Contraband Interdiction
MAS Technology, Vendors & Deployment in Georgia Prisons
Georgia spent approximately $50 million through FY2026 deploying Managed Access Systems (MAS) across 27 prison facilities to block contraband cell phones, yet violence dramatically escalated during the rollout period, with homicides rising from 31 in 2022 to 66 reported by GDC in 2024 and total deaths reaching a record 333. Three vendors—Trace-Tek/ShawnTech (28 facilities), CellBlox/Securus/Aventiv (4 facilities), and Hawks Ear Communications (3 facilities)—hold FCC CIS licenses, but significant concerns exist regarding procurement transparency (no RFP or contracts found), vendor qualifications (Hawks Ear is a 2-person operation with no track record), and a consistent correlation between MAS activation and subsequent violent incidents. The research documents that phone confiscation incidents actually increased despite MAS deployment, drone intrusions surged 600% since 2019, and the January 6, 2026 statewide WiFi cutoff preceded the deadliest prison incident (5 dead in 3 days at Washington SP).
All Data Points
64 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
Total MAS and contraband technology spending through FY2026 Statistic
Georgia spent approximately $50 million through FY2026 deploying Managed Access Systems at prisons, expanding from 23 to 27 facilities.
$50M
MAS expansion from 23 to 27 facilities Statistic
Georgia expanded MAS deployment from 23 to 27 prison facilities through FY2026.
27 facilities vs. prior facility count
Three vendors hold FCC CIS licenses at 35 Georgia facilities Finding
Three vendors hold FCC CIS licenses at 35 Georgia facilities: Trace-Tek/ShawnTech (28), CellBlox/Securus/Aventiv (4), Hawks Ear Communications (3).
Homicides skyrocketed during MAS rollout 2022-2024 Trend
During MAS rollout (2022-2025), homicides skyrocketed from 31 (2022) to 38 (2023) to 66 (2024) as reported by GDC.
Record 333 total deaths in Georgia prisons in 2024 Statistic
Total deaths in Georgia prisons hit a record 333 in 2024.
333 deaths
37,000+ phones confiscated since 2022 Statistic
Over 37,000 phones have been confiscated in Georgia prisons since 2022, averaging approximately 1,300 per month.
37,000 phones confiscated
MAS technical description Finding
MAS creates a private cellular network mimicking commercial carriers. When a phone connects, the system identifies it via IMEI/IMSI, checks a whitelist, and blocks unauthorized devices. Four approaches are used: Managed Access Systems, Beacon Techno…
C-DOS permanently disabled 4,000+ devices Statistic
C-DOS (Cellular Denial of Service) by ShawnTech/Trace-Tek permanently disables devices, claims to bypass the warrant process, and has disabled 4,000+ devices.
4,000 devices disabled
ShawnTech claims 86% of all FCC CIS licenses nationally Statistic
ShawnTech/Trace-Tek claims to hold 86% of all FCC CIS licenses nationally, representing a near-monopoly in the managed access corrections market.
86%
Trace-Tek FCC CIS certification date Case detail
Trace-Tek LLC received FCC CIS certification in March 2024. Equipment listed as ShawnTech C5-2020-CA/LAMS, covering frequencies 716-2690 MHz.
ShawnTech company profile Case detail
ShawnTech Communications is a corrections integrations provider based in Miamisburg, Ohio. Founded 1986, corrections since 1993. President/CEO Lance Fancher. Minority-owned, family-owned. MBE/DBE certified in 15+ states.
Ioannis Kormpis connected to both Trace-Tek and Kainotomia Systems Finding
Red flag identified: Ioannis Kormpis is connected to both Trace-Tek LLC and Kainotomia Systems, raising concerns about corporate structure and potential conflicts.
CellBlox Georgia pilot began 2014 Case detail
CellBlox began a pilot MAS program in Georgia in 2014. Securus acquired CellBlox in January 2015, investing $40+ million in MAS technology.
CellBlox Wireless Containment Solutions blocked 1.7 million calls by 2017 Statistic
CellBlox's Wireless Containment Solutions blocked 1.7 million calls in Georgia prisons by 2017.
