Prison conditions
Triple-bunked cells, Close custody men, and single-celling at Smith State Prison
Records on triple-bunked cells, Close custody housing and single-celling at Smith State Prison.
Where this research is used
This page is a research collection: individual facts drawn from the sources listed further down, each traced to where it came from. A research topic brings many collections together into one overview of an issue. The facts on this page feed these 3 topics; open one to see how they fit with the rest of the evidence.
Facility Conditions & Infrastructure
Georgia's prison system is a physically failing estate: buildings averaging more than 30 years old, a maintenance record in which the state's own auditors found that funding availability — not need — drove repairs, and a documented pattern of doors that do not lock, plumbing that does not carry waste, and housing that does not cool. Two state-commissioned studies and a federal civil rights investigation agree on the diagnosis. They disagree sharply on how overcrowded the system actually is, because Georgia publishes at least four different capacity figures for the same prison. This page sets out what the record shows about the physical plant, what the state has committed to spend on it, and what remains undocumented.
12,892 data points
Population & Demographics
Georgia's prison population rose from about 7,000 people in the late 1960s to a peak above 54,000 in the late 2000s, fell sharply during the pandemic, and is climbing again — reaching 53,571 people in state custody by May 2026. That population is roughly 60 percent Black in a state that is about one-third Black, is aging faster than the national average, and holds one person serving a life sentence for every five people behind the gate. The counts themselves are contested: different Georgia agencies and federal series publish different totals for the same years, and whole categories of people — the segregated, the Latinx, the recently released — are missing or misclassified.
11,934 data points
Solitary Confinement
Georgia runs a Tier Segregation System whose written rules guarantee as little as five hours out of cell per week, impose no outer time limit on its largest long-term program, and have never been paired with a published count of how many people are inside it. The one unit that was litigated — the Special Management Unit at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison — was reformed by a 2019 settlement and then held in contempt in April 2024; the larger Tier II program, governed by a policy last revised in 2016, received none of those protections. What the Department of Corrections does publish, together with court orders, its own auditors' findings and the names in GPS's death registry, describes a system that holds people for years, concentrates mental illness inside it, and does not count its dead by housing unit.
2,672 data points
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection. Tap a card for the full finding and its source.
The finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver said Smith State Prison saw reduced violence when they reduced the population and moved to single-man cells.
The finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told a Georgia Senate committee that some incarcerated people killed their cellmate while trying to get moved to a single-man cell: 'Some of them [killed their cellmate] just trying to get to a single-man cell, that was actually told to our investigators.'
The finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told a Georgia Senate committee that 50 percent of homicides GDC had investigated were 'roommate on roommate' assaults.
The finding
The Georgia Senate Study Committee on Department of Corrections Facilities chair highlighted that single-man cells are the modern-day best practice for the health and safety of inmates, and a committee member stated that some prisons are triple bunked.
The finding
The Georgia Department of Corrections' FY2008 annual report states the Department would triple bunk some of its medium and minimum security prisons, adding 1,400 triple-bunk beds to various prisons across the state.
The finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told lawmakers that most GDC homicides occur in double-man cells: 'When you look at our violence and most of our homicides we have it is occurring in double-man cells.'
All Data Points
103 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
Dooly State Prison operating capacity Statistic
Dooly State Prison (Medium security) has an operating capacity of 1702. Housing consists of nine living units, of which the bottom range are 24 triple-bunked cells and the top range are double-bunked cells at 120 beds per dorm, plus one open living unit with four separate living areas containing 368 beds.
1,702 beds
FY2026 GDC budget proposals include multi-year single-cell effort Finding
Georgia's FY2026 GDC budget proposals address acute safety and staffing issues, including a multi-year effort to create single-person cells. GBPI describes these proposals as marking a four-year trend in rising state prison spending and as the latest response to prison violence concerns and legislative study committee recommendations.
Gaes review: studies supporting crowding-violence relationship Finding
A Gaes review lists studies finding a crowding-violence relationship as Megargee (1974), Nacci et al. (1977), Jan (1980), Cox et al. (1984), Ruback and Carr (1984), and Gaes and McGuire (1985).
