia 1,872,000 adults in Georgia experienced mental illness in 2021. Value: 1872000.0 adults Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: mental_health Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Adults experiencing serious mental illness in Georgia 426,000 adults in Georgia experienced serious mental illness in 2021. Value: 426000.0 adults Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: mental_health Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Adults receiving mental health services in Georgia 1,254,000 adults in Georgia received mental health services of any kind in 2021. Value: 1254000.0 adults Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: mental_health,medical Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Adults needing but not receiving substance use treatment 1,219,000 adults in Georgia needed, but did not receive, treatment at a specialized facility for substance use in 2021. Value: 1219000.0 adults Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: drugs,medical,data_gap Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Homelessness in Georgia 10,689 people in Georgia were experiencing homelessness in January 2022, a rate of 98 per 100,000 residents, the 24th lowest in the country. Value: 10689.0 people experiencing homelessness Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: conditions,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia unemployment rate 186,017 people in Georgia were unemployed in August 2023, a community unemployment rate of 3.5 percent, the 16th lowest in the country. Value: 3.5 percent unemployment rate Date: 2023-08-01 Tags: demographics,reentry Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia poverty rate 1,348,344 people in Georgia had incomes below the federal poverty level in 2022, a rate of 12.7 percent, 0.1 percentage points above the national poverty rate of 12.6 percent. Value: 12.7 percent poverty rate (vs. 12.6 national poverty rate) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Severe rent burden in Georgia In Georgia in 2022, 341,175 people (27 percent of all renters) had rent that was more than half their incomes. Value: 341175.0 people (27% of renters) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics,conditions Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Property crime incidents in Georgia 2022 There were 184,513 property index crime incidents reported to police in Georgia in 2022. Georgia had the 20th-lowest property crime rate in the country. Value: 184513.0 incidents Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Violent crime incidents in Georgia 2022 There were 40,048 violent index crime incidents reported to police in Georgia in 2022. Georgia had the 25th-highest violent crime rate in the country. Value: 40048.0 incidents Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia property crime rate vs national average In 2022, the property crime rate in Georgia (1,691 per 100,000 residents) was 13 percent lower than the national average (1,954 per 100,000). Value: 1691.0 per 100,000 residents (vs. 1954 national average per 100,000) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Georgia violent crime rate vs national average In 2022, the violent crime rate in Georgia (367 per 100,000 residents) was 4 percent lower than the national average (381 per 100,000). Value: 367.0 per 100,000 residents (vs. 381 national average per 100,000) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Unsolved violent crime rate in Georgia In Georgia, 68 percent of violent crimes were not solved in 2022, 6 percentage points worse than the national average of 62 percent. Value: 68.0 percent unsolved (vs. 62 percent unsolved nationally) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,operations Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Rape least frequently solved violent crime in Georgia Rape was the violent crime least frequently solved in Georgia in 2022, with 80 percent of incidents reported to police not solved. Value: 80.0 percent unsolved Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Only 42% of violent victimizations reported to police According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, only 42 percent of violent victimizations nationwide were reported to the police in 2022. Value: 42.0 percent reported Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,data_gap Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS National Crime Victimization Survey; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot - [confirmed] Black people 1.9x more likely to be violent crime victims in Georgia Black people were victims of violent crime 1.9 times more often than their share of the state population in Georgia in 2022. Value: 1.9 times overrepresented Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Young adults 1.8x more likely to be violent crime victims People between the ages of 18 and 34 were 1.8 times more likely to be victims of violent crime relative to their share of the total Georgia population in 2022. Value: 1.8 times overrepresented Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] 82% of violent crime victims same race as perpetrator In Georgia, 82 percent of victims of violent crime were of the same race as the person perpetrating violence