1,700,000 calls blocked
Aventiv controlled by Platinum Equity (Tom Gores) Finding
CellBlox is owned by Securus, which is owned by Aventiv, which is controlled by Platinum Equity (Tom Gores).
CellBlox facilities include four of the most dangerous prisons Finding
CellBlox/Securus/Aventiv operates MAS at four Georgia facilities: Autry SP, Macon SP, Smith SP, and Telfair SP. Macon SP is the deadliest facility with 9+ homicides in 2024. Smith SP warden was arrested for a smuggling ring. Telfair SP warden was st…
Macon SP deadliest facility with 9+ homicides in 2024 Statistic
Macon State Prison is the deadliest facility in Georgia with 9+ homicides in 2024.
9 homicides (minimum)
Hawks Ear Communications is a 2-person operation with no physical office Case detail
Hawks Ear Communications, operating MAS at 3 Georgia facilities (Hancock SP, Phillips SP, Valdosta SP), is a 2-person operation with no physical office. Roger Banks (Fort Lauderdale) is listed as Manager and also runs a windows/door company. Myles L…
Hawks Ear experimental FCC license never granted Case detail
Hawks Ear Communications received an FCC experimental license in 2019 to test near Hancock SP, but equipment was listed as 'TBD' and the license was never granted.
Hawks Ear operated without FCC certification for years Finding
Hawks Ear Communications did not receive CIS Phase One certification until March 2025, meaning it operated at Georgia facilities without FCC certification for years. Georgia registration was in March 2022.
No procurement records found for any MAS vendor Data gap
No RFP, sole-source justification, or contract award was found on the Georgia DOAS registry or Team Georgia Marketplace for any of the three MAS vendors. This represents 35 facility contracts worth tens of millions of dollars with zero procurement t…
Dooly SP MAS activation followed by riot 47 days later Case detail
Dooly SP MAS was activated approximately July 26, 2025. A riot occurred on September 11, 2025, exactly 47 days after activation.
Washington SP MAS activation followed by 5 deaths in 3 days Case detail
Washington SP received MAS in late December 2025. A homicide occurred on January 9, 2026, and a gang war/riot on January 11, 2026, resulting in 5 dead in 3 days.
January 6, 2026 statewide communication blackout Case detail
On January 6, 2026, GDC cut off WiFi workaround statewide. Inmates had discovered the GDC WiFi password and were tunneling through VPNs. This was the last communication channel for hundreds of blacklisted phones. The cutoff was instantaneous and sta…
Correlation: every confirmed MAS activation followed by violence within 2-7 weeks Finding
Every confirmed MAS activation was followed by significant violence within 2-7 weeks, establishing a consistent pattern between cell phone crackdown measures and subsequent violent incidents.
MAS Phase 2 disrupts medical equipment (Eighth Amendment issue) Legal fact
During MAS deployment Phase 2, heart monitors and wireless medical devices stop functioning, creating a potential Eighth Amendment issue under Estelle v. Gamble (1976) regarding deliberate indifference to serious medical needs.
GPS database: 244 confirmed homicides, 170 reclassified using AJC data Methodology note
The GPS homicide database contains 244 confirmed homicides, of which 170 were reclassified using AJC investigation data that revealed systematic misclassification of prison deaths.
GDC reported 66 homicides in 2024 but GPS confirmed only 45 Data gap
GDC reported 66 homicides in 2024, but GPS confirmed only 45. Approximately 21 Q4 homicides remain unidentified due to information suppression.
2025 confirmed 51 homicides in Georgia prisons Statistic
GPS database shows 51 confirmed homicides in Georgia prisons in 2025.
51 homicides
2026 Q1 already 23 homicides Statistic
In the first quarter of 2026, 23 homicides have already been confirmed in Georgia prisons.
23 homicides
Most violent facilities all have CIS vendors Finding
The most violent facilities by homicide count — Smith SP (17), Macon SP (17), Telfair SP (8), Hancock SP (8), Phillips SP (7), Valdosta SP (7), Ware SP (7) — all have a CIS vendor operating MAS.
