--- TOPIC 1 of 24 ---

TITLE: Classification and Housing Assignment
SLUG: classification-and-housing-assignment
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/classification-and-housing-assignment/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:24:37
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections uses a multi-layered classification system to determine security levels, housing placements, program assignments, and transfers for all offenders in state, private, and county facilities. Initial security classification is generated automatically through the Next Generation Assessment (NGA) tool and reviewed by facility leadership, while specialized Classification Committees handle ongoing assignments, reclassifications, and housing decisions. Special populations — including transgender and intersex offenders, mentally ill offenders, juvenile offenders, and detainees — are governed by dedicated SOPs that layer additional requirements onto the baseline classification process.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 220.02 requires that all security classification reviews be completed directly in SCRIBE — not on paper — and that Central Office has final authority over Override requests, meaning facility-level wardens cannot unilaterally change a system-generated security level.
  - SOP 125-3-1-.02 (Board Rule) mandates minimum time-at-level requirements before a security reduction can be recommended: one year at Close custody, six months at Medium, and three months at Minimum.
  - SOP 222.01 explicitly prohibits transferring an offender due to the filing of writs and/or grievances, and limits Warden-to-Warden 'Sleeper Status' transfers to a strict 24-hour maximum.
  - SOP 508.33 requires that offenders on a mental health caseload may only be transferred to a facility with an equivalent or higher level of mental health care, placing an affirmative obligation on Offender Administration to match placement to care level.
  - SOP 220.09 creates a Statewide Classification Committee (SCC) with exclusive authority over male/female facility housing decisions for transgender and intersex offenders — a separate and distinct body from standard facility Classification Committees.
  - SOP 508.34 bars any offender with an MH Level IV classification, or who has had a suicide attempt, self-mutilation, or assault within the past 12 months, from transfer to a Transitional Center, but prohibits blanket exclusion based solely on mental health caseload status.
  - SOP 507.04.25 requires that offenders with Urgent or Emergency dental needs be treated before non-medical transfer to another facility, and that medical staff receive at least 24 hours' notice of a pending transfer.
  - SOP 220.02 defines an Override as a recommendation that can result in either a higher or lower custody level, and requires that supporting comments include documented data and justification — unsupported Override requests are not permitted.
  - SOP 222.02 categorically excludes offenders with Federal Immigration Detainers, Federal Detainers, or Out-of-State Detainers from county facility placement, regardless of other eligibility factors.
  - SOP 209.06 states that Administrative Segregation 'is not intended for a means of abuse, any form of corporal punishment, or harassment of an offender,' and limits its use to circumstances posing a direct threat to persons or safe facility operations.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Security level terminology conflict: SOP 220.02 and SOP 220.03 describe three security levels (close, medium, minimum), while the Board of Corrections rule SOP 125-3-1-.02 defines five levels (Maximum, Close, Medium, Minimum, Trusty). It is unclear whether 'Maximum' and 'Trusty' are subsumed within the NGA instrument's three-level output or whether they are legacy designations applied separately; no SOP in this corpus reconciles the discrepancy.
  - Override authority is ambiguous: SOP 220.02 states Central Office 'has final authority' over Overrides, but does not specify the timeframe within which Central Office must respond, nor what happens if a facility proceeds with a housing or program assignment while an Override request is pending.
  - Annual reclassification review timing: SOP 125-3-1-.02 (Board Rule) requires at least annual review, and SOP 220.02 requires a Threshold/Override Review every 12 months for Override cases, but neither SOP specifies the consequence or remedy if a review is missed or delayed.
  - SOP 215.01 (Transitional Center Selection) and SOP 508.34 (MH Clearance for Transitional Programs) both govern MH offender placement in Transitional Centers but are not fully harmonized: SOP 215.01 allows the prison Classification Committee to deny or delay a transfer based on 'psychiatric developments,' without specifying the MH level thresholds that SOP 508.34 articulates — creating a risk of inconsistent application.
  - SOP 220.09 (Transgender and Intersex Offenders) was effective in 2019 and references SOP 507.04.68 (Management and Treatment of Offenders Diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria) extensively, but the corpus does not include SOP 507.04.68, leaving the medical treatment and housing standards for gender dysphoria offenders incompletely documented in this synthesis.
  - SOP 213.11 (Detainee Classification) requires initial classification 'within seven working days' of arrival, while SOP 215.18 (Transitional Center Resident Classification) requires a minimum 14-day orientation before initial classification. Neither SOP addresses how classification deadlines interact if an offender is transferred between facility types before their initial classification is complete.
  - SOP 222.02 sets county placement eligibility criteria as minimums ('should at a minimum meet'), which implies discretionary denial without specifying appeal rights or the process for an offender to challenge a denial — a gap for advocacy purposes.
  - The corpus contains no SOP governing the rights of offenders to be present at or participate in their own Classification Committee hearings (other than Administrative Segregation contexts), leaving unclear what procedural protections attach to initial classification or routine reclassification decisions.
RELATED_TOPICS: administrative-segregation, mental-health-services, transgender-intersex-offender-management, inter-institutional-transfers, transitional-centers-and-work-release, medical-classification-and-health-screening, offender-discipline, special-populations

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview of the Classification System

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) administers a classification system designed, in GDC's own words, "to protect the public by operating safe and secure facilities while ensuring the protection and safety of GDC staff, contractors, visitors, and other offenders" (SOP 220.02). Classification governs not only where an offender is housed but also what supervision level, work detail, and programs they are assigned to throughout their sentence.

The system operates on two tracks that work in parallel: (1) a **security classification** process that assigns an overall security level using an automated scoring instrument, and (2) a **Classification Committee** process that translates that security level into specific housing, program, and work decisions at each facility.

---

## Initial Security Classification: The NGA and SCRIBE

Upon entry into GDC custody, every offender is run through the **Next Generation Assessment (NGA)**, an automated instrument that "analyzes several factors" — each weighted by an algorithm — to produce a recommended security level of **close, medium, or minimum** (SOP 220.02). The result is generated in the **SCRIBE** system, GDC's official offender records management platform.

The Warden/Superintendent or a designated official must then review that system-generated level and either confirm it or submit an **Override request** to Central Office. SOP 220.02 specifies that the designee must be one of the following: Chief Counselor, S.I.P. Coordinator, Deputy Warden of Care Treatment, Assistant Superintendent, Diagnostic Director, or Deputy Warden of Security. Critically, "Security Classification reviews shall be completed directly in SCRIBE by the Warden/Superintendent or Designee and **not on paper** to be entered later by other staff."

If the Warden does not concur with the NGA result, an Override may be submitted through SCRIBE. Supporting comments "should include supporting data, justification for the request, and details citing documented information." Central Office "will review and has final authority" (SOP 220.02).

The Board of Corrections rule governing security classification (SOP 125-3-1-.02) defines five levels — Maximum, Close, Medium, Minimum, and Trusty — and specifies mandatory minimum time-at-level requirements before a downward adjustment can be recommended: one year for Close, six months for Medium, three months for Minimum. The Board rule also notes that "adverse behavior on the part of an inmate may result in a review of the reclassification form for possible security change" and that detainers may cause upward security adjustments.

SOP 220.03 (Classification Committee) further defines the NGA as "GDC's assessment tool to identify programming for the offender population," and introduces the **SMART Custody** module — a SCRIBE tool that "organizes existing SCRIBE data to create a comprehensive offender profile to help make classification decisions."

---

## Classification Committees: Structure and Duties

Every GDC facility type — state prisons, transitional centers, and detention centers — is required to maintain a **Classification Committee** that handles individual assignment decisions.

**At state facilities**, SOP 220.03 provides the overarching framework. The committee evaluates program needs, special needs (ADA, mental health, medical, educational), and custody level assignments on an ongoing basis. The policy states that "all offenders/juveniles/residents will be provided classification plans, classification status reviews, pre-parole progress reports, and have any Special Needs assessed."

**At Transitional Centers**, SOP 215.18 requires each center to maintain a committee responsible for security level assignments, program placement, employment, job search assistance, transfer requests, and administrative segregation hearings. The committee must include at minimum a Chairperson (Assistant Superintendent or designee), a Care and Treatment member, and a Security member (Chief of Security or designee). The committee meets **at least once per week**. New residents must complete an **arrival briefing** and a **14-day orientation phase** before initial classification; work release residents are classified at the end of orientation, and maintenance residents within 30 days.

**At Detention Centers**, SOP 213.11 requires a committee of at least three staff members — at least one security and one treatment — appointed by the Superintendent. Initial classification must occur after completion of intake processing (including physician-approved medical assessment) and must evaluate the detainee's medical needs, security needs, personal/social needs, and program needs. The policy notes that "a thorough initial review and appropriate placement are critical" because detainees serve short terms.

In all contexts, Classification Committee decisions are **subject to review and approval of the Warden/Superintendent** (SOP 215.18, SOP 213.11).

