Research Explainers for Families & the Public
Complex prison system research translated into clear, actionable language so you can understand what's happening and what it means for your family.
Showing 47 of 47 explainers
Who Is Really to Blame for Violence in Georgia's Prisons? The Evidence Points to the State, Not the People Inside
Georgia says prison violence is caused by younger people. The evidence shows the state's own failures — empty guard posts, starvation-level food, no programs — are to blame.
Programs That Work: What the Best Prison Mentoring Programs Can Teach Georgia
GPS studied the best prison programs in the country. The results are clear: real programs with real resources change lives and cut re-arrest rates dramatically.
What the Research Says: Programs That Actually Work in Prisons
Research shows proven programs cut return-to-prison rates by 20-30% and save $5 for every $1 spent. Here's what works and why Georgia should invest.
A Former Guard Speaks: 10 Years Inside Georgia's Failing Prisons
A former guard who worked 10 years in Georgia prisons describes a system in collapse: no staff, daily deaths, and weapons everywhere.
Guthrie v. Evans: How Georgia Won Prison Reforms — Then Threw Them Away
A 1972 lawsuit forced Georgia to reform its worst prison. A 1996 law let the state walk away. By 2024, the same problems were back — and people were dying.
Sleeping Giants: Two Old Georgia Laws Could Free Wrongly Convicted People — If the State Would Enforce Them
Georgia has two laws that could help wrongly convicted people — but courts have twisted them into near-uselessness. The fix is simple: enforce them.
Locked Out of Justice: How Georgia Prisons Deny People Their Right to Legal Help
Georgia's own rules promise 2 hours of library time a week — but people report getting 30 minutes every two weeks. No lawyers. No trained helpers. A fix costs less than 0.6% of the prison budget.
Georgia's Habeas Corpus Deadline: One of the Harshest in the Nation — and It Has No Exception for Innocent People
Georgia gives people in prison just 4 years to challenge their conviction — with no exception for innocence. Even the federal anti-terrorism law protects innocent people. Georgia does not.
Who Watches the Prosecutors? Georgia's Broken System of Accountability
Only 0.66% of complaints against Georgia lawyers lead to action. The State Bar doesn't even track prosecutors. Here's what that means for people in prison.
The Case for Reducing Georgia's Prison Population: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Georgia spent $600M+ on prisons but deaths surged 1,150%. Evidence from other states shows reducing prison populations works — and saves lives.
Georgia Spent $700 Million More on Prisons. Every Outcome Got Worse.
Georgia spent $700 million more on prisons since 2022. Deaths went up, guards quit, buildings crumbled. Here's what the money bought — and what it didn't.
Gangs Run Georgia's Prisons. Other States Fixed This Problem Years Ago.
Gangs control daily life in Georgia's prisons. Other states fixed this years ago. Georgia refuses to act.
Empty Guard Towers, Rising Death Tolls: The Prison Staffing Crisis Killing People in Georgia
Georgia's 52.5% guard vacancy rate fuels a sevenfold rise in prison killings. The state pays guards the least in the nation, and 82.7% of new hires quit within a year.
How Two Companies Drain $1.4 Billion a Year from Families with Loved Ones in Prison
Two companies control 80% of prison phone services. Georgia ranks third in kickback revenue. Here's what families pay and what can change.
Georgia's Survivor Justice Act: A New Law That Could Free Abuse Survivors From Prison
Georgia's Survivor Justice Act lets abuse survivors in prison ask for shorter sentences. One woman is already free. Here's what families need to know.
Why It's So Hard to Hold Georgia Prisons Accountable: What Families Need to Know
Georgia now has the nation's strictest legal standard for prison cases. Only 1% of cases succeed. Here's what families need to know.
Georgia Spends $1.5 Billion a Year on Prisons. People Leave Worse Than When They Went In.
Georgia spends $1.48 billion on prisons but just $172,000 on job training. The DOJ says people leave worse than when they went in.
What You Need to Know About Solitary Confinement in Georgia's Prisons
Georgia locks people in tiny cells for years. A federal judge caught the state faking its records. Here's what families need to know.
Georgia's $40 Billion Prison Trap: How an $82 Million Deal Became a Disaster
Georgia got $82M from the feds to lock people up longer. The total cost? Up to $50 billion. Research says it hasn't made us safer.
Research Shows 1 in 8 People Convicted of Rape May Be Innocent
DNA evidence shows about 1 in 8 rape convictions may be wrong. Black people face 3.5x higher risk. Georgia's Chief Justice calls the review system "broken."
Georgia Is Building a Massive Prison Watching System — And Almost No One Knows About It
Georgia is building a command center to watch all 36 state prisons at once. The tech costs over $150 million. No civil rights group has spoken up.
From Convict Leasing to Prison Labor: How Georgia Profits from Forced Work
Georgia has forced people in prison to work for free for 150+ years. The state makes $64 million a year. Most workers get $0.
Georgia's 4-Year Deadline Is Trapping Innocent People in Prison
Georgia's 4-year habeas deadline traps innocent people in prison. Every recent exoneration took far longer. The law may violate the Constitution.