Phone incidents increased despite MAS deployment Trend
Despite MAS deployment, phone-related incidents increased from 8,966 in 2019 to 10,578 in 2023 to a record 11,880 in 2024. Total incidents from 2019-2025 reached 23,623.
20,000+ phones estimated in prisons at any time Statistic
An estimated 20,000+ contraband phones are in Georgia prisons at any given time.
20,000 phones (estimated)
Drone incidents surged 600% since 2019 Trend
Drone incidents in Georgia prisons surged approximately 600% from 43 in 2019 to 297 in 2023 and 283 in 2024. Over 1,000 drone incidents have occurred since 2022.
Operation Skyhawk results Case detail
Operation Skyhawk resulted in 150 arrests (including 8 GDC staff), seizure of 87 drones, 273 phones, and 185 lbs of tobacco.
Washington SP: 17 drone incidents since end of 2023, 5 dead in January 2026 Case detail
Washington State Prison experienced 17 drone incidents since the end of 2023, and 5 people died in incidents on January 9-11, 2026.
911 vulnerability at Macon SP: 204 emergency calls in 2024 Case detail
Inmates at Macon SP dialed 911 from contraband phones, exploiting the MAS 911 passthrough requirement. There were 204 emergency calls in 2024, none legitimate. This overwhelmed and shut down the 911 center serving 13 Georgia counties.
AG Carr joins 22-state coalition January 2023 Case detail
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr joined a 22-state coalition in January 2023 calling for FCC action on cell phone jamming in prisons.
Carr letter to FCC June 2024 Case detail
Attorney General Chris Carr sent a letter to the FCC in June 2024 advocating for phone jamming authority in prisons.
FCC adopts jamming proposal September 30, 2025 Legal fact
The FCC adopted a jamming proposal on September 30, 2025, marking a potential regulatory shift toward allowing cell phone jamming in correctional facilities.
Carr leads 23-state coalition January 2026 Case detail
In January 2026, Attorney General Chris Carr leads a 23-state coalition advocating for FCC cell phone jamming authority. States include GA, AR, AL, AK, FL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MT, NE, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, and WV.
MAS and drone detection AFY2025 budget: $35 million Statistic
The amended FY2025 budget included $35 million for MAS and drone detection technology.
$35M
Additional FY2026 MAS funding: $13.4 million Statistic
An additional $13.4 million was allocated in FY2026 for MAS and contraband technology.
$13.4M
Drone detection budget: $966,000 Statistic
Drone detection technology was allocated $966,000 in budget.
$966,000
Mail screening costs: $900K-$1.8M per year Statistic
Mail screening costs range from $900,000 to $1.8 million per year.
Governor's total prison investment: $603 million over 18 months Statistic
The Governor's total prison investment reached $603 million over 18 months.
$603M
GDC FY2026 budget: $1.62 billion (44% increase from FY2022) Statistic
GDC's total FY2026 budget is $1.62 billion, representing a 44% increase from FY2022.
$1.6B vs. percent increase from FY2022
2,600 staffing vacancies from 7,587 security positions Statistic
GDC has 2,600 vacancies out of 7,587 authorized security positions, representing approximately 34% vacancy rate.
2,600 vacancies vs. total authorized security positions
82.7% of officers leave within first year Statistic
82.7% of GDC correctional officers leave within their first year of employment.
82.7%
South Carolina Lee Correctional riot 2018 Case detail
Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina experienced a riot in 2018 that killed 7 and injured 17, the deadliest prison incident in a quarter century.
South Carolina Tecore MAS contract: $1.5-1.65M over 3 years Statistic
South Carolina's Tecore MAS contract cost $1.5-1.65 million over 3 years (approximately $550,000/year), and disabled 800+ phones since July 2023.