Dooly State Prison triple-bunked cells Statistic
Dooly State Prison's bottom range consists of 24 triple-bunked cells, while the top range consists of double-bunked cells at 120 beds per dorm.
24 triple-bunked cells
Senate committee recommended all single-person, single-cell facilities Policy
The Georgia Senate DOC Facilities Study Committee's final report recommended: "Convert all existing facilities and construct all new facilities to single person, single cell facilities."
Gaes review: studies failing to find crowding-violence relationship Finding
A Gaes review lists studies failing to find a crowding-violence relationship as including Carr (1980), Farrington and Nuttal (1980), and Ekland-Olson et al. (1983).
Calhoun State Prison triple-bunked cells per housing unit Statistic
Calhoun State Prison (Medium security) consists of nine housing units with 24 triple-bunked cells each and 24 double-bunked cells each.
24 triple-bunked cells per housing unit
Oliver: Smith State Prison violence fell after population reduction and single-man cells Finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver said Smith State Prison saw reduced violence when they reduced the population and moved to single-man cells.
DeLisi Senate testimony: crowding has little impact on misconduct Finding
Senate testimony by Matt DeLisi states that crowding has little impact on inmate misconduct and that meta-analytic research (Franklin et al., 2006) reported a very small effect size (r = .025).
Calhoun State Prison open dormitory beds Statistic
Calhoun State Prison has eight open dormitories with a total of 480 beds.
480 beds
Senate DOC Facilities Study Committee established by SR 570, adopted report unanimously Dec 13 Legal fact
The Department of Corrections Facilities Senate Study Committee, chaired by Majority Whip Sen. Randy Robertson (R–Cataula), was established through Senate Resolution 570 and voted unanimously on Friday, December 13 to adopt its final report at its concluding meeting.
Cook County Jail: 591 inmates sleeping on floor week of March 19, 2007 Statistic
A DOJ Civil Rights Division CRIPA findings letter on Cook County Jail states that the week of March 19, 2007, CCJ had more inmates sleeping on the floor (591) than any other week in the four-month period of March examined.
591 inmates
Bell v. Wolfish: double-bunking of pretrial detainees not unconstitutional Legal fact
In Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520 (1979), the Supreme Court held that the 'double-bunking' practice at the Metropolitan Correctional Center did not deprive pretrial detainees of liberty without due process of law under the Fifth Amendment.
Calhoun State Prison segregation/isolation cells Statistic
Calhoun State Prison has 95 segregation/isolation cells.
95 segregation/isolation cells
Telfair State Prison security level: Close Finding
Telfair State Prison's Security Level was listed as Close in GDC's facility description and remains Close on its current GDC facility page.
DOJ: inmate supervision compromised by overcrowding and under-staffing at Cook County Jail Finding
The DOJ CRIPA findings letter states that inmate supervision is seriously compromised by chronic overcrowding and under-staffing at Cook County Jail.
Bell v. Wolfish: conditions reasonably related to nonpunitive objective are not punishment Legal fact
In Bell v. Wolfish, the Court held that absent a showing of expressed intent to punish, if a particular condition or restriction of pretrial detention is reasonably related to a legitimate nonpunitive governmental objective, it does not, without more, amount to unconstitutional 'punishment' of a pretrial detainee.
Wilcox State Prison triple-bunked cells Statistic
Wilcox State Prison (Medium security) consists of four and one-half buildings with 120 per dorm in 24 double-bunked and 24 triple-bunked cells each.
24 triple-bunked cells per building
Telfair State Prison housing: eight units, double-bunked cells and segregation Finding
Telfair State Prison has a total of eight housing units: five with double bunked cells, two open dormitories, and an isolation/segregation unit consisting of 40 single cells and 40 double bunked cells. The current GDC page adds that the facility also houses a C.E.R.T. Team and a Tactical Squad.