---

## Diagnostic Reception and Initial Processing

Before any facility-level classification occurs, newly sentenced offenders pass through a **Diagnostic Facility**. Adult males are processed at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison or Coastal State Prison; adult females at Lee Arrendale State Prison; juveniles (age 17) at Burruss Correctional Training Center (males) or Lee Arrendale (females) (SOP 220.05).

During diagnostic reception, offenders receive health assessments, mental health screening, medical classification and profiling using the **PULHESDWIT system** (SOP 507.04.23), fingerprinting, photo identification, and an initial security classification. SOP 220.05 also requires screening for disability accommodations, PREA vulnerabilities, and gender identity considerations at the point of intake.

The medical classification and profiling process assigns grades across ten functional categories. Physicians assign most grades; mental health professionals assign the "S" (psychiatric) grade; dentists assign the "D" grade (SOP 507.04.23). Profiles are entered into SCRIBE and "do not become effective until the data has been entered into SCRIBE." There is no provision for backdating profiles.

---

## Transfers Between Facilities

### Inter-Institutional Transfers (General)
SOP 222.01 governs transfers between GDC facilities and identifies five categories: Administrative, Causal, Medical, Emergency, and Programmatic. All transfer recommendations must go through the Classification Committee and be submitted electronically via SCRIBE. The SOP states unequivocally: **"No offender shall be transferred due to the filing of writs and/or grievances."**

Warden-to-Warden transfers are permitted for temporary moves between nearby facilities but are strictly time-limited: **Sleeper Status shall not exceed 24 hours.** If the move exceeds 24 hours, the sending facility must submit a formal transfer request.

Transfer requests must include the reason for transfer, current job and program assignment, known enemies and co-defendants, family member locations, and any recent changes to medical profile.

### County Facility Placement
SOP 222.02 sets specific eligibility criteria for placement in county work camps. At minimum, offenders must have a GED or high school diploma, hold a security level of **medium or below**, have no escape history from a secure facility within five years, and have been assigned to their current facility for a minimum of **six months**. Offenders with Federal Immigration Detainers are categorically excluded. Offenders convicted of serious violent offenses face additional restrictions on disciplinary history. An offender should not have more than **13 years remaining** before their tentative parole month or maximum release date.

### Health Screening During Transfers
SOP 507.04.25 requires that health records be reviewed by a Licensed Health Care Provider before every intra-system transfer, with an Intra-System Transfer Form completed. Medical staff should receive **at least 24 hours' notice** of a pending transfer. Offenders with urgent or emergent dental needs "should be treated, prior to non-medical transfer to another facility" (SOP 507.05.07). Health records physically accompany the offender in a sealed labeled envelope; the security officer is responsible for transporting the sealed record (SOP 507.02.03). Records are retained for **10 years** and sent to the State Archive upon release.

### Transfers of Mentally Ill Offenders
SOP 508.33 requires that offenders on a mental health caseload "may only be transferred to a GDC facility with an equivalent or **higher** level of mental health care." Offender Administration is responsible for locating appropriate placements. Mental health records are handled confidentially throughout the transfer process.

---

## Special Populations

### Transgender and Intersex Offenders
SOP 220.09 establishes a **Statewide Classification Committee (SCC)** — distinct from facility-level Classification Committees — that makes case-by-case decisions about whether a transgender or intersex offender will be housed in a male or female facility. Housing placement decisions must consider "on a case-by-case basis" the health and safety of the offender and must comply with PREA requirements. The SCC is a multi-disciplinary body and its decisions are separate from the standard NGA-driven security classification process.

### Mentally Ill Offenders — Transitional Center Clearance
SOP 508.34 bars automatic exclusion from Transitional Centers based solely on mental health caseload status, but sets firm exclusions: offenders classified **MH Level IV or higher** are ineligible; any offender who has had a suicide attempt, self-mutilation, or assault within the **past 12 months** is ineligible. For eligible MH offenders, the mental status must be stable and the offender must have resided in **general population for at least three months** prior to consideration.

### Juvenile Offenders in Administrative Segregation
SOP 209.11 establishes the **RHA-JOAS Program** (Restrictive Housing Assignment – Juvenile Offender Administrative Segregation) for juvenile offenders (under 18) who commit violent, disruptive, or predatory acts. The program is explicitly "a juvenile offender management process and is not a punishment measure." Placement is limited to the period until the juvenile turns 18.

### Detainees in Secure Alternative Centers
SOP 211.03 governs detainees (probationers and parolees) in Secure Alternative Centers. Transfer to a state prison may occur only when "the level of service required by the Detainee cannot be met in the assigned Secure Alternative Center." Such a transfer "shall in no way modify the legal status of the Detainee."

---

## Administrative Segregation and Its Relationship to Classification

SOP 209.06 defines Administrative Segregation as a classification decision that can be made by the Classification Committee, the Deputy Warden/Assistant Superintendent/Unit Manager, or — in emergencies — the Warden/Superintendent. Placement is permissible when "continued presence in the general population poses a serious threat to life, property, self, staff, or other offenders, or to the security or orderly running of the facility." The SOP states that "Administrative Segregation is not intended for a means of abuse, any form of corporal punishment, or harassment of an offender."

For long-term segregation cases, SOP 209.08 establishes the **Tier II Program**, which uses a phased behavioral model with the goal of returning offenders to general population. The program operates its own Classification Committee consisting of the Tier II Unit Manager, Tier II OIC, assigned counselor, and (as applicable) the mental health counselor.

---

## Classification and Program/Work Assignments

Classification decisions directly control work and program eligibility. SOP 409.02.11 (Georgia Correctional Industries) states that "the security and program determinations necessary for any individual to be eligible for industries work are made by the classification committee." SOP 108.08 (Career Technical Education) similarly requires that the Classification Committee identify CTE candidates and that offenders have no disciplinary reports for the past **six months** to be eligible. SOP 107.18 (R.I.S.E. Mentoring Program) requires Classification Committee approval for mentor placement, with eligibility including no high disciplinary report for **three years** and no documented gang activity for **five years**.

---

## Reclassification and Review Cycles

The Board of Corrections rule (SOP 125-3-1-.02) requires that each inmate's records be reviewed **at least annually** for possible security classification adjustment. SOP 220.02 requires a **Threshold/Override Review every 12 months** for offenders whose security level resulted from an Override or when the NGA-generated level crosses a threshold. An **Exception Review** may be triggered at any time by new circumstances warranting an immediate security change.

---

## Trust Funds During Transfers

SOP 201.02 requires that when an offender is permanently transferred, the losing facility's business office must forward the offender's store account funds to the gaining facility **within three business days**. For temporary assignments of 20 or more business days, funds must be forwarded within **five working days**.