$1.7M
South Carolina: legitimate calls increased 68% after MAS but assaults also rose 68% Finding
In South Carolina, legitimate phone calls increased 68% after MAS deployment, but assaults also rose 68% (2013-2017), and homicides went from 1 to 12. A 25% guard vacancy rate was identified as the primary driver of violence.
Mississippi: first MAS 2010 at Parchman Case detail
Mississippi deployed the first MAS in 2010 at Parchman prison using Tecore iNAC technology. The system blocked 10,600 call attempts in the first 24 hours and reduced unauthorized attempts by 60% by end of the first month.
Mississippi MAS: calls dropped from 20,043 to 393 over three years Trend
At Mississippi's Parchman, unauthorized calls dropped from 20,043 in Year 1 to 393 in Year 3, and SMS from 2,282 to 162 over the same period.
New solicitation for offender communications services posted Dec 6, 2025 Policy
Solicitation 46700-GDC0001179 was posted December 6, 2025 for new comprehensive offender communications services, with a deadline of February 20, 2026.
Senate Study Committee: 49,000 inmates, 31% gang-validated Statistic
The 2024 Georgia Senate Study Committee on Incarceration reported 49,000 inmates in the system, with 31% being gang-validated.
31% vs. total inmates
800 arrests for smuggling 2023-2024 Statistic
The Senate Study Committee reported 800 arrests for smuggling into Georgia prisons during 2023-2024.
800 arrests
7 max-security prisons over 30 years old (designed lifespan 15-20 years) Finding
The Senate Study Committee reported that 7 maximum-security Georgia prisons are over 30 years old, despite being designed for a 15-20 year lifespan.
Senate Study Committee recommendations Policy
The Senate Study Committee recommended: advocate federal approval for phone/drone jamming, single-person cells, public-private partnerships, and consistent warden policies.
GDCP MAS activation July 2025 or earlier Case detail
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (GDCP) had MAS activated in July 2025, likely earlier.
Hays SP, Calhoun SP, Wilcox SP MAS active before Dec 15, 2025 Case detail
GPS article updated December 15, 2025 confirmed MAS was active at Hays SP, Calhoun SP, Wilcox SP, Dooly SP 'and many others.'
Smith SP warden arrested for smuggling ring Case detail
The warden at Smith State Prison was arrested in connection with a smuggling ring.
Telfair SP warden stabbed March 2024 Case detail
The warden at Telfair State Prison was stabbed in March 2024.
MAS Phase 3: hundreds of phones permanently disabled per facility Finding
During MAS deployment Phase 3 (weeks 2-4), hundreds of phones are permanently disabled per facility via IMEI blacklisting.
Sources
7 cited sources backing this research.
Primary
Journalism
AJC Prison Death Reclassification Investigation
Primary
Official report
FCC CIS Licensing Records
Primary
Data portal
Georgia DOAS/Team Georgia Marketplace
Primary
Official report
Georgia Senate Study Committee on Incarceration Report (2024)
Primary
Gps original
GPS Article (Updated Dec 15, 2025)
Primary
Gps original
GPS Deep Research: Cell Phone Crackdown in Georgia Prisons
Primary
Gps original
GPS in-custody homicide registry, 2026 snapshot
Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
Autry State Prison
[facility]
Calhoun State Prison
[facility]
CellBlox/Securus/Aventiv
[organization]
Chris Carr
[person]
Concept Law Group
[organization]
Dooly State Prison
[facility]
Estelle v. Gamble
[case]
Federal Communications Commission
[organization]
GDC
[organization]
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
[facility]
Georgia DOAS
[organization]
Georgia Prisoners' Speak
[organization]
Governor Brian Kemp
[person]
Hancock State Prison
[facility]
Hawks Ear Communications
[organization]
Hays State Prison
[facility]
Ioannis Kormpis
[person]
Kainotomia Systems
[organization]
Lance Fancher
[person]
Lee Correctional Institution
[facility]
Macon State Prison
[facility]
Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman)
[facility]
Myles Lu
[person]
Operation Skyhawk
[operation]
Phillips State Prison
[facility]
Platinum Equity
[organization]
Roger Banks
[person]
Senate Study Committee
[organization]
Smith State Prison
[facility]
Solicitation 46700-GDC0001179
[legislation]
Star Solutions International
[organization]
Tecore iNAC
[organization]
Telfair State Prison
[facility]
Tom Gores
[person]
Trace-Tek/ShawnTech
[organization]
Ware State Prison
[facility]
Wilcox State Prison
[facility]
Related Topics
Research topics that draw on data from this collection.