Cook County Jail: 254 assault/battery cases and 5 sexual assault cases Jan 1–Jun 19, 2007 Statistic
The DOJ CRIPA findings letter on Cook County Jail states that between January 1, 2007 and June 19, 2007, IAD opened approximately 254 cases involving inmate assault and/or battery and five cases of sexual assault.
254 cases
Hamm v. DeKalb County: pretrial detainee minimum standard same as Eighth Amendment Legal fact
In Hamm v. DeKalb County, 774 F.2d 1567 (11th Cir. 1985), the Eleventh Circuit held that in regard to providing pretrial detainees with basic necessities such as food, living space, and medical care, the minimum standard allowed by the due process clause is the same as that allowed by the Eighth Amendment for convicted persons.
Wilcox State Prison isolation and segregation cells Statistic
Wilcox State Prison has 22 isolation cells and 24 double-bunked segregation cells.
22 isolation cells vs. 24 double-bunked segregation cells
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison security level: Special Mission Finding
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison's Security Level was listed as Special Mission in a GDC facility description.
Cook County Jail: approximately 357 assault/battery/sexual assault cases in 2006 Statistic
The DOJ CRIPA findings letter on Cook County Jail states that in 2006, IAD opened approximately 357 cases involving inmate assault, battery, or sexual assault.
357 cases
Hamm v. DeKalb County: sleeping on floor/table due to overcrowding not necessarily unconstitutional Legal fact
In Hamm v. DeKalb County, the Eleventh Circuit held that the fact that the plaintiff temporarily had to sleep upon a mattress on the floor or on a table due to jail overcrowding was not necessarily a constitutional violation.
Washington State Prison isolation/segregation dorm capacity Statistic
Washington State Prison (minimum & medium security) has eleven general population dorms with 2- and 3-man cells, one isolation/segregation dorm housing 92 inmates with 1- and 2-man cells, and one 200-bed Annex with four 50-bed open bay dormitories.
92 inmates in isolation/segregation dorm
GDCP housing: eight cellblocks, eight dormitories, 256-bed fast track unit Finding
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison consists of eight cellblocks containing both double-bunked and single-bunked cells, plus eight dormitories, a fast track unit housing 256 general population inmates, and a medical unit, according to a GDC facility description.
Hamm v. DeKalb County: totality of jail conditions not unconstitutional Legal fact
In Hamm v. DeKalb County, the Eleventh Circuit held that neither the individual conditions nor the totality of conditions at the DeKalb County jail (overcrowding, food service, and medical care) were unconstitutional.
Oliver calls single-bunking the solution to prison violence Finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver described 'the single bunk thing' as the solution to prison violence, acknowledging it is expensive: 'The single bunk thing …that's the solution. Is it an expensive solution, yeah, but it's something we should have been paying for all along.'
Georgia State Prison housing: single cells, special management, 26-bed surgical unit Finding
Georgia State Prison consists of nine buildings containing four two-tiered cellblocks with single cells. Cellblocks are organized into a general population unit, special management units, MH/MR Units, and a 26 bed surgical unit, according to a GDC facility description.
Oliver: some killed cellmates to get single-man cells Finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told a Georgia Senate committee that some incarcerated people killed their cellmate while trying to get moved to a single-man cell: 'Some of them [killed their cellmate] just trying to get to a single-man cell, that was actually told to our investigators.'
Autry State Prison security level: Medium Finding
Autry State Prison's Security Level was listed as Medium in a GDC facility description.
ACA unencumbered floor space definition Policy
A National Institute of Corrections publication states that ACA emphasized that each inmate have a minimum amount of unencumbered floor space in the cell or dormitory, defining unencumbered floor space as floor area without an item of furniture or equipment on or above it.
Hite v. Leeke: overcrowding unconstitutional only when cause of serious deprivations Legal fact
A law review note quoted in Hite v. Leeke observed that 'it is only when overcrowding is the cause of deplorable or inhumane conditions or serious deprivations that overcrowding becomes unconstitutional.'