--- TOPIC 2 of 24 ---

TITLE: Dental Health Services in Georgia Department of Corrections
SLUG: dental-health-services
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/dental-health-services/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:11:06
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections operates a structured dental health system governed by more than a dozen interrelated SOPs that cover intake screening and examination, facility classification, treatment prioritization, emergency care, refusal rights, radiographic services, recordkeeping, and oversight. All facilities housing GDC offenders—including private and county prisons—are subject to these requirements. Georgia Board of Corrections rule 125-4-4-.07 provides the foundational mandate: all inmates shall receive dental treatment "as required," regardless of sentence length or proximity to discharge.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 507.05.06 requires all GDC offenders to receive a dental screening within seven days of entry into the system, and a full dental examination by a dentist within thirty days if they will be housed in a state or county prison.
  - Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-4-.07 mandates dental treatment for all inmates regardless of sentence length or proximity to discharge date, establishing the foundational legal obligation that GDC's internal SOPs are designed to implement.
  - SOP 507.05.07 establishes three dental treatment priority levels—Emergency (immediate), Urgent (within 7 days), and Routine (in order of request)—and requires that offenders with Urgent or Emergency needs be treated before any non-medical transfer to another facility.
  - SOP 507.05.01 classifies all GDC facilities into five dental care levels, ranging from Level I (fee-for-service access only) to Level V (Augusta State Medical Prison, which provides advanced oral surgery, hospital dentistry, and IV sedation), determining the scope of care each facility must provide.
  - SOP 507.05.09 guarantees all offenders the right to refuse dental treatment; refusal requires the offender to sign form P82-0002-01, a practitioner entry on the Dental Progress Record, and retention of completed dental records for ten years.
  - SOP 507.05.04 creates a parallel urgent-care timeline for ASMP referrals—scheduling within ten days—which is longer than the seven-day urgent-care window established by SOP 507.05.07 for facility-level treatment.
  - SOP 507.05.06 directs that offenders with a dental Profile 2 or higher must be assigned to a facility with a staff dentist, linking the dental profiling system directly to facility placement decisions.
  - SOP 507.04.37 requires emergency dental services to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at all GDC facilities, including private and county prisons.
  - SOP 507.05.12 requires an annual audit of dental services at every GDC facility by the Statewide Dental Director or designee, with results distributed to facility leadership and the Office of Health Services.
  - SOP 507.05.05 requires that dental radiographic images taken within GDC facilities be read only by licensed dentists, and that any externally forwarded films receive a typed interpretive report within 72 hours.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Conflicting urgent-care timelines: SOP 507.05.07 defines 'Urgent' dental treatment as care to be provided within seven (7) days at the facility level, while SOP 507.05.04 defines the equivalent 'Urgent' category for ASMP referrals as scheduling within ten (10) days. The SOPs do not explain or reconcile this discrepancy, creating ambiguity about the applicable standard when an offender is being referred to ASMP.
  - SOP 507.05.03 (Guidelines for Dental Treatment) is cited as the governing document for routine dental care standards and is cross-referenced in at least six other dental SOPs (507.04.02, 507.04.07, 507.05.01, 507.05.04, 507.05.07, 507.05.08), but its full content was not included in the provided corpus. The scope of what constitutes 'routine' dental treatment is therefore not directly ascertainable from the available SOPs.
  - The dental peer review process under SOP 507.05.14 limits who may file complaints to four categories of facility staff (dental staff, Warden/Superintendent, Deputy Warden for Care and Treatment, and Responsible Facility Health Authority). Offenders themselves are not listed as eligible complaint filers, and the SOP is silent on whether an offender's complaint can be channeled through any of these staff categories.
  - SOP 507.05.01 states that Level II facilities in which a GDC offender has been housed for longer than six months are reclassified as Level III (providing routine care access), but no SOP specifies the mechanism or timeline by which this reclassification is formally triggered, documented, or communicated to the offender.
  - SOP 507.05.06 requires oral hygiene instructions and access-to-care information to be provided during intake, but no SOP in the corpus specifies the required content, format, or documentation standard for this education beyond noting it occurs during the intake process.
  - The corpus does not contain SOP 507.05.03 (Guidelines for Dental Treatment), which governs the substantive scope of dental treatment provided — the most clinically significant document in the dental services framework — leaving a significant gap in publicly citable policy on what specific treatments GDC is required to provide.
  - SOP 507.05.09 states that while an offender may refuse treatment, they do not have 'the right to dictate his/her own treatment.' No SOP in the corpus defines what limits, if any, exist on an offender's ability to request specific treatments or second opinions, leaving the boundary between refusal rights and treatment discretion unresolved.
RELATED_TOPICS: medical-classification-and-profiling, urgent-and-emergent-care-services, health-record-management, scope-of-treatment-services, receiving-screening, specialized-dental-services-asmp, health-promotion-and-disease-prevention, restrictive-housing-health-evaluation, office-of-health-services, transitional-center-health-services

FULL_CONTENT:
## Legal and Policy Foundation

The bedrock authority for dental care in Georgia prisons is **Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-4-.07** (SOP 1400), which states: "All inmates shall receive dental and optical treatment including dentures and glasses, as required. Such treatment shall be provided irrespective of the length of an inmate's sentence or the proximity of his discharge date." Inmates in state institutions receive care locally or at a designated institution; inmates in county institutions receive care locally at that institution's expense. This rule is expressly cited as authority in multiple GDC SOPs, anchoring the entire dental services framework.

SOP 507.04.07 (Scope of Treatment Services) echoes this baseline: "Offenders will receive dental services in accordance with GDC guidelines for dental treatment, see SOP 507.05.03, Guidelines for Dental Treatment." SOP 507.01.03 (Office of Health Services) adds that GDC's Office of Health Services "exercis[es] clinical authority over the delivery of health care including the practice of medicine (physical and mental), dentistry, and nursing," with the Statewide Dental Director holding final authority over dental clinical decisions system-wide.

## Facility Classification: Five Levels of Dental Care

SOP 507.05.01 (Classification of Dental Units) establishes a five-tier system that determines what dental services each facility must provide:

- **Level I:** No in-house dental care; access to routine services through a private dental practice on a fee-for-service basis. Transitional Center residents access routine care at a neighboring GDC host facility.
- **Level II:** No in-house dental care, but must provide dental screening and access to emergency dental care. Includes Residential Substance Abuse and Treatment Centers, Detention Centers, and Integrated Treatment Facilities. Emergency care is provided by a dentist from a neighboring GDC facility or a community contract dentist.
- **Level III:** State and private prisons providing access to routine dental care, either on-site or by transport to a neighboring GDC facility. Includes all state and private prisons not listed in Levels IV or V, and county correctional institutions housing GDC offenders. Level II facilities where an offender has been housed longer than six months are also reclassified as Level III.
- **Level IV:** State prisons providing routine care to residents and diagnostic/emergency services to incoming offenders. Includes Coastal State Prison, Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, Lee Arrendale State Prison, Baldwin State Prison, and Washington State Prison.
- **Level V:** Augusta State Medical Prison (ASMP) — the sole Level V facility — provides specialized dental services system-wide and routine care for its resident population. Services may include advanced oral surgery, hospital dentistry, IV sedation and general anesthesia, and other care "beyond the scope of routine care at an offender's resident facility" (SOP 507.05.04).

## Intake: Screening and Examination

SOP 507.05.06 (Dental Screening, Examination, and Profiling) requires two sequential steps upon entry:

1. **Dental Screening** — within **seven (7) days** of entry into the system at any facility. Performed by a trained health care professional, its purpose is "to rule out acute dental problems requiring immediate treatment." Results are noted on the Intake Physical Examination form (P-25-0003-01).
2. **Dental Examination** — within **thirty (30) days** of entry, for offenders expected to be housed in state or county prisons. Performed by a dentist and includes: (a) review of the offender's dental history; (b) teeth charting; and (c) hard and soft tissue evaluation.

Offenders in diversion and probation centers are eligible for the dental screening only, not the full examination.

During the examination, the dentist enters demographic data (name, ID, DOB, race, sex, facility, date) in ink on form D-67-0001-01, performs soft and hard tissue exams, and charts existing pathology, missing teeth, and existing restorations in pencil. Instructions in oral hygiene and how to access dental care are provided during the intake process.

## Dental Profiling

Following examination, the dentist assigns a **dental profile number (1–5)** on form PI-2051, as required by both SOP 507.05.06 and SOP 507.04.23 (Medical Classification and Profiling). Profile 1 = minimum dental need; Profile 5 = greatest need. SOP 507.04.23 specifies that "Dentists (DDS or DMD) will assign D grades" as part of the broader PULHESDWIT health/activity profile system. Profiles are entered into the SCRIBE system and do not become effective until data entry is complete; backdating is not permitted.

SOP 507.05.06 directs that "offenders with a Profile 2 or higher should be assigned as a resident at a facility that has a staff dentist via form PI-2051 per SOP 507.04.23." Offenders requiring immediate attention will be referred for evaluation; those needing only routine care will be advised to seek treatment upon permanent assignment.

## Treatment Priority System

SOP 507.05.07 (Dental Treatment Priorities) governs the order of care both across the patient pool at a facility and for individual offenders. Three priority codes are used and logged on the Dental Daily Report form (D-69-0001.02):

**1. Emergency (E)** — Takes precedence over all others. Requires immediate care for conditions that are:
- Potentially life-threatening (e.g., severe infection, hemorrhage);
- Where delay would be inappropriate to ensure safe treatment or proper healing (e.g., some facial fractures); or
- Where there is a significant degree of pain or infection, as determined by the examining dentist.

Emergency patients may be transferred on an ASAP basis to Augusta State Medical Prison via Utilization Management. Life-threatening emergencies may be treated by local specialists first, then transferred to ASMP for recovery. SOP 507.04.37 (Urgent and Emergent Care Services) requires emergency services—including dental—to be available "twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week at all facilities."

**2. Urgent (U)** — Treatment should be received within **seven (7) days** if requested. Covers: patients in severe pain (as determined by the examining dentist) and cases where chronic or acute infection "could compromise the patient's health" if significantly delayed. Critically, SOP 507.05.07 states: "Patients with Urgent (U) or Emergent (E) needs should be treated, prior to non-medical transfer to another facility."

**3. Routine (R)** — Provided to offenders at their resident facility, generally in order of request. Offenders at intake facilities for over six months may also be eligible. Routine treatment is governed by SOP 507.05.03 (Guidelines for Dental Treatment), which is referenced but not included in this corpus.

SOP 507.05.04 (Specialized Dental Services and Consultations) establishes a parallel priority framework for referrals to ASMP. Urgent cases at ASMP are defined as those to be scheduled within **ten (10) days** — notably different from the seven-day window in SOP 507.05.07 for facility-level urgent care.