against them. Value: 82.0 percent Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia law enforcement expenditures 2021 In 2021, state and local governments in Georgia spent $3,222,875,000 on law enforcement services, 3.0 percent of overall expenditures and $299 per resident. Value: 3222875000.0 dollars (vs. 299 dollars per resident) Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: budget Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Georgia corrections expenditures 2021 In 2021, state and local governments in Georgia spent $2,120,035,000 on corrections, 2.0 percent of overall expenditures and $197 per resident. Value: 2120035000.0 dollars (vs. 197 dollars per resident) Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: budget Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Black people arrested for violent crimes 2.0x their population share in Georgia Black people were arrested for violent offenses 2.0 times more often than their share of the state population in Georgia in 2022. Value: 2.0 times overrepresented Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Young adults 2.2x more likely to be arrested for violent offenses People between the ages of 18 and 34 were 2.2 times more likely to be arrested for violent offenses relative to their share of the total Georgia population. Value: 2.2 times overrepresented Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Men arrested for violent crime 1.6x their population share Men were arrested for violent crime 1.6 times more often than their share of the state population in Georgia. Value: 1.6 times overrepresented Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Nationally 71% of jail detainees unconvicted in 2021 In 2021, 71 percent of people (440,000 people) confined in jail in the United States were not convicted of a crime and awaiting court action on a current charge or being held for other reasons. Value: 71.0 percent unconvicted (vs. 57 percent unconvicted in 1982) Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: legal,conditions Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Annual Survey of Jails; Bureau of Justice Statistics Jail Inmates Series - [confirmed] Average length of stay for violent offenses in Georgia In 2020, the average length of stay of people released from prison who were serving time for a violent offense in Georgia was 4.9 years, 2 percent lower than the national average of 5.0 years. Value: 4.9 years (vs. 5.0 national average years) Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: demographics,legal Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Parole eligible prison population in Georgia In Georgia in 2020, there were at least 11,827 people in prison with sentences between 1 and 25 years who were eligible for parole, making up 46 percent of the total prison population. Value: 11827.0 people eligible for parole (vs. 46 percent of total prison population) Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: parole,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Conditional release rate from Georgia prisons In 2020, 44 percent of people leaving prison in Georgia were granted conditional release. Value: 44.0 percent Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: parole Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant No. 2019-ZB-BX-K002 (CSG Justice Center funding) - [confirmed] Released 3+ years after parole eligibility 11 percent of people released from Georgia prisons were released 3 years or more after their parole eligibility date. Value: 11.0 percent Date: 2020-01-01 Tags: parole Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Prison admissions for parole violations in Georgia In 2021, 16 percent of Georgia prison admissions were for parole violations. Of these, 39 percent were for technical violations. Value: 16.0 percent of admissions (vs. 39 percent technical violations) Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: parole Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; CSG Justice Center: Supervision Violations and Their Impact on Incarceration; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] National recidivism: 71% arrested within 5 years of release Of people released from prison in 2012, 71 percent were arrested within 5 years of release, 54 percent were convicted of a new offense, and 46 percent returned to prison. Value: 71.0 percent arrested within 5 years Tags: reentry Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 34 States in 2012; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Bureau of Justice Statistics Jail Inmates Series - [confirmed] Employment-related collateral consequences in Georgia In Georgia, 80 percent of collateral consequences for convictions are employment related. 45 percent are mandatory and prohibit employment without exception. 