Senator Robertson suggests '23 and 1' BOP practice Case detail
State Senator Randy Robertson suggested GDC emulate a Federal Bureau of Prisons practice known as '23 and 1' in response to Oliver's testimony.
Autry State Prison triple bunks on bottom range in three living units Finding
Autry State Prison's housing includes six buildings with two living units containing 96 beds each, and three of those living units have triple bunks on the bottom range only, according to a GDC facility description.
BJS definition: design capacity Legal fact
BJS's glossary defines capacity, design as the number of inmates that planners or architects intended for a facility.
Toussaint v. Yockey: Rhodes v. Chapman held double-celling not unconstitutional per se Legal fact
In Toussaint v. Yockey, the Ninth Circuit noted that in Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337 (1981), the Supreme Court held that in and of itself double-celling is not unconstitutional, and that the institution in Rhodes was described as 'a top-flight, first-class facility.'
50 percent of investigated homicides were roommate-on-roommate Statistic
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told a Georgia Senate committee that 50 percent of homicides GDC had investigated were 'roommate on roommate' assaults.
50%
Phillips State Prison housing: 10 living units, 100 isolation/segregation cells Finding
Phillips State Prison consists of 10 living units, each with two dormitories. The number of units with two-man cells is seven and a half while the remainder is a combination of two single-man cells; the combination two-single-man cells house MH/SM inmates. There are a total of 100 isolation/segregation cells, according to a GDC facility description.
BJS definitions: operational and rated capacity Legal fact
BJS's glossary defines capacity, operational as the number of inmates that can be accommodated based on a facility's staff, existing programs, and services, and capacity, rated as the number of beds or inmates assigned by a rating official to institutions within a jurisdiction.
LaMarca v. Turner: underfunding, overcrowding, lack of security contributed to aggression Legal fact
In LaMarca v. Turner, the Eleventh Circuit noted that underfunding, overcrowding, and a lack of security personnel contributed to the problems of aggression at Glades Correctional Institution, though the superintendent could have controlled the permissive atmosphere through proper supervision.
Smith State Prison housing unit cell configuration Statistic
Smith State Prison (Close security) has 16 general population housing units and one administrative segregation/isolation building. Eleven of the 16 housing units have 48 cells, of which 43 are capable of housing 2 offenders per cell and the remaining 5 are capable of housing 3 offenders per cell, for a total of 101 offenders per unit. One housing unit has 48 cells capable of housing 2 offenders per cell for a total of 96 offenders.
101 offenders per unit
Hays State Prison: 10 dorms, 62 beds each, 620 total Finding
Hays State Prison is comprised of 10 general population dorms, consisting of 62 beds per dorm for a total of 620, according to a GDC facility description.
BOP definitions: single and double occupancy cells under 120 sq ft Policy
Federal Bureau of Prisons policy defines Single Occupancy as a room, cell or cubicle less than 120 square feet occupied by one inmate, and Double Occupancy as a room, cell or cubicle less than 120 square feet occupied by two inmates.
LaMarca v. Turner: five conditions created unconstitutional risk of violence Legal fact
In LaMarca v. Turner, plaintiffs presented evidence supporting five conditions of confinement under the superintendent's control that together created an unconstitutional risk of violence at Glades Correctional Institution, including a prevalence of weapons, the lack of adequate patrols, and the lack of adequate reporting procedures.
Smith State Prison triple-capable cells per housing unit Statistic
At Smith State Prison, 5 of the 48 cells in each of 11 housing units are capable of housing 3 offenders per cell.
5 triple-capable cells per housing unit
Rutledge State Prison: six living units, four pods each, 12 two-man cells per pod Finding
Rutledge State Prison has six living units, each containing four pods, and each pod contains 12 two-man cells, according to a GDC facility description.
BOP medium security cell rating: 50% double, 50% single for 70–120 sq ft cells Policy
Federal Bureau of Prisons policy rates Medium security cells of 70 to 120 square feet at 50 percent double occupancy and 50 percent single occupancy.
Hancock State Prison general population dormitories Statistic
Hancock State Prison (Close security) has 9 general population dormitories housing 96 each.