## Specialized Dental Services and ASMP Referrals

SOP 507.05.04 governs referrals beyond a facility's treatment capabilities. Specialized services generally include: surgical problems, oral pathology consultations, and routine services for offenders severely compromised by medical history. All non-emergency treatment/consults must have prior approval by the Dental Utilization Manager. Specialized services are "usually" provided at ASMP.

Emergency care at the ASMP referral level covers conditions that are "potentially life threatening (e.g., significant developing infection with potential for airway obstruction)" or where delay would compromise safe treatment. Immediately life-threatening conditions (e.g., airway obstruction, uncontrollable hemorrhage) are treated using local specialists or hospital facilities first; when stabilized, referral to ASMP or a regional infirmary may follow.

Dental directors or their designees are responsible for initiating referrals for conditions beyond their facility's diagnostic and treatment resources.

## Refusal of Dental Treatment

SOP 507.05.09 (Refusal of Dental Treatment) states plainly: "All offenders have the right to refuse treatment that has been recommended. While an offender does not have the right to dictate his/her own treatment, an expressed desire to decline treatment will be honored."

When an offender refuses, they must sign a **Refusal of Treatment Against Medical Advice form (P82-0002-01)**. This form is placed in the dental section of the medical/dental chart. The practitioner must make an entry on the Dental Progress Record stating "Patient refuses treatment - see Refusal of Treatment form," dated and signed. Completed dental records and files must be maintained for **ten (10) years**.

## Dental Radiographic Services

SOP 507.05.05 (Dental Radiographic Services) requires that radiological imaging be available at all GDC facilities for dental services, at locations approved by the Statewide Dental Director. The level of radiographic capability is based on facility mission, staffing, and equipment. When in-facility services are unavailable and delay or transport would be "potentially harmful," radiographic services may be obtained from the nearest appropriate community facility. Emergency radiographic services must be provided by the closest appropriate source.

Only licensed dentists may read dental imaging performed within GDC facilities. If films are forwarded externally, a typed report from a qualified dentist or radiologist must be received within **72 hours**. Only a licensed dentist or physician may order dental radiographic procedures. Radiation safety standards follow Georgia Board of Dentistry training requirements and Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-4-.07.

A full dental operatory requires, at minimum: an x-ray unit with developing capability, blood pressure monitoring equipment, and oxygen (SOP 507.04.56).

## Dental Records and Documentation

SOP 507.05.08 (Entering Dental Data in the Physical Health Record) requires standardized documentation across all GDC facilities. Key requirements:
- Intake charting of missing teeth, extractions, restorations, and forensic data is done in **pencil**; once a treatment plan is completed at the resident facility, entries are redone **in ink**.
- Existing pathology and treatment plan entries remain in pencil until work is completed or pathology eliminated.
- Every treatment contact requires a **Progress Record entry** in SOAP format (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), dated and signed by the dentist.
- A review of the offender's medical history must be documented prior to initiating treatment at each visit.
- Dental forms are placed in the Dental Section of the Health Record in a specified bottom-up order: radiographs, consent forms, consultation forms, refusal of treatment forms, progress records, and the dental examination/treatment plan/forensic record.

SOP 507.05.11 (Dental Unit Report) requires each Facility Dental Director to submit a **monthly Dental Monthly Report (D-69-0001.01)** to the Statewide Dental Director by email. The underlying Dental Daily Report (D-69-0001.02) is retained at the facility for one year.

## Oversight, Auditing, and Quality Assurance

SOP 507.05.12 (Auditing the Dental Unit) requires the Statewide Dental Director or designee to conduct an **annual evaluation** of dental services at every facility. Follow-up evaluations may be conducted as needed. Results are sent to the facility Warden/Superintendent, the Statewide Dental Director, and the GDC Office of Health Services. Audits may occur in conjunction with the Office of Health Services' medical unit audit.

SOP 507.05.14 (Peer Review — Dental Only) establishes a three-dentist Dental Peer Review Committee, chaired by the Statewide Dental Director, to investigate complaints of improper conduct or treatment by dental professionals. Complaints may be filed by dental staff, Wardens/Superintendents, Deputy Wardens for Care and Treatment, or Responsible Facility Health Authorities — but only after facility-level resolution attempts have failed. The committee decides within **two weeks** of receipt on a course of action; subjects have **one week** to respond voluntarily.

SOP 507.05.13 (Interviews for Dental Candidates) requires that all dentist candidate resumes — both contract and state — be submitted to the Statewide Dental Director for review. The Director interviews all state dentist candidates and may interview contract candidates. Approval or disapproval is forwarded to facility wardens and, where applicable, contract vendors.

## Dental Care in Transitional Centers and Restrictive Housing

SOP 507.04.02 (Transitional Center Health Services) notes that the objective of transitional center placement includes "self-management of physical, mental, and dental health." Offenders not yet in the work-release component pay dental co-pays as regular prison inmates would. Dental services in transitional centers are governed by SOP 507.05.03 (Guidelines for Dental Treatment).

SOP 507.04.33 (Health Evaluation of Offenders in Restrictive Housing) explicitly states that offenders in restrictive housing retain access to the same dental services as the general population. Review of existing dental needs that "may contraindicate the placement or require accommodation" is part of the mandatory health record review upon placement in restrictive housing.

## Health Education

SOP 507.04.49 (Health Promotion and Disease Prevention) requires each facility to maintain a health education plan that includes dental hygiene as a suggested topic. Dental hygiene education is delivered through classroom instruction, audio/video, individual counseling, and written materials.

--- TOPIC 3 of 24 ---

TITLE: Discipline and Disciplinary Hearings: GDC Policy Overview
SLUG: discipline-and-disciplinary-hearings
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/discipline-and-disciplinary-hearings/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:17:43
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) operates a multi-layered disciplinary system for incarcerated offenders governed primarily by SOP 209.01, Board Rules 125-3-2-.04 through 125-3-2-.11, and a network of related SOPs covering segregation, mental health accommodations, and specific sanction types. The system establishes a four-tier violation severity structure, specific due-process hearing procedures, and a range of permitted and prohibited sanctions. Separate but linked procedures govern mental health evaluations before hearings, disciplinary isolation, administrative segregation, and appeals.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 209.01 requires that all disciplinary actions be objective, consistent, non-retaliatory, and free of corporal punishment, with the prohibition on corporal punishment independently restated in Board Rule 125-3-2-.07, giving advocates two redundant citation bases.
  - Board Rule 125-3-2-.04 explicitly permits GDC to pursue both a criminal prosecution and an internal disciplinary action for the same conduct simultaneously, with no double-jeopardy bar to dual proceedings.
  - Board Rule 125-3-2-.08 divides violations into four severity tiers — low, moderate, high, and greatest — with disciplinary isolation capped at 14 days for high severity and 30 days for greatest severity, both requiring written Warden/Superintendent authorization.
  - SOP 209.03 limits Disciplinary Isolation to a maximum of 30 days, requires prior notification of a licensed health care provider before placement, and mandates that the Assignment Memorandum be reviewed and signed within 72 hours with a copy given to the offender.
  - SOP 508.18 requires that all offenders receiving mental health services who receive a disciplinary report be screened or evaluated for competency to proceed and mitigating circumstances before the hearing proceeds, and permits a Mental Health Advocate to participate in the hearing on the offender's behalf.
  - Confinement in Disciplinary Isolation must be supported by a completed Disciplinary Report and a finding of guilt by the Disciplinary Hearing Officer per Board Rule 125-3-2-.09; pre-hearing detention is governed separately under SOP 209.06 as Administrative Segregation.
  - SOP 211.04 establishes the Intensive Therapeutic Program as an escalating alternative to traditional sanctions, with minimum participation periods increasing from 30 to 120 days for repeat placements, and mandates a disciplinary report and Administrative Segregation for any inmate who refuses a direct order to participate.
  - SOP 209.08 and SOP 209.11 both explicitly state that their respective long-term segregation programs (Tier II and RHA-JOAS for juveniles) 'are not punishment measures' but management processes, distinguishing them from disciplinary isolation sanctioned through SOP 209.01.
  - Board Rule 125-3-2-.06 delegates the substantive content of disciplinary hearing procedures entirely to Commissioner-promulgated SOPs, meaning the procedural protections for offenders exist only in SOP 209.01 and related SOPs rather than in the Board Rules themselves.
  - Loss of GOAL Device privileges (SOP 204.10) and Transitional Center cell phone privileges (SOP 215.23) as disciplinary sanctions are explicitly non-grievable, unlike most disciplinary outcomes which are subject to the SOP 227.02 grievance process.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Board Rule 125-3-2-.08 states that no variation in sanctions is permitted without prior written approval from the Division Director, but SOP 209.01 delegates significant discretion to individual Wardens/Superintendents and DHOs — the precise scope of permissible warden-level discretion versus Division Director approval is not clearly resolved between these two authorities.
  - SOP 209.01 requires mental health evaluations per SOP 508.18 for offenders receiving mental health services, but neither SOP specifies what happens procedurally if an offender has signs or symptoms of mental illness but is NOT already on a mental health caseload — whether such an offender triggers SOP 508.18 protections is left ambiguous.
  - SOP 209.08 (Tier II) and SOP 209.11 (RHA-JOAS for juveniles) explicitly disclaim being 'punishment measures,' yet they result in conditions indistinguishable from disciplinary isolation and are triggered in part by disciplinary conduct. The SOPs do not explain what procedural due-process protections, if any, are owed at placement given this 'non-punishment' characterization.
  - Board Rule 125-3-2-.06 delegates all hearing procedures to Commissioner SOPs without specifying any minimum due-process floor (e.g., notice requirements, right to call witnesses, right to appeal) in the Board Rules themselves. If SOP 209.01 were revised, those protections could be reduced without any Board Rule amendment.
  - SOP 209.03 states Disciplinary Isolation shall not exceed 30 days, but Board Rule 125-3-2-.08 authorizes extended isolation up to 30 days only for 'greatest severity' violations with written Warden/Superintendent approval. The Board Rule cap for 'high severity' violations is 14 days. SOP 209.03 references a uniform 30-day maximum without distinguishing severity tier, creating a potential conflict with the Board Rule's tiered limits.
  - SOP 209.01 does not specify a maximum time between a disciplinary report being filed and the hearing being held (other than the concept of 'tolling'), leaving the outer bound of pre-hearing detention in administrative segregation unclear from the face of the policy.
  - SOP 508.18 specifies that for Level II offenders the mental health review must occur within five working days of the report being served, but does not specify a comparable deadline for completing the Level III/IV evaluation, creating an inconsistency in timelines across care levels.
  - Board Rule 125-3-3-.08 allows withdrawal of mail privileges as a disciplinary sanction and requires the facility to let the inmate notify correspondents of the suspension, but does not specify a deadline by which the facility must facilitate that notification, leaving the protection potentially illusory.
  - The SOPs do not address whether, or under what circumstances, an offender may appeal a disciplinary finding to any body outside the facility (e.g., to a regional director or the Commissioner level), beyond the general grievance process in SOP 227.02. The Board Rules reference appeal to the 'Warden/Superintendent' for mail-related discipline (Rule 125-3-3-.08) but are silent on a broader appellate path for other sanctions.
RELATED_TOPICS: administrative-segregation, mental-health-services, grievance-procedures, offender-classification, disciplinary-isolation, use-of-force, offender-orientation, transitional-centers, boot-camp-programs, staff-adverse-actions