62 percent may be indefinite in duration. Value: 80.0 percent employment-related Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: reentry,legal,policy Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black unemployment disparity in Georgia In Georgia in 2023, the Black unemployment rate was 2.6 times higher and the Latino unemployment rate was 1.6 times higher than the White unemployment rate. Value: 2.6 times higher (Black vs White) (vs. 1.6 times higher (Latino vs White)) Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: demographics,reentry Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black and Latino poverty rates in Georgia In Georgia in 2022, 18 percent of Black people and 16 percent of Latino people earned incomes below the federal poverty level. Value: 18.0 percent (Black poverty rate) (vs. 16 percent (Latino poverty rate)) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black violent victimization rate 3.2x White rate in Georgia In 2022, the Black violent victimization rate was 3.2 times higher than the White violent victimization rate in Georgia. Black people were arrested for violent crimes at a rate 3.9 times higher than White people. Value: 3.2 times higher victimization rate (vs. 3.9 times higher arrest rate) Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black property crime arrest disparity in Georgia In 2022, Black people were arrested for property crimes at a rate 1.6 times higher than White people in Georgia. Value: 1.6 times higher Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] National homicide disparity: Black victims 8x rate of White victims In 2021, Black people died by homicide at a rate close to 8 times higher than White people nationally. Value: 8.0 times higher rate Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: death,violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Age-Adjusted Homicide Death Rates by Race and Sex 1980-2021 - [confirmed] Homicides of Black victims twice as likely to go unsolved Nationally, homicides of Black victims were twice as likely to go unsolved in 2021 as homicides of White victims. Value: 2.0 times more likely unsolved Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: death,violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Age-Adjusted Homicide Death Rates by Race and Sex 1980-2021 - [confirmed] Black adults in Georgia 4.0x more likely to be arrested than White adults Compared to White adults, Black adults in Georgia are 4.0 times more likely to be arrested, 1.6 times more likely to be on probation, 2.6 times more likely to be in prison, and 2.1 times more likely to be on parole. Value: 4.0 times more likely to be arrested Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics,parole Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black adults in Georgia 2.6x more likely to be in prison Compared to White adults, Black adults in Georgia are 2.6 times more likely to be in prison. Value: 2.6 times more likely Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Latino adults underrepresented in Georgia correctional system Compared to White adults, Latino adults in Georgia are 76% less likely to be on probation, 44% less likely to be in prison, and 32% less likely to be on parole. Value: -44.0 percent less likely to be in prison Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Asian adults 90% less likely to be in prison in Georgia Compared to White adults, Asian adults in Georgia are 80% less likely to be arrested and 90% less likely to be in prison. Value: -90.0 percent less likely to be in prison Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Black Americans incarcerated at nearly 5x rate of White Americans nationally Black Americans are incarcerated in state prisons at nearly 5 times the rate of white Americans nationally. Value: 5.0 times the white rate (approximately) Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data - [confirmed] One in 81 Black adults nationally in state prison One in 81 Black adults nationally serves time in state prison. Value: 1.23 percent (1 in 81) Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data - [confirmed] Latinx incarceration rate 1.3x White rate nationally Latinx individuals face incarceration at 1.3 times the rate of white Americans nationally. Value: 1.3 times the white rate Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data; BJS Prisoners in the United States - [confirmed] Seven states with Black-to-White disparity exceeding 9:1 7 states have Black-to-white disparities exceeding 9:1 (California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Wisconsin). Value: 9.0 to 1 ratio (minimum) Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data - [reported] Georgia youth serving life or virtual life sentences Approximately 900 youth in Georgia are serving life with parole or 'virtual' life sentences (50+ years). Value: 900.0 youth (approximately) Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics,legal Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] 80% of youth serving life sentences in Georgia are Black 80% of those serving life sentences for crimes committed as children in Georgia are Black. Value: 80.0 percent Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics,legal Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Georgia ranks 3rd nationally for youth serving life/virtual life Georgia ranks 3rd nationally for young people serving life or virtual life sentences. Value: 3.0 national rank Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics,legal Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Youth life sentences represent 11% of Georgia residents serving such sentences Youth serving life or virtual life sentences represent 11% of all Georgia residents serving these sentences. Value: 