9 general population dormitories
Smith State Prison housing: 16 general population units, some triple-capable cells Finding
Smith State Prison consists of 16 general population housing units and one administrative segregation/isolation building. Eleven of the 16 housing units have 48 cells, with 43 cells capable of housing 2 offenders per cell and the remaining 5 capable of housing 3 offenders per cell, for a total of 101 offenders per unit. One housing unit has 48 cells capable of housing 2 offenders per cell for a total of 96 offenders, according to a GDC facility description.
Arkansas restrictive housing cell space 74.1 sq ft, below 80 sq ft ACA standard Finding
An ACA reaccreditation audit found that the Restrictive Housing Unit at Arkansas's Maximum-Security Unit does not provide a minimum of 80 square feet of cell space; the actual cell space is 74.1 square feet, citing ACA Standard 5-ACI-4B-06.
Hancock State Prison segregation beds Statistic
Hancock State Prison has 2 segregation units with a combined total of 133 beds.
133 segregation beds
Macon State Prison security level Close; physical capacity 1762, operational 1600 Finding
Macon State Prison's Security Level was listed as Close in a GDC facility description, with a physical capacity of 1762 and operational capacity of 1600.
Arkansas Maximum-Security Unit waiver request for cell space standard Policy
An ACA audit of Arkansas's Maximum-Security Unit noted the facility requested a waiver from the space standard because the unit was built in 1982 and it would be cost prohibitive to come into compliance; the audit team supports the facility's Request for a Waiver.
Hancock State Prison tent housing unit Statistic
Hancock State Prison has 1 open bay tent housing unit housing 70 inmates, and its Annex contains 4 open bay dorms housing 50 inmates each.
70 inmates in tent housing unit
Macon State Prison layout: nine buildings, isolation beds, segregation, fast track dorms Finding
Macon State Prison consists of nine buildings each divided into two separate units with 48 cells per unit. One building's unit houses 46 isolation beds and two safe cells; the other unit houses 48 double occupancy cells of segregation beds, plus a Fast Track Unit Open Dormitory with four pods of 64 beds each, according to a GDC facility description.
ACA Standard 5-ACI-2C-02 single-occupancy cell requirements Policy
ACA Standard 5-ACI-2C-02 requires that written policy, procedure, and practice provide that single-occupancy cells/rooms shall be available when indicated for inmates with severe medical disabilities, inmates suffering from serious mental illness, sexual predators, inmates likely to be exploited or victimized by others, and inmates who have other special needs for inmate housing.
Macon State Prison isolation beds and safe cells Statistic
Macon State Prison consists of nine buildings each divided into two separate units with 48 cells per unit. One building's unit houses 46 isolation beds and two safe cells; the other unit houses 48 double-occupancy segregation beds and a Fast Track Unit Open Dormitory with four pods of 64 beds each.
46 isolation beds
Kemp recommendation: $40 million for new prison planning and design Policy
Governor Kemp's recommendations from the system-wide corrections assessment included investing $40 million for planning and design purposes for a new prison facility.
French v. Owens: double celling not per se unconstitutional Legal fact
In French v. Owens, the Seventh Circuit held that the mere practice of double celling is not per se unconstitutional, citing Rhodes v. Chapman.
Macon State Prison mission: close security, Tier I & II Policy
Macon State Prison's mission states it houses close security inmates and is a Tier I & II facility.
Oliver presented assessment recommendations to joint appropriations committees Case detail
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver presented the system-wide corrections assessment recommendations at a Joint Meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The recommendations address near-term challenges including employment vacancies for security and non-security staff and aligning facility infrastructure with offender security needs.
French v. Owens: Pendleton conditions constituted cruel and unusual punishment Legal fact
In French v. Owens, the Seventh Circuit agreed that conditions at the Indiana Reformatory at Pendleton, including lack of space and furnishings from double celling, unwholesome food, medical neglect and continuous threats to prisoners' safety, constituted cruel and unusual punishment, distinguishing the facility from those upheld in Rhodes v. Chapman and Smith v. Fairman.