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Legal Framework

The GDC disciplinary system is anchored in SOP 209.01 (Offender Discipline), effective November 6, 2017, which applies to all Prisons, Transitional Centers (TC), Probation Detention Centers (PDC), Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities (RSAT), and Intensive Treatment Facilities (ITF). The overarching authority derives from GDC Board Rules 125-3-2-.01 through 125-3-2-.10, which establish the regulatory backbone for violations, hearings, permitted methods, prohibited methods, and sanctions.

SOP 209.01 states that "appropriate disciplinary sanctions shall be imposed against offenders whose behavior violates prison rules, or state or federal statutes." Critically, Board Rule 125-3-2-.04 makes explicit that inmates "are subject to all laws of the United States and of the State of Georgia," and that filing criminal charges in court "does not in any way prevent or preclude the administrative handling of the same act as a prison disciplinary matter." In other words, GDC may pursue both a criminal prosecution and an internal disciplinary action for the same conduct simultaneously.

---

## Core Disciplinary Principles

SOP 209.01 establishes six foundational principles that apply to every disciplinary action:

1. Only specified staff may impose disciplinary action.
2. Only action "absolutely necessary to regulate an offender's behavior" may be taken.
3. Discipline must be "completely objective and consistent."
4. No action shall be "capricious or retaliatory in nature." Food may not be used as a disciplinary measure.
5. Staff "may not impose (or allow to be imposed) any type of corporal punishment."
6. Discipline shall be imposed "without regard to the race, sex, creed, or color of the offender."

These principles are reinforced at the Board Rule level. Board Rule 125-3-2-.07 (Disciplinary Methods Prohibited) independently bars corporal punishment of any kind, cruel or inhumane punishment, force exceeding what is required to maintain control, special colored clothing or striped uniforms as discipline, and forced haircuts or head shaving as punishment. The prohibition on corporal punishment thus appears in both SOP 209.01 and Board Rule 125-3-2-.07, providing redundant citation options for attorneys and advocates.

---

## Initiating a Disciplinary Report

Under SOP 209.01, staff who witness — or have "reasonable cause to believe" — a rule violation must prepare a written Disciplinary Report using the SCRIBE Disciplinary Application. The staff member notifies their supervisor, who conducts a preliminary investigation, determines the correct charge, and may, if warranted, place the offender in administrative segregation (pre-hearing detention) pending the hearing.

All staff who work with offenders must receive sufficient disciplinary training through Pre-Service Orientation (PSO), yearly In-Service Training, and Basic Correctional Officer Training (BCOT), so they are "thoroughly familiar with the rules of inmate conduct, the rationale for the rules, and sanctions available."

The "Reporting Official" is defined in SOP 209.01 as "the witness to a violation of Departmental or Prison policies, rules, or instructions or who has reasonable cause to believe that such a violation has been committed by an offender."

---

## Violation Categories

Board Rule 125-3-2-.04 enumerates a comprehensive list of prohibited conduct organized into categories:

- **Violations of Statutes** — any Georgia or federal law.
- **Violations Against Persons** — ranging from B-1A (causing death of a correctional officer) through B-17 (obstructing staff duties), including assault, sexual conduct, threats, bribery, extortion, and hostage-taking.
- **Violations Pertaining to Security and Orderly Operation** — including escape (C-3, C-4), participation in riots or work stoppages (C-2), and related conspiracies.

Board Rule 125-3-2-.08 organizes sanctions into **four severity levels**: low, moderate, high, and greatest. The severity level determines the maximum sanction that may be imposed.

---

## Hearing Procedures and Due Process

Board Rule 125-3-2-.06 states simply that "Disciplinary hearings will be conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures promulgated by the Commissioner." The detailed procedural requirements are set forth in SOP 209.01. The Disciplinary Hearing Officer (DHO) — defined in SOP 508.18 as "the official designated by the warden or superintendent who is responsible for overseeing disciplinary investigations and conducting disciplinary hearings" — presides over hearings.

SOP 209.01 establishes the concept of **tolling**, defined as the adjudication process being "paused or delayed," which can affect the timeline for completing a hearing after a report is filed.

Board Rule 125-3-2-.09 makes clear that confinement in Disciplinary Isolation "must be supported by a Disciplinary Report and a finding of guilt by the Disciplinary Hearing Officer." Placement cannot precede a completed hearing and written Warden/Superintendent authorization.

---

## Sanctions: What Policy Permits

Board Rule 125-3-2-.08 specifies permitted sanctions by severity tier. No variation is permitted without prior written approval from the Division Director.

**Low severity violations** (up to 30 days each): reprimand/warning/prison restriction; withdrawal of privileges (recreation, library, commissary, mail, visiting); extra duty (2 hours/day); change in work assignment or living quarters; impound of personal property (except religious or legal materials); restrict to quarters (except for meals); restriction from group activities.

**Moderate severity violations** (up to 90 days): all low-severity sanctions with time limits extended from 30 to 90 days; for work-release inmates, additional sanctions including required counseling, civilian clothing restrictions, mandatory community service, and return to Phase I of the Work Release Program.

**High severity violations** (up to 90 days for most; 14 days disciplinary isolation): all lower-severity sanctions; disciplinary isolation not to exceed 14 days (written Warden/Superintendent authorization required); administrative segregation for an indefinite period (written authorization required); raising of security status; removal from programs; disciplinary transfer; recommendation for extension of Tentative Parole Month (TPM) up to 90 days; and referral for criminal charges. For work-release inmates, removal from the program is also available.

**Greatest severity violations**: all high-severity sanctions; extended isolation up to 30 days (written Warden/Superintendent approval); indefinite administrative segregation (written approval); TPM extension up to and including the maximum release date. For work-release inmates, temporary return to prison up to 60 days is available.

Board Rule 125-3-2-.08 also provides that "The Disciplinary Committee will consider previous disciplinary reports. These infractions, their severity and frequency regardless of their nature, may influence the punishment recommended."

Access to commissary may be denied or limited through disciplinary sanctions per SOP 227.07 (Access to Offender Commissary). Similarly, SOP 227.01 (Offender Access to Telephones) references SOP 209.01, and SOP 204.10 (Offender Use of the GOAL Device) explicitly states that device use is a privilege subject to disciplinary sanction, with loss of GOAL Device privileges being non-grievable.