Budget & Spending
Georgia's Department of Corrections now spends roughly $1.8 billion a year, a 44 percent increase over FY2022, but the money has moved away from state-run prisons and toward private beds, health contracts, and surveillance technology. GPS's canonical line-item data shows about $27.1 million in new security and technology spending across the AFY2026 and FY2027 cycles against roughly $1.23 million in new rehabilitation spending — a ratio of about 22 to 1. The spending surge has not been matched by oversight: Georgia still has no prison ombudsman, no corrections inspector general, and no public accounting of what the increase bought.
6,311 data points
Communications & Technology
Georgia's prison communications system is a closed extraction loop: families pay Securus and JPay for calls, email, tablets and money transfers; the Georgia Department of Corrections takes a 59.6 percent commission on call revenue (more than $8 million a year) while simultaneously paying the same company for surveillance and managed-access technology; and the state has spent roughly $50 million blocking contraband phones even as phone-related incidents and homicides climbed. Federal rate caps briefly cut the price of a call, then were suspended and weakened in 2025 while Georgia enacted nothing. Most of the money, the contracts, and the results remain undisclosed.
3,144 data points
Mortality & Deaths in Custody
Georgia's prisons killed at least 333 people in 2024 — the deadliest year on record — and 301 more in 2025, measured on a single agency-produced count that has risen 64% since the 2015–2019 average. Georgia Prisoners' Speak's mortality registry tracks 1,896 in-custody deaths since January 1, 2020, including 36 in the last 90 days, yet 690 of them still carry no determined cause and GDC stopped publishing cause-of-death information entirely in March 2024. The Department of Justice found in October 2024 that the Georgia Department of Corrections misclassifies obvious homicides as "unknown" and is deliberately indifferent to a substantial risk of harm.
4,352 data points
Oversight & Accountability
Georgia has no independent correctional oversight body — no ombudsman, no correctional inspector general, no oversight commission with statutory access to its prisons — while roughly 19 to 20 states plus the District of Columbia do. The only external accountability the state has faced is episodic federal litigation: a DOJ CRIPA investigation that produced a 93-page Eighth Amendment findings letter on October 1, 2024 with 82 remedial measures, followed by no consent decree, no enforcement action, and a state legislature that has twice declined to create an oversight office. What remains is a self-policing apparatus — PREA audits recording zero failures, a grievance system that rejects hundreds of appeals on procedural technicalities, and internal investigations classified as confidential state secrets — that documents compliance while the DOJ documents constitutional violations.
11,992 data points
Racial Disparities
Georgia's prison population is roughly 58 to 61 percent Black in a state that is roughly 31 to 33 percent Black, and the gap is reproduced at every stage of the system — arrest, plea bargaining, probation revocation, life sentencing, solitary confinement, and exoneration. This page synthesizes 23 GPS research collections documenting the disparity's origins in the Black Codes and convict leasing, its present-day mechanics, and the significant gaps in the data used to measure it.
2,134 data points
Violence & Safety
Georgia's prison system is the site of the most severe constitutional violations the U.S. Department of Justice has documented in a state prison investigation: 'near-constant, life-threatening violence' as the norm, gangs controlling housing units, and a homicide rate that ran nearly triple the national average in 2019 and roughly eight times it by 2024. GDC reported 142 homicides between 2018 and 2023 — 48 in the first three years and 94 in the last — but its own mortality data systematically undercounts, reporting 6 homicides in June 2024 while incident reports recorded at least 18. The violence is produced by conditions — roughly 50% correctional officer vacancy, unsupervised housing units, broken locks, and classification driven by bed availability — not by the people inside.
4,402 data points