Protective custody offenders shall not be double bunked except in emergencies Policy
GDC SOP 209.06 (Administrative Segregation) states offenders in Protective Custody shall not be double bunked except in emergency situations. In an emergency, the Deputy Warden/Assistant Superintendent/Unit Manager/Duty Officer notifies the Warden/Superintendent, who contacts the Regional Director for approval.
French v. Owens cites Toussaint v. Yockey on double celling injunction Legal fact
French v. Owens cites Toussaint v. Yockey (9th Cir.) for the proposition that an injunction against double celling was upheld where double celling engenders violence, tension and psychological problems.
Cell occupancy shall not exceed design capacity except in emergencies Policy
GDC SOP 209.06 states cell occupancy, except in emergencies, shall not exceed design capacity. When an emergency requires excess occupancy, a report shall be prepared immediately and delivered to the Warden.
Rogers State Prison security level: Medium Finding
Rogers State Prison's current GDC facility page lists its Security Level as Medium (page text reads "MEDIUIM").
Pendleton housed almost 2,000 prisoners by 1982, over twice intended capacity Statistic
By 1982, the Indiana Reformatory at Pendleton, built in 1923, housed almost 2,000 prisoners, over twice its intended capacity.
2,000 prisoners
Protective custody double bunking requires Classification Committee and Warden approval Policy
GDC SOP 209.07 (Segregation-Tier I) states double bunking of offenders in protective custody status shall occur only in emergency situations and only with the recommendation of the Facility's Classification Committee, approved by the Facility's Warden.
Rogers State Prison: 23 admin segregation cells, 24 disciplinary isolation cells Finding
Rogers State Prison consists of six buildings each containing four dormitories. Twenty-three double occupancy cells are used for administrative segregation and 24 cells are used for disciplinary isolation; in addition, a cell is used for mental health observation. The facility also houses a C.E.R.T. Team.
Pendleton double cells: 24 sq ft gross space per man by 1982 Statistic
By 1982, the gross available space per man in the double cells at the Indiana Reformatory at Pendleton was 24 square feet, with the net amount approximately half that.
24 square feet
Juvenile housing should be single or double bunk cell design Policy
GDC SOP 211.05 states the housing unit for juvenile offenders shall be single or double bunk cell design whenever possible, but this does not mean to place juvenile offenders in isolation.
SMHTU cells should be single occupancy Policy
GDC SOP 508.23 states cells in Specialized Mental Health Treatment Units should be single occupancy; double bunking may be considered in the SMHTU-Transition Unit if offenders are the same mental health level, to facilitate re-entry or socialization, or if there are physical health challenges.
LWOP and Death Sentence offenders must remain Close security Policy
GDC SOP 220.02 states the security level of an offender sentenced to Life Without Parole shall never be lower than Close, and offenders under Death Sentence shall never be reduced and must remain Close security.
Senate committee: single-man cells are modern best practice; some prisons triple bunked Finding
The Georgia Senate Study Committee on Department of Corrections Facilities chair highlighted that single-man cells are the modern-day best practice for the health and safety of inmates, and a committee member stated that some prisons are triple bunked.
Rhodes v. Chapman: double celling at SOCF not cruel and unusual punishment Legal fact
In Rhodes v. Chapman, the Supreme Court held that double celling at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility was not cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Tier III Program cells are all single occupancy Policy
GDC SOP 209.09 states all cells in the Special Management Unit Tier III Program are single occupancy, applying to offenders in Phases 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
GDC Commissioner concurred on Smith State Prison single-man cell violence reduction Finding
The GDC Commissioner concurred with the Senate committee chair's statement and pointed to Smith State Prison, which saw reduced violence by reducing its population and transitioning to single-man cells.
Rhodes v. Chapman: Sixth Circuit read district court as case-specific, not per se Legal fact
On appeal in Rhodes v. Chapman, petitioners argued the district court's finding must be read as holding that double celling is per se unconstitutional, but the Sixth Circuit disagreed and viewed the district court's opinion as holding only that double celling was unconstitutional under the circumstances of that case.