---

## Disciplinary Isolation: Conditions and Limits

SOP 209.03 (Disciplinary Isolation) governs the conditions of solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure. It states that an offender may be placed in Disciplinary Isolation "after other methods of disciplinary action have proved ineffective or when it is clearly obvious that maximum control is essential." Placement requires the recommendation of the DHO at the completion of the hearing and the written approval of the Warden/Superintendent or designee.

**Maximum duration is 30 days.** No offender shall be placed in Disciplinary Isolation for more than 30 days, and it "shall not be utilized as corporal punishment." Prior to placement, a licensed health care provider must be notified. The Assignment Memorandum (Form 1) of SOP 209.06 must be completed and signed by the Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Warden of Security, or Unit Supervisor within 72 hours; the offender must receive a copy.

Board Rule 125-3-2-.09 specifies minimum physical standards for Disciplinary Isolation cells: minimum size of 5' x 10' x 7' for new construction; adequate light and ventilation; heating requirements; freedom from items usable as weapons; bunk and bed covering; and commode, lavatory, and drinking water. No more than one inmate may occupy a cell at a time except in documented emergencies.

---

## Administrative Segregation and Tier Programs

SOP 209.06 (Administrative Segregation) governs pre-hearing detention and post-hearing segregation sanctions. It explicitly states that "Administrative Segregation is not intended for a means of abuse, any form of corporal punishment, or harassment of an offender." Segregation is available for offenders pending disciplinary hearing, serving disciplinary sanctions, pending reclassification or transfer, pending investigation, or in Protective Custody.

SOP 209.07 (Segregation – Tier I) governs short-term segregation in a program applicable to all State Prisons, County CIs, Private Prisons, ITFs, TCs, PDCs, and Probation Boot Camps. SOP 209.08 (Administrative Segregation – Tier II) establishes a long-term program for offenders with repetitive violent or predatory behavior, explicitly stating it "is not a punishment measure" but rather an offender management process. SOP 209.11 governs the equivalent Restrictive Housing Assignment program for juvenile offenders, with a maximum duration running until the offender reaches age 18.

---

## Mental Health Protections During Discipline

SOP 508.18 (Mental Health Discipline Procedures) requires that all offenders receiving mental health services who receive a disciplinary report be screened or evaluated before the hearing proceeds. For **Level II** offenders, the mental health counselor/technician/behavior specialist must review the report within five working days after service. If competency is questioned or mitigating circumstances are present, the offender is referred for a full evaluation by a mental health evaluator (the same standard applied to Level III/IV offenders).

Key defined terms from SOP 508.18:
- **Incompetence to Proceed**: an offender who "suffers from a mental disorder which renders them incapable of understanding the charges and/or the nature of the proceedings against them or cooperating or assisting in their defense."
- **Mitigating Circumstances**: "A medical or mental health-related occurrence that impacts or are believed to have impacted an offender's rule violating behavior. These variables must be identified by the mental health professional… and should be considered by the hearing officer who is determining appropriate sanctions."
- **Mental Health Advocate**: "A mental health treatment team member who consults with the mental health offender during the disciplinary hearing and presents to the Disciplinary Hearing Officer any statement, information, or request of the offender and observes the procedure."

SOP 508.18 is cross-referenced directly from SOP 209.01, which lists it as an authority.

---

## Special Programs as Disciplinary Alternatives

SOP 211.04 (Intensive Therapeutic Program, ITP) establishes a structured military-style alternative to traditional disciplinary action for inmates who "demonstrate an unwillingness to conform to the rules of prison life." Assignment is made by the Facility Classification Committee, which may act on recommendations from the DHO, Warden, or Mental Health Director. Minimum ITP durations escalate with repeat placements: 30 days (first), 60 days (second), 90 days (third), 120 days (fourth). An inmate who refuses a direct order to participate in ITP receives a disciplinary report for Failure to Follow Instructions and is then placed in Administrative Segregation pending disciplinary action.

---

## Mail Privileges and Disciplinary Action

Board Rule 125-3-3-.08 (Disciplinary Action) specifically addresses mail as a disciplinary sanction: commission of mail abuses "will result in disciplinary action which may include withdrawal of an inmate's private correspondence privilege for a specified period." When mail privileges are suspended, the facility must permit the inmate to notify persons on their mailing list of the suspension period. The rule also bars disciplinary action for obscene language in letters unless the inmate has already been warned once; and bars action for derogatory content in privileged mail unless the recipient complains with documentation.

---

## Grievance of Disciplinary Decisions

SOP 227.02 (Statewide Grievance Procedure) governs the process by which offenders may challenge disciplinary decisions. The grievance procedure is cross-referenced directly in SOP 209.01 and SOP 209.03. By contrast, loss of GOAL Device privileges (SOP 204.10) and loss of TC cell phone privileges (SOP 215.23) are explicitly designated as **non-grievable**.

---

## Disciplinary Transfer

Board Rule 125-3-2-.11 (Disciplinary Transfer) authorizes the Warden/Superintendent to recommend to the Commissioner the transfer of an inmate "because of unacceptable conduct." Transfer may occur "when, in the discretion of the Commissioner, an inmate has failed to respond to counseling and guidance concerning his unacceptable conduct." Appropriate documentation must accompany the recommendation. Disciplinary transfer also appears as a permitted high-severity sanction in Board Rule 125-3-2-.08.

--- TOPIC 4 of 24 ---

TITLE: Education and Vocational Programs in GDC Facilities
SLUG: education-and-vocational-programs
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/education-and-vocational-programs/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:32:56
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections operates a multi-tiered education system encompassing academic instruction, high school equivalency testing, career technical education, on-the-job training, special education, and post-secondary programs. Written policy establishes eligibility criteria, program goals, instructor qualifications, and oversight mechanisms, though several gaps and tensions exist—particularly around the gap between aspirational language and enforceable mandates, and between the disciplinary disqualifiers applied to CTE versus post-secondary programs. Program participation can directly affect sentence length through the Performance Incentive Credit program.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 108.01 requires an individual program plan for every student and establishes a holistic philosophy linking academic, career technical, higher education, special education, OJT, and skills training programs.
  - Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.04 (SOP 1380) requires that offenders testing below 8th-grade level be 'encouraged, and where possible, assigned' to at least 10 hours per week of academic courses, but the 'where possible' qualifier limits the mandate's enforceability.
  - SOP 108.08 sets a hard disciplinary bar for CTE eligibility — no disciplinary reports for the past six months — and requires Warden approval for any exception; this same standard is not explicitly stated in SOP 108.05 for post-secondary programs, which uses a softer 'priority' framework.
  - SOP 108.04 requires a minimum GED practice test score of 145 on the applicable subtest before an offender may sit for the HSE exam, and all HSE diplomas and official transcripts are issued and maintained by TCSG, not by GDC.
  - SOP 108.05 requires a SCRIBE alert upon post-secondary enrollment restricting transfer to facilities with the same program or a Transitional Center, providing a written policy protection against enrollment disruption by transfer.
  - SOP 108.03 obligates GDC to provide IDEA-compliant special education services, including individualized IEPs and services in the least restrictive environment, to all incarcerated individuals under 22 years of age.
  - SOP 214.02 allows offenders to earn up to 12 months off their length of stay through the Performance Incentive Credit program, with education and vocational program completion as qualifying activities reported favorably to the Parole Board.
  - SOP 107.13 excludes offenders convicted of serious violent felonies (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1) and those with a High or Greater disciplinary report within 12 months of release from receiving the Program and Treatment Completion Certificate regardless of their educational achievements.
  - Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.07 (SOP 1383) requires academic instructors to meet State teacher certification standards and vocational instructors to be licensed or credentialed per State Department of Education criteria, and mandates a minimum 30 hours per week of active instruction for full-time teachers.
  - SOP 107.14 requires program audits of academic, vocational, and reentry services at all applicable facilities at least every two years, with a 30-day deadline for facilities to submit corrective action plans addressing critical findings.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Aspirational vs. mandatory language conflict: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.04 (SOP 1380) requires that low-literacy inmates be assigned to courses 'where possible,' and that college-level opportunities 'may be provided' — language that creates institutional discretion rather than an enforceable individual right. SOP 108.01's goal-oriented framing similarly uses aspirational rather than mandatory terms.
  - Disciplinary eligibility gap between CTE and post-secondary: SOP 108.08 sets a hard six-month no-disciplinary-report requirement for CTE enrollment. SOP 108.05 for post-secondary programs states only that disciplinary history 'may' be a factor in enrollment priority — creating an inconsistency in how discipline affects access to different education tiers.
  - Private prison and county prison coverage gap: SOP 108.04 explicitly requires contracts to be in place before GDC staff test offenders at private and county prisons, but the SOPs do not uniformly specify whether all CTE and post-secondary programs are available at private and county prisons or only at state-operated facilities.
  - Transitional Center staffing gap: SOP 215.17 permits TC education programs to be run by community volunteers and part-time staff when a full-time educator is not available, creating a structural gap in educational delivery compared to state prisons where SOP 108.02 assumes a staffed program.
  - No minimum hours requirement for CTE or post-secondary: While Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.04 sets a 10-hour/week floor for sub-8th-grade academic instruction, no equivalent minimum instructional hours are specified for CTE programs or post-secondary programs in the SOPs provided.
  - Certificate exclusion for serious violent felony offenders: SOP 107.13 categorically bars offenders convicted of offenses listed under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1 from receiving a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate, regardless of the extent or quality of their educational participation, creating a permanent barrier unrelated to in-custody conduct.
  - Computer access policy currency gap: SOP 204.07 (effective 04/21/2015) defines educational technology in terms of stand-alone computers, CD-ROMs, and floppy diskettes — technology standards that are significantly outdated relative to current digital learning platforms referenced in more recent SOPs such as SOP 108.02 (effective 01/09/2025). The older SOP has not been visibly updated to address tablets, online learning platforms, or e-readers.
  - No stated timeline for IEP services initiation: SOP 108.03 requires screening of all offenders under 22 for special education eligibility but does not specify a deadline within which an IEP must be developed or services initiated after an eligible offender enters a facility.
RELATED_TOPICS: classification-and-case-management, performance-incentive-credit-program, disciplinary-process, special-education-and-disability-accommodations, transitional-centers-and-reentry, offender-work-assignments, program-and-treatment-completion-certificates, risk-and-needs-assessment