11.0 percent Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics,legal Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] National context: Black men 13% of male population, 35% of incarcerated Black men constitute about 13 percent of the male population, but about 35 percent of those incarcerated nationally. Value: 35.0 percent of incarcerated population (vs. 13 percent of male population) Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia - [confirmed] Georgia 3rd in Southern Region for total incarceration Georgia ranks 3rd of 7 in the Southern Region for total incarceration. Value: 3.0 regional rank of 7 Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports FINDINGS (10) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Georgia among states where Black individuals are majority of prison population Georgia is among 12 states where Black individuals make up more than half the prison population. Tags: demographics,policy Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Incarceration is not only an urban phenomenon On a per capita basis, the most rural places in Georgia often lock up the most people in jail and send the most people to prison. The highest rates of prison admissions are in rural counties. Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] More people die from drugs, suicide, alcohol than homicide nationally Nationally, four times more people died of drug overdoses and almost twice as many people died from suicide compared to homicide in 2022. Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: overdose,death,mental_health Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; CDC National Center for Health Statistics - [reported] Behavioral health provider shortage projected by 2036 By 2036, the projected number of addiction counselors, mental health counselors, and psychologists in Georgia is estimated to be less than the projected need. Date: 2036-01-01 Tags: mental_health,staffing Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Violent crime change in Georgia 2019-2022 Between 2019 and 2022, violent crime rose in Georgia (among 18 states where it rose, while it fell in 32 states plus D.C.). Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia highest probation supervision rate in country Georgia had the highest probation supervision rate in the country in 2021. Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: parole,policy Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Probation and Parole in the United States; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] White people die at higher rate than Black people from drugs, alcohol, suicide in Georgia In Georgia in 2021, White people died at a higher rate than Black people due to alcohol, drug overdoses, and suicide. Black people died at a higher rate than White people due to homicide. Date: 2021-01-01 Tags: death,drugs,overdose,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; CDC National Center for Health Statistics; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Georgia should restore voting rights to over 249,000 citizens The Sentencing Project recommends Georgia restore voting rights to over 249,000 citizens. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: legal,policy,reentry Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Discriminatory practices at all stages of justice process Studies have found that Black people are more likely to be stopped by the police, detained pretrial, charged with more serious crimes, and sentenced more harshly than white people—even when controlling for offense severity. Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: demographics,legal,policy Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Annual Survey of Jails - [confirmed] Corrections staffing shortages nationwide Nationally, states are struggling to hire and retain corrections officers. Staffing shortages impact correctional system operations, the availability of programming and reentry services, as well as the overall safety of staff and people who are incarcerated. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: staffing Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) POLICYS (2) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Healthcare copay in Georgia prisons Healthcare copay in Georgia prisons is $5.00 per visit. Tags: medical,policy,budget Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] E-messaging costs in Georgia prisons E-messaging in Georgia prisons costs up to 30 cents per message. Tags: conditions,policy,budget Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports TRENDS (27) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Georgia prison population increase 2021-2023 Georgia's prison population increased 7% between 2021 and 2023. Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Parole board releases declined since pandemic Georgia's parole board releases 34% fewer people since the pandemic, with 44% fewer hearings. Tags: parole,policy Sources: Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile; Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025); Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Vera: Jail population increase since 1970 Since 1970, Georgia's total jail population has increased 1,562%. Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Bureau of Justice Statistics Census of Jails; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Vera: Prison custody population increase since 1983 Since 1983, Georgia's prison custody population has increased 222%. Tags: demographics,facilities Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Women in jail increased 1,107% since 1980 Since 1980, the number of women in jail in Georgia has increased 1,107%. Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Women in prison increased 600% since 1980 Since 1980, the number of women in prison in Georgia has increased 600%. Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Women in Georgia prisons sevenfold increase The number of women in Georgia's prisons has increased more than sevenfold, from 497 in 1978 to 3,779 in 2017. Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Women in Georgia jails 23-fold increase The number of women in Georgia's jails has increased more than 23-fold, from 227 in 1970 to 5,228 in 2015. Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Vera: Black jail incarceration rate decreased 28% since 1990 Since 1990, the Black incarceration rate in Georgia jails has decreased 28 percent. In 2015, Black people were incarcerated in jails at 2.1 times the rate of white people. Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Prisoners in the United States; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Vera: Black prison incarceration rate increased 79% since 1978 Since 1978, the Black incarceration rate in Georgia prisons has increased 79 percent. In 2017, Black people were incarcerated in prisons at 2.7 times the rate of white people. Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Prisoners in the United States; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports; Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report) - [confirmed] Pretrial detention increasing in rural Georgia counties Since 2000, the pretrial incarceration rate has increased 33% in Georgia's 85 rural counties and 9% in its 45 small/medium counties, while decreasing 46% in its one urban county and 1% in its 28 suburban counties. Tags: demographics,facilities,legal Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS Annual Survey of Jails; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia uninsured rate decreased Since 2012, the share of people in Georgia without health insurance has decreased from 18.4 percent to 11.7 percent of the total community population. Tags: medical Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Property crime decreased 51% in Georgia 2012-2022 Between 2012 and 2022, property crime decreased by 51 percent in Georgia, compared to a 32 percent national decrease. Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Burglary decreased 75% in Georgia 2012-2022 Burglary in Georgia decreased by 75 percent between 2012 and 2022, the largest change of any property crime. Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Violent crime decreased 4% in Georgia 2012-2022 Between 2012 and 2022, violent crime decreased by 4 percent in Georgia, compared to a 2 percent national decrease. Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [reported] Rape increased 68% in Georgia 2012-2022 Rape in Georgia increased by 68 percent between 2012 and 2022, the largest change of any violent crime. Note: FBI updated its rape definition in 2013 to be more inclusive. Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Robbery decreased 66% in Georgia 2012-2022 Robbery in Georgia decreased by 66 percent between 2012 and 2022. Tags: violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Rural homicide increase nationally Nationally, homicides in rural areas increased 41 percent between 2012 and 2022, from 3.4 per 100,000 to 4.8 per 100,000. Tags: violence,demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS; CDC National Center for Health Statistics - [confirmed] Georgia nonviolent prison population decreased 35% (2010-2020) Between 2010 and 2020 in Georgia, the prison population serving sentences for nonviolent offenses decreased by 35 percent, while the prison population serving sentences for violent offenses decreased by 4 percent. Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Prisoners in the United States; BJS National Corrections Reporting Program; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia probation population decreased 24% since 2011 Since 2011, the number of people on probation in Georgia has decreased by 24 percent. Tags: parole Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Probation and Parole in the United States; Council on Criminal Justice: Tracking the Size of America's Criminal Justice System; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia parole population decreased 33% since 2011 Since 2011, the number of people on parole in Georgia has decreased by 33 percent. Tags: parole Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Probation and Parole in the United States; Council on Criminal Justice: Tracking the Size of America's Criminal Justice System; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Parole successful completion rate in Georgia The share of people successfully completing parole in Georgia was 75 percent in 2021, down from 78 