Tier III STEP cells are all single occupancy Policy
GDC SOP 209.09 states all cells in the Tier III Segregated Transition Education Program (Tier III STEP) are single occupancy.
Rhodes v. Chapman: two-thirds of inmates would be unconstitutionally confined under 63 sq ft per se rule Legal fact
The Rhodes v. Chapman Court reasoned that if any prison providing less than 63 square feet of cell space per inmate were a per se violation of the Eighth Amendment, approximately two-thirds of all federal, state, and local inmates at the time would be unconstitutionally confined.
Tier II STEP cells may be single or double occupancy Policy
GDC SOP 209.45 states cells in the Tier II Segregated Transition Education Program (Tier II STEP) may be single or double occupancy.
BOP defines Double Occupancy as 55 to under 120 square feet Policy
A Federal Bureau of Prisons program statement defines "Double Occupancy" as "a room or cell to be occupied by two inmates and is less than 120 square feet and equal or greater than 55 square feet," and states "Bureau Physical Capacity is ordinarily based on double occupancy unless there is a programmatic and/or security reason for single occupancy."
Rhodes v. Chapman: Brennan concurrence describes totality-of-the-circumstances test Legal fact
Justice Brennan's concurrence in Rhodes v. Chapman described the majority as adopting a totality-of-the-circumstances test, quoting the majority opinion's statement that prison conditions, alone or in combination, may deprive inmates of the minimal civilized measure of life's necessities.
Level IV offenders should always be single-celled Policy
GDC SOP 508.20 states Level IV offenders should always be housed in a single cell.
BOP defines Single Occupancy as ordinarily 50 to under 120 square feet Policy
A Federal Bureau of Prisons program statement defines "Single Occupancy" as "a room or cell that is to be occupied by one inmate and is less than 120 square feet and ordinarily equal or greater than 50 square feet," and requires that "Any use of single cells must be documented on the BP-A1140, Physical Capacity Computation form."
Rhodes v. Chapman: SOCF housed 38% more inmates than design capacity Statistic
In Rhodes v. Chapman, the district court found that the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility housed 38% more inmates than its design capacity.
38%
GDC added 1,400 triple-bunk beds in FY2008 Policy
The Georgia Department of Corrections' FY2008 annual report states the Department would triple bunk some of its medium and minimum security prisons, adding 1,400 triple-bunk beds to various prisons across the state.
ACA Core Jail Standards: single cell space requirements Policy
A document titled Core Jail Standards, attributed to the American Correctional Association, states that single cells provide at least 35 square feet of unencumbered space and at least 70 square feet of total floor space is provided when the occupant is confined for more than ten hours per day.
Source
Valdosta State Prison bed breakdown Statistic
Valdosta State Prison (Close security) consists of 10 General Population units with 500 beds, six Mental Health units with 264 beds, 25 Isolation beds plus 12 Acute Care Unit beds and four Crisis Stabilization Unit beds.
500 general population beds vs. 264 mental health unit beds
Gaes and McGuire (1985): crowding-assault relationship inelastic Finding
Gaes and McGuire's (1985) study of the aggregate prison crowding and assault relationship found that the relationship was inelastic: a 1-percent increase in social density resulted in a .3-percent increase in the rate of inmates assaulting other inmates.
ACA Core Jail Standards: multiple-occupancy space requirements Policy
The Core Jail Standards document states that multiple-occupancy rooms/cells house between two and sixty-four occupants and provide 25 square feet of unencumbered space per occupant; when confinement exceeds ten hours per day, at least 35 square feet of unencumbered space is provided for each occupant.
Source
Ware State Prison housing and segregation beds Statistic
Ware State Prison (Close security) consists of eight housing units with 50 double cells each; the Infirmary has 12 beds and Segregation has 150 beds; a Fast Track Unit contains four dormitories with 54 beds each; Old Ware consists of 112 beds and I building consists of four dorms for a total of 256 beds.