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Philosophy

GDC's written policy establishes a "holistic philosophy of education" as the foundation for all correctional education programming. SOP 108.01 (Education Programs Administration) states that "correctional educators believe that helping individuals develop their cognitive abilities and life skills while providing meaningful employment skills will help offenders have the ability and desire to choose socially acceptable behaviors as alternatives to their current lifestyles." The public benefit rationale is also stated explicitly: "better educated, well adjusted, and productive citizens are less likely to recidivate and more likely to make positive contributions to society."

SOP 108.01 lists the program components that make up the comprehensive education system:
- Academic Education
- Career Technical Education (CTE)
- Higher Education
- Special Education
- On-the-Job Training (OJT) Programs
- Skills Training Programs

This same SOP requires that an **individual program plan** be developed for each student — a standard that also appears in the boot camp context (SOP 210.05) and the Transitional Center context (SOP 215.17), signaling cross-system importance.

The Board of Corrections regulation Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.04 (SOP 1380) independently establishes that "each institution shall provide educational courses consistent with the capacity and the demonstrated interests of the inmate population," and that the objective of every institution should be "the creation and operation of a program which will fulfill inmate educational needs from the illiteracy level through the high school equivalency level."

---

## Academic Education: Literacy Through GED

SOP 108.02 (Program Services/Education Services) is the primary operational policy for academic education. It states that "in each state prison and private prison, instruction is provided in literacy and remedial reading (L/RR), adult basic education (ABE), and in the skills necessary for attainment of a High School Equivalency." Programs up to completion of high school or an approved High School Equivalency are **available at no cost to offenders**.

Academic placement flows from assessment. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.03 (SOP 1379) requires that "standardized tests to determine academic achievement levels and vocational aptitude shall be administered to each inmate in order to provide initial data on which to base training decisions." SOP 108.01 references GDC's own Next Generation Assessment (NGA) tool for identifying programming needs.

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.04 (SOP 1380) sets a specific floor: "each inmate whose standard test scores indicate that his (her) educational level is below the 8th grade shall be encouraged, and where possible, assigned to attend appropriate scheduled academic courses for a **minimum of ten (10) hours per week**." The phrase "where possible" limits the enforceability of this requirement.

### GED / High School Equivalency Testing

SOP 108.04 (High School Equivalency Testing Centers) governs the administration of HSE/GED tests. Key operational details:
- **Central Office** determines which facilities serve as testing sites.
- Contracts with local adult education centers (operated through the Technical College System of Georgia, TCSG) provide testing services; GDC staff may administer tests when TCSG cannot.
- Contracts must be in place before GDC staff test offenders at **private prisons and county prisons**.
- An offender must be verified as prepared by meeting the requirements of an approved assessment — typically a minimum score of 145 on the applicable GED practice subtest — before being allowed to sit for the exam.
- **TCSG issues HSE diplomas**; official transcripts must be requested from TCSG, not from the facility.

---

## Career Technical Education (CTE)

SOP 108.08 (Career Technical Education) defines CTE as "education that prepares students for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers" — formerly called Vocational Education. The parallel Board regulation, Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.05 (SOP 1381), requires that vocational programs be "based on employment potential and inmate interest and capabilities" and that "the goal of such training should be to provide a level of skills marketable in private industry."

### Enrollment Requirements

SOP 108.08 sets two hard eligibility criteria:
1. **Disciplinary record**: The offender must have received **no disciplinary reports for the past six (6) months**. Any exception requires Warden approval.
2. **Program entrance requirements**: Offenders must meet requirements set by the accrediting body. Special Education students may have modified entry requirements determined by that same body.

Facilities must maintain a **minimum enrollment of 85% of determined program capacity** and must maintain a minimum program completion rate as specified annually by Central Office.

Identification of candidates is a **shared responsibility** of the offender's counselor, other staff, and the Classification Committee (per SOP 220.03). Identification should consider programs both at the offender's current facility and at other GDC facilities — the latter potentially requiring an inter-institutional transfer.

Staff operating CTE programs are required to use "the advice and assistance of labor, business, and industrial organizations to assist in providing skills relevant to the job market" (SOP 108.08).

### Live Works Projects

SOP 108.12 (Live Works Projects) allows CTE students to work on actual property as part of their training, provided the work "primarily benefits the State by contributing to offenders acquiring educational skills" and aligns with the curriculum of the specific CTE program. Projects are prioritized in this order: GDC/Board property first, then other state agencies, then local government, then other governmental entities, then non-profit organizations, then GDC employees' property, then other government employees' property. Motor vehicle/equipment repair on insurance-claimed items is not permitted.

---

## On-the-Job Training (OJT)

SOP 108.11 (On-the-Job Training Programs) establishes OJT as "an extension of and supplement to the classroom/laboratory Career Technical and Higher Education (CTHE) programs." OJT programs run on skilled and semi-skilled institutional work details where a training potential has been identified.

Key structural elements:
- Each facility designates an **OJT Coordinator** responsible for ensuring programs are conducted in accordance with policy and for completing all paperwork and data entry.
- A **task/competency checklist** is developed for each detail, with input from labor, business, industrial organizations, and TCSG.
- Offenders who complete all tasks on a competency checklist receive a **certificate of completion**.

OJT programs apply broadly — to State and County Facilities, Transitional Centers, Integrated Treatment Facilities, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities, and Detention Centers.

---

## Post-Secondary / Higher Education

SOP 108.05 (Post-Secondary Education) governs access to college-level instruction. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.04 (SOP 1380) provides the regulatory backdrop, noting that "opportunities for college level training may be provided through in-house classes, correspondence courses, and, in selected cases, through educational release."

### Prison Education Programs (PEP) and Pell Grants

SOP 108.05 defines a **Prison Education Program (PEP)** as a post-secondary program that has been approved by GDC, the Board of Education, and its accrediting body, with programming "funded through federal Pell Grant funds." All institutions of higher learning must be approved before beginning a program at any GDC facility, regardless of PEP status. Upon approval, the institution must enter into a Services Agreement (MOU) with GDC.

### Correspondence Courses

An offender wishing to take a post-secondary correspondence course must obtain **prior approval from the Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment (DWCT)**, or designee, before enrolling. The approval or disapproval is documented in SCRIBE. The offender (or the offender's family) is responsible for arranging enrollment, payment, and all other requirements with the provider. Facility staff are **not required** to proctor or tutor, though they may do so.

### Enrollment Priorities and Protections

SOP 108.05 states that priority for enrollment may be given based on sentence length, disciplinary history, and prior academic/CTE performance. Once enrolled, a **SCRIBE alert** must be entered indicating the offender should only be transferred to facilities with the same program or a Transitional Center — a transfer protection designed to preserve ongoing enrollment.

During lockdowns, GDC facility leadership is required to "make reasonable accommodations to create a positive and productive learning environment," including allowing access to educational materials.

---

## Special Education

SOP 108.03 (Special Education) establishes GDC's obligations under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). All offenders **under 22 years of age** are screened for prior diagnosis of disabilities relating to educational needs. Those who qualify receive an **Individualized Education Plan (IEP)** developed by an IEP team, and services must be delivered in the **least restrictive environment**.

The Georgia Department of Education conducts annual compliance monitoring of GDC's special education records and services. GDC receives grant funding tied to an annual Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Count of offenders served.