percent in 2011. Tags: parole,reentry Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] National recidivism rate decreasing Nationally, the recidivism rate has been decreasing: 77 percent of people released from state prison in 2005 were arrested within 5 years, compared to 70 percent of people released in 2012. Tags: reentry Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 34 States in 2012; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] National Black-White arrest disparity grew 2012-2022 Nationally, the arrest rate disparity between Black and White individuals grew from 2.0x in 2012 to 2.3x in 2022 (a 15% increase), while disparities in non-fatal violent victimization decreased from 1.4x to 0.9x (a 36% decrease). Tags: demographics,violence Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS; BJS National Crime Victimization Survey; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot - [confirmed] National Black-White prison disparity Nationally, the prison incarceration rate remains over 5 times higher for the Black population compared to the White population, though the disparity decreased from 6.5x in 2012 to 5.2x in 2022. Tags: demographics Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Prisoners in the United States - [confirmed] National Black-White parole disparity Nationally, the parole supervision rate in the Black community remains over 3 times higher than in the White population, though the disparity decreased from 4.9x in 2012 to 3.2x in 2022. Tags: demographics,parole Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Probation and Parole in the United States - [confirmed] Women now one in four jail admissions nationally Women now make up almost one out of every four jail admissions nationally, up from fewer than one in 10 in 1983. Since 1970, the number of women in U.S. jails has increased 14-fold. Tags: demographics Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia DATA GAPS (4) ---------------------------------------- - [confirmed] National context: Latinx data misclassification Common data misclassification leads to distorted, lower estimates of Latinx incarceration rates and distorted, higher estimates of white incarceration rates. Smaller and inconsistent data reporting make it difficult to measure the effects of racism for incarcerated people of other racial groups. Date: 2019-01-01 Tags: demographics,policy Sources: Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia; BJS Prisoners in the United States - [confirmed] Georgia prison reincarceration rate not available The prison reincarceration rate in Georgia is not available. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: reentry,data_gap Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Prisoners in the United States; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Georgia probation incarceration rate not available The probation incarceration rate in Georgia is not available. Date: 2023-01-01 Tags: reentry,data_gap Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; BJS Prisoners in the United States; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports - [confirmed] Latino ethnicity data collection gap in law enforcement Not enough law enforcement agencies collect ethnicity data to make reliable estimates for the Latino population. Race categories include people of any ethnicity, and many Latino people may be counted as White. Date: 2022-01-01 Tags: demographics,data_gap Sources: CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot CASE DETAILS (1) ---------------------------------------- - [reported] Some youth sentenced as young as 14 in Georgia Some individuals serving life or virtual life sentences in Georgia were as young as 14 when charged. Date: 2024-01-01 Tags: demographics,legal Sources: The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data; Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot; Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports DATASETS (12) ---------------------------------------- # Georgia Community Mortality by Cause 2022 Deaths by cause in Georgia in 2022 Cause of Death Deaths ------------------------- Drug overdoses 2752 Alcohol-induced 2360 Suicide 1620 Homicide 1234 # Georgia Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions by Drug Type 2022 Admissions to substance abuse treatment facilities by primary substance in Georgia 2022 Substance Admissions ----------------------------- Methamphetamine 7548 Marijuana 7467 Alcohol 5491 # Georgia Racial Composition: Population vs Jail vs Prison (Vera) Percentage of state population, jail population, and prison population by race in Georgia Race State Population % Jail Population % Prison Population % ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Black 32 51 60 White 54 41 36 Latino 9 7 4 Asian/Pacific Islander 4 1 0.5 Native American 0.5 0.5 0.5 # National Black-White Disparities Across Criminal Justice System 2012 vs 2022 Black-White disparity ratios at various points in the criminal justice system nationally, comparing 2012 and 2022 Measure Black-White Disparity 2012 Black-White Disparity 2022 Percent Change --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Non-fatal violent victimization 1.4 0.9 -36 Arrest 2 2.3 15 Probation 3 2.3 -23 Parole 4.9 3.2 -36 Jail 4.3 3.1 -28 