150 segregation beds
ACA Standards Supplement: restrictive housing cell space requirements Policy
An ACA Standards Supplement Errata document states that restrictive housing cells/rooms provide a minimum of 70 square feet, and shall provide 35 square feet of unencumbered space for the first occupant and 25 square feet of unencumbered space for each additional occupant.
Source
Hays State Prison general population and Tier beds Statistic
Hays State Prison (Close security) comprises 7 general population dorms of 64 beds each for a total of 448 beds; one Fast Track building housing 256; six Tier II dorms consisting of 218 beds and 3 Tier I dorms with 160 beds; the outside fire station has 10 beds.
448 general population beds
Georgia State Prison closed in 2022; new high-security prison planned Case detail
Georgia State Prison in Reidsville (Tattnall County) closed in 2022, and the state is working on putting hundreds of millions of dollars toward building a new high-security prison in the same county.
Augusta State Medical Prison open dorm and assisted living beds Statistic
Augusta State Medical Prison housing consists of four living units divided into two separate units, plus one open dorm consisting of 519 beds with 192 beds designated for assisted living, and seven nursing units.
519 open dorm beds vs. 192 assisted living beds
Georgia State Prison single-cell design Case detail
Georgia State Prison's housing consisted of nine buildings containing four three-tiered cell blocks with single cells, plus one building with four dormitories that are two-tiered cell blocks with single cells.
Smith State Prison incidents fell after single-celling shift Finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver said Smith State Prison in Glennville has had fewer incidents reported since recently moving more of the population to single-occupancy cells, which makes it easier to manage tensions that can lead to conflict.
Oliver: most homicides occur in double-man cells Finding
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told lawmakers that most GDC homicides occur in double-man cells: 'When you look at our violence and most of our homicides we have it is occurring in double-man cells.'
Officials seek more one-bed cells to address violence Finding
State corrections officials told lawmakers the agency needs to upgrade aging prisons with more one-bed cells to resolve a typical underlying cause of violent attacks between inmates.
1,500-bed complex planned next to Washington County state prison Case detail
GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver said he was optimistic safety would improve with construction of a 1,500-bed complex located next to the existing Washington County state prison, filling some of the void left by the 2022 closing of Georgia State Prison in Reidsville.
Sources
53 cited sources backing this research.
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Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
American Correctional Association
[organization]
Arkansas Maximum-Security Unit
[facility]
Augusta State Medical Prison
[facility]
Autry State Prison
[facility]
Bell v. Wolfish
[case]
Brian Kemp
[person]
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[organization]
Calhoun State Prison
[facility]
CGL
[organization]
Cook County Jail
[facility]
Dooly State Prison
[facility]
Eleventh Circuit
[organization]
Farmer v. Brennan
[case]
Federal Bureau of Prisons
[organization]
Fourth Circuit
[organization]
French v. Owens
[case]
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute
[organization]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison
[facility]
Georgia Senate DOC Facilities Study Committee
[organization]
Georgia State Prison
[facility]
Glades Correctional Institution
[facility]
Guidehouse
[organization]
Hamm v. DeKalb County
[case]
Hancock State Prison
[facility]
Hays State Prison
[facility]
Hite v. Leeke
[case]
Indiana Reformatory at Pendleton
[facility]
LaMarca v. Turner
[case]
Macon State Prison
[facility]
Matt DeLisi
[person]
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
[organization]
National Institute of Corrections
[organization]
Otisville Correctional Facility
[facility]
Phillips State Prison
[facility]
Randy Robertson
[person]
Rhodes v. Chapman
[case]
Rogers State Prison
[facility]
Rutledge State Prison
[facility]
Senate Resolution 570
[legislation]
Smith State Prison
[facility]
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility
[facility]
Telfair State Prison
[facility]
The Moss Group
[organization]
Toussaint v. Yockey
[case]
Tyrone Oliver
[person]
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
[organization]
U.S. Supreme Court
[organization]
Ware State Prison
[facility]
Wilcox State Prison
[facility]