---

## Transitional Centers

SOP 215.17 (Transitional Center Resident Programs and Services) requires that TCs establish an academic education program using community resources and/or volunteers — including local adult education coordinators and technical school staff — when a full-time education staff member is not available. The focus is on "literacy, Adult Basic Education, and GED preparation courses." Selection is based on assessed need and availability. When appropriate, post-release plans must include the continuation of educational activities. Because TC residents are expected to maintain full-time employment, programs are offered during **non-working hours**.

---

## Instructor Qualifications

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 125-4-2-.07 (SOP 1383) sets minimum standards for education personnel:
- **Academic instructors** must meet State teacher certification standards.
- **Vocational instructors** must be licensed or credentialed per State Department of Education criteria.
- Full-time academic and vocational teachers must spend a minimum of **30 hours per week** performing active instruction, testing, and guidance.
- Education supervisors with fewer than 5 subordinates must spend a minimum of **15 hours per week** in an active teaching role.
- Educational personnel are encouraged to attend at least one training workshop, conference, or college course per year.

SOP 108.02 further specifies that Central Office provides and establishes uniform education standards meeting Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) compliance for educators.

---

## Computer Access for Education

SOP 204.07 (Inmate Use of Computers) permits inmate computer access **only for educational and vocational purposes**, in supervised settings, on stand-alone systems that are not connected to any network or phone line. Inmates are explicitly prohibited from accessing modems, file servers, network equipment, passwords, facility operational data, and external storage media. An "Education LAN" — a LAN designed solely to support educational or vocational programs, including online testing and instruction — is permitted under defined conditions.

---

## Program Incentives and Certificates

### Performance Incentive Credit (PIC)

SOP 214.02 (Performance Incentive Credit Program) directly ties education participation to sentence length. Offenders can accumulate up to **12 months credit** off their length of stay by completing educational and/or vocational programming, treatment programs, work details, and demonstrating good behavior. Favorable reports are made to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. A PIC Oversight Team — including representatives from Vocational/Educational Services, the Parole Board, and other GDC operational areas — meets monthly to oversee the program.

### Program and Treatment Completion Certificate

SOP 107.13 establishes a **Program and Treatment Completion Certificate** that documents all programs, treatment, education, vocational training, and work history during the current incarceration. To be eligible, an offender must:
1. Be Mental Health Level 3 or below;
2. Not be convicted of a serious violent felony (as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1);
3. Have no active ICE detainer;
4. Not have been convicted of additional crimes during the current incarceration;
5. Not have been found guilty of a High or Greater Disciplinary Report within the **last 12 months** prior to release;
6. Not have a refusal or disciplinary withdrawal from programs within the last 12 months.

GDC explicitly states it is "under no obligation to issue a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate to offenders who do not meet the established criteria."

---

## Oversight and Audits

SOP 107.14 (Office of Reentry Services Audit Process) requires the Inmate Services Division to conduct audits, quality assurance evaluations, fidelity checks, and site visits of academic, vocational, cognitive behavioral, and reentry programs at **all applicable facilities at least every two (2) years**. Facilities must submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) addressing all critical findings within 30 days. The Georgia Program Assessment Inventory (GPAI) measures compliance with evidence-based principles proven to reduce recidivism.

---

## Animal Programs

SOP 108.13 (Animal Programs) establishes a distinct vocational/educational pathway: offenders train and care for animals in partnership with contracted rescue organizations, shelters, and service dog trainers. Programs operate "at no cost to GDC." Contractors running therapy/service dog programs must be accredited by Assistance Dogs International or an equivalent nationally recognized organization. Offenders serving as Primary Handlers take full-time responsibility for assigned animals.

--- TOPIC 5 of 24 ---

TITLE: Emergency Response and Lockdowns: Riots, Fire, Hostage, and Other Emergency Procedures
SLUG: emergency-response-and-lockdowns
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/emergency-response-and-lockdowns/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:22:54
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy addresses emergency response across several overlapping frameworks: fire safety and evacuation, tactical squad deployment, incident reporting, mutual aid to local governments, medical emergencies, and emergency feeding. No single consolidated SOP governs all facility emergencies; instead, GDC relies on a network of division-specific policies that intersect at key points — most notably SOP 225.02 (Emergency Plans), which is repeatedly cross-referenced but not included in this corpus. This synthesis identifies what the available SOPs require, where they overlap, and where gaps and conflicts exist.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 203.03 requires immediate reporting of all Major Incidents — including riots, hostage takings, disturbances, use of force, fires with major damage, and escapes — to the Regional Director, who notifies the Director of Field Operations, who then triggers notification of GDC Communications Center at (478) 992-5111.
  - SOP 209.04 authorizes staff to use appropriate force during emergencies without prior authorization when circumstances make prior approval impractical, but requires the employee to justify the use of force after the fact and submit a written report by end of shift.
  - SOP 205.13 requires each facility Warden/Superintendent to maintain a Tactical Squad activated during emergencies, with members required to pass an 80% weapons qualification, a physical fitness test, and 40 hours of Special Operations Basic Training; IRT members face higher fitness standards and must re-qualify annually.
  - SOP 207.05 requires Commissioner or Director of Field Operations approval — routed through the Regional Director — before any GDC Tactical Squad or correctional officers may be deployed to assist local law enforcement, with full written documentation required after the deployment.
  - SOP 511.03 requires staff to be able to initiate emergency lock releases within two minutes of a fire alert, mandates monthly fire drills for each shift, and requires annual coordinated training between facility staff and the legally committed fire department.
  - SOP 511.09 requires all facility fire safety and evacuation plans to be approved by an independent Qualified Outside Fire Inspector and mandates that publicly posted evacuation maps include the viewer's location, primary and secondary exit routes, and fire equipment locations.
  - SOP 511.23 prohibits interior structural firefighting until a minimum of four firefighters are present, requires a rapid intervention team (RIT) of at least two firefighters once a second team enters the hazardous area, and limits high-risk operations to situations where there is a potential to save endangered lives.
  - SOP 507.04.37 requires 24/7 emergency medical, dental, and mental health services at all GDC facilities, and mandates that each facility develop Local Operating Procedures for medical emergency response, including first aid, CPR, AED protocols, and emergency evacuation of offenders.
  - SOP 409.04.07 limits use of an Emergency Menu to short-term emergencies declared by the Commissioner or Warden/Superintendent, requires notification of Food and Farm Services if the emergency exceeds two days, and permits mobile field kitchen deployment for longer-duration emergencies.
  - SOP 102.01 distinguishes a 'Critical Incident' from an 'Emergency' for media relations purposes, with 'Emergency' defined to include hostage situations, offender disturbances or mutinies, group escapes from high-security institutions, and use of firearms by any personnel, triggering Public Affairs Office involvement.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - No SOP in this corpus provides a dedicated hostage-taking or riot suppression tactical protocol; SOP 203.03 and SOP 102.01 address reporting and media relations for these events, but the operational response is apparently housed in SOP 225.02 (Emergency Plans), which is repeatedly cross-referenced but not available here.
  - SOP 225.02 (Emergency Plans) is cited as the master authority by at least six SOPs in this corpus (511.09, 511.03, 507.04.37, 511.34, 209.04, and 102.01) but is not included in the provided materials, leaving a significant gap in understanding GDC's overarching emergency coordination framework.
  - SOP 203.03 requires reporting to the Regional Director 'as soon as possible' and SOP 207.05 requires Commissioner or Director of Field Operations approval before deploying Tactical Squads to assist local governments, but neither SOP defines a maximum time limit for these approvals, creating potential ambiguity in fast-moving emergencies.
  - The corpus contains no SOP specifically addressing lockdown authorization, lockdown duration limits, or the criteria for lifting a lockdown — these standards are apparently covered in SOP 225.02 or facility-level post orders referenced in SOP 511.03, but neither is available in full here.
  - SOP 511.19 and SOP 511.23 both govern firefighter operations at emergency incidents and overlap on accountability and team integrity requirements, but SOP 511.19 (dated 4/01/02) and SOP 511.23 (dated 4/01/02) appear to be legacy documents without updated effective dates, raising questions about whether they have been superseded or remain current policy.
  - SOP 209.04 authorizes use of force without prior authorization in emergencies but does not specify a time limit within which post-hoc justification must be submitted to the Warden, other than that a written report is due by end of shift; the SOP is silent on what happens if the shift ends before the emergency is resolved.
  - SOP 209.05 limits stripped-cell confinement to an initial maximum of 8 hours with daily medical authorization for continuation, but does not specify an absolute outer limit on total duration, leaving open the question of how long an offender can remain in a stripped cell under repeated daily authorizations.
  - The emergency feeding SOP (409.04.07) authorizes an Emergency Menu only during a 'short-term extreme emergency as declared by the Commissioner or the Warden/Superintendent,' but does not define 'short-term