The Hidden Family Tax: How Prison Systems Force Families to Pay Billions
Families of people in prison pay nearly $350 billion a year. Women and Black families bear the heaviest burden. This report explains how the system works.
Brown v. Plata: How Courts Forced California to Reduce Its Prison Population — And What It Means for Georgia
The Supreme Court ordered California to cut its prison population by 46,000 because crowding killed people. Georgia faces similar problems today.
When People Die in Prison, the State Hides the Truth: How Death Data Gets Lost, Mislabeled, and Covered Up
Thousands of prison deaths go uncounted. Georgia mislabeled at least 44. Only one state reports death data fully. Here's what families need to know.
Drugs Are Flooding Georgia's Prisons — And People Are Dying
At least 49 people died of drug overdoses in Georgia prisons from 2019-2022. The state hid 44 of those deaths by mislabeling the cause.
Most of Georgia Has No Way to Fix Wrongful Convictions — Here's Why That Must Change
Only 3 of Georgia's 159 counties can check for wrongful convictions. The other 156 have no team and no process. Here's why that must change.
About 2,500 Innocent People Are Locked Up in Georgia Prisons Right Now
Studies say about 2,500 innocent people are locked up in Georgia prisons. Since 1989, only 51 have been cleared — losing 610 years combined.
Georgia Pays People in Prison Nothing for Their Work — Then Charges Their Families for Basic Needs
Georgia pays people in prison nothing for their labor, then charges families inflated prices for basic needs. A GPS investigation maps the full scope of this extraction.
Broken Sorting: How Georgia's Prison Classification Failures Are Getting People Killed
Georgia's prison sorting system is broken. 142 people killed in 6 years. Half of guard jobs empty. The DOJ calls it among the worst it has ever seen.
When Prisons Deny Health Care: How Private Companies Profit While People Suffer
Private companies run prison health care and profit by cutting care. Death rates are up to 58% higher. Here's what families need to know.
How Georgia Prisons Overcharge Families for Ramen, Soap, and Pain Pills
Georgia prisons charge families $0.90 for ramen worth $0.20 and $4.00 for pain pills worth $0.40. A GPS investigation reveals a system that takes $8-15 million a year from families.
Lead Poisoning Drove America's Crime Wave — Then the Government Locked Up the Victims
Lead poisoned children's brains for decades. Then the government locked them up instead of fixing the problem. The science is clear.
By the Numbers: Georgia Locks Up 53,000 People While Parole Rates Plunge and Costs Soar
Georgia locks up 53,000 people while parole rates drop 42%. Black people are 61% of prisoners but 31% of the state. The $1.62 billion system is failing.
Georgia's Prisons Are Falling Apart: What Families Need to Know
Georgia's prisons are falling apart. Broken locks, mold, sewage, and too few guards put people at risk. Here's what families need to know.
Georgia's Prison Healthcare Crisis: What Families Need to Know
The DOJ says healthcare in Georgia prisons is 'abhorrent' and unconstitutional. 330 people died in 2024. Here's what families need to know.
Georgia's Probation System: The Largest in the Nation and What It Means for Families
Georgia has 191,000 people on felony probation — the most in the nation. Black Georgians are at least 2x more likely to be on probation. Here's what families need to know.
Half the Guards Are Gone: Georgia's Prison Staffing Crisis Puts Lives at Risk
Almost half of all prison guard jobs in Georgia are empty. The DOJ says this leaves people unprotected. Here's what families need to know.
Georgia's Prison Budget Soars 44% in Four Years — While Families Still Pay the Price
Georgia's prison budget jumped 44% in four years to nearly $1.78 billion. Families still pay millions in fees while people inside work without pay.
Georgia Senate Report Reveals Deep Crisis in State Prisons: What Families Need to Know
A Georgia Senate study found nearly half of prison guard jobs are empty, prisons are crumbling, and people are dying. Here's what families need to know.
Black Georgians Make Up 31% of the State But 61% of People in Prison: What the Data Shows
Black Georgians are 31% of the state but 61% of people in prison. Data shows racial gaps at every step — from arrest to parole.
Georgia Is Granting Parole to Fewer People Every Year — Here's What the Numbers Show
Georgia paroled 42% fewer people in FY24 than five years ago. Life sentences now average 29.2 years. Here's what families need to know.
The DOJ Found Georgia Prisons Are Dangerously Broken. Here's What That Means for Your Family.
The DOJ found Georgia prisons violate the Constitution. 142 people killed in 6 years. Half of all guard jobs are empty. Here's what families need to know.
Georgia Plans to Spend $1.8 Billion on Prisons — Here's Where the Money Goes
Georgia plans to spend $1.8 billion on prisons. Health costs are surging. Private prisons are growing. Here's what families need to know.
The U.S. Government Found Georgia Prisons Are Dangerously Violent and Failing to Protect People
The DOJ found Georgia prisons violate the Constitution. 142 people killed in 6 years. Half of guard jobs are empty. Violence is constant and unchecked.
Georgia Prisons Crisis: How Broken Locks, Staff Shortages, and Violence Affect Your Loved One
A family guide to Georgia's December 2024 prison system report: what broken locks, staff shortages, and doubled gang populations mean for your loved one's safety and programs.
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