Prison 6.5 5.2 -18 # Georgia Black-White-Latino-Asian Correctional Control Disparities Disparities in correctional control in Georgia compared to White adults Racial Group Arrest Disparity Probation Disparity Prison Disparity Parole Disparity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Black 4.0x more likely 1.6x more likely 2.6x more likely 2.1x more likely Latino N/A 76% less likely 44% less likely 32% less likely American Indian 71% less likely N/A 72% less likely N/A Asian 80% less likely N/A 90% less likely N/A # Georgia Women's Incarceration Growth Historical growth of women's incarceration in Georgia prisons and jails Setting Start Year Start Count End Year End Count Percent Increase ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prison 1978 497 2017 3779 660 Jail 1970 227 2015 5228 2203 # Georgia Pretrial Detention Rate Changes by County Type Since 2000 Changes in pretrial incarceration rates across different county types in Georgia since 2000 County Type Number of Counties Rate Change Since 2000 ---------------------------------------------------------- Urban 1 -46 Suburban 28 -1 Small/Medium 45 9 Rural 85 33 # Georgia Violent Crime Rate Changes by Type 2012-2022 Percent change in violent crime rates by offense type in Georgia compared to national average, 2012-2022 Offense Georgia Change % National Change % --------------------------------------------------------- Rape 68 47 Homicide 39 34 Aggravated assault 23 10 Robbery -66 -42 # Georgia Property Crime Rate Changes by Type 2012-2022 Percent change in property crime rates by offense type in Georgia compared to national average, 2012-2022 Offense Georgia Change % National Change % ---------------------------------------------------------- Burglary -75 -60 Larceny -44 -29 Motor vehicle theft -29 23 # Georgia Highest Homicide Rate Law Enforcement Agencies 2022 Georgia law enforcement agencies with the highest homicide rates in 2022 (agencies with 5+ reported homicides) Agency Type Number of Homicides Homicide Rate per 100k ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- College Park Police Department Small city 11 79 Fort Valley Police Department Small city 5 55.9 East Point Police Department Small city 20 52.5 Waycross Police Department Small city 6 44 Bibb County Sheriff's Office Suburban 65 41.4 # Georgia Parole Eligibility and Release Timing 2020 Distribution of prison population by parole eligibility and timing of release relative to eligibility date in Georgia, 2020 Category Percentage ------------------------------------------- Currently eligible for parole 46 Eligible in 1-5 years 25 Eligible in 6+ years 28 Not eligible or missing 1 # Georgia Prison Release by Post-Release Status and Timing 2020 Distribution of prison releases by type and timing relative to parole eligibility in Georgia, 2020 Category Type Percentage ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Conditional release Release type 44 Unconditional release Release type 55 Other or unknown Release type 1 On-time or early Timing vs eligibility 33 1-2 years after eligibility Timing vs eligibility 33 3 years or more after eligibility Timing vs eligibility 11 Unknown or missing Timing vs eligibility 23 KEY ENTITIES (12) ---------------------------------------- - Bibb County Sheriff's Office [facility]: Suburban law enforcement agency in Georgia with 65 homicides and a rate of 41.4 per 100k in 2022 - 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) - College Park Police Department [facility]: Small city law enforcement agency in Georgia with the highest homicide rate (79.0 per 100k) in 2022 - Council of State Governments Justice Center [organization]: Organization that documented Georgia's justice reinvestment approach under Governor Deal (aka: CSG Justice Center) - East Point Police Department [facility]: Small city law enforcement agency in Georgia with 20 homicides and a rate of 52.5 per 100k in 2022 - Federal Bureau of Investigation [organization]: Federal law enforcement agency that led Operation Ghost Guard investigation. (aka: FBI) - Georgia [organization]: U.S. state that is the subject of this criminal justice data compilation (aka: State of Georgia) - 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 State Board of Pardons and Paroles [organization]: Georgia state agency responsible for parole decisions - Prison Policy Initiative [organization]: Research and advocacy organization focused on prison conditions; published Cut-rate Care and Chronic Punishment reports (aka: PPI) - The Sentencing Project [organization]: Research and advocacy organization that published 'Diminishing Returns: Crime and Incarceration in the 1990s' (Gainsborough and Mauer 2000). (aka: Sentencing Project) - Vera Institute of Justice [organization]: Research organization focused on criminal justice; published Health Care Behind Bars report (2025) (aka: Vera Institute, Vera) SOURCES (35) ---------------------------------------- - AH Datalytics YTD Murder Comparison, AH Datalytics (2023-11-13) [data_portal, secondary] URL: https://www.ahdatalytics.com - Arnold Ventures (funder acknowledgment for Vera Institute report), Arnold Ventures [press_release, tertiary] - BJS Annual Survey of Jails, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2021-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/annual-survey-jails-asj - BJS National Corrections Reporting Program, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2020-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/national-corrections-reporting-program-ncrp - BJS National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/ncvs - BJS Prisoners in the United States, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2021-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/prisoners-2021-statistical-tables - BJS Probation and Parole in the United States, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2021-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/probation-and-parole-united-states-2021 - BJS Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 34 States in 2012, Bureau of Justice Statistics (2012-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh236/files/media/document/rpr34s125yfup1217.pdf - BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ - Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant No. 2019-ZB-BX-K002 (CSG Justice Center funding), Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice [official_report, tertiary] - Bureau of Justice Statistics Census of Jails, Bureau of Justice Statistics [data_portal, primary] - Bureau of Justice Statistics Jail Inmates Series, Bureau of Justice Statistics [data_portal, primary] - Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://www.bls.gov/lau/ - CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html - Council of State Governments Justice Center: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot, Council of State Governments Justice Center by Matt Herman, Amund Tallaksen, Myles Moore, Madeleine Dardeau (2023-12-01) [official_report, secondary] - Council on Criminal Justice: Tracking the Size of America's Criminal Justice System, Council on Criminal Justice (2020-01-01) [data_portal, secondary] - CSG Justice Center: Supervision Violations and Their Impact on Incarceration, Council of State Governments Justice Center (2024-01-01) [official_report, primary] - CSG: Georgia Criminal Justice Data Snapshot, Council of State Governments Justice Center by Matt Herman, Amund Tallaksen, Myles Moore, Madeleine Dardeau (2023-12-01) [official_report, secondary] - FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program NIBRS, Federal Bureau of Investigation / Bureau of Justice Statistics (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://bjs.ojp.gov/national-incident-based-reporting-system-nibrs - FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program SRS, Federal Bureau of Investigation (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/ - Georgia Department of Corrections Statistical Trends Reports, Georgia Department of Corrections [data_portal, primary] URL: https://gdc.georgia.gov/organization/about-gdc/agency-activity/research-and-reports/standing-reports/statistical-trends - HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis, Health Resources & Services Administration (2023-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://data.hrsa.gov/topics/health-workforce/workforce-projections - HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2022-01-01) [official_report, primary] URL: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/home.html - Jacob Kaplan - Cleaned FBI Offenses Known and Clearances by Arrest Dataset by Jacob Kaplan [data_portal, secondary] - Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: Age-Adjusted Homicide Death Rates by Race and Sex 1980-2021, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (2021-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://www.mdch.state.mi.us/osr/deaths/Homicdx.asp - Murder Accountability Project, Murder Accountability Project (2022-01-01) [data_portal, secondary] URL: https://www.murderdata.org - National Inventory of Collateral Consequences of Conviction, National Reentry Resource Center (2023-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://niccc.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/consequences - Prison Policy Initiative, Georgia Profile, Prison Policy Initiative [data_portal, secondary] URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/profiles/GA.html - Prison Policy Initiative: Georgia State Profile (2024-2025), Prison Policy Initiative [official_report, secondary] - SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2021-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/nsduh/state-reports-NSDUH-2021 - SAMHSA Treatment Episode Data Set, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/teds-treatment-episode-data-set - The Sentencing Project: Racial Disparities Data, The Sentencing Project (2024-01-01) [official_report, secondary] URL: https://www.sentencingproject.org - U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs - U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, U.S. Census Bureau (2022-01-01) [data_portal, primary] URL: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/gov-finances.html - Vera Institute of Justice: Incarceration Trends in Georgia, Vera Institute of Justice by Christian Henrichson, Eital Schattner-Elmaleh, Jacob Kang-Brown, Oliver Hinds, James Wallace-Lee (2019-12-01) [official_report, secondary] URL: https://www.vera.org/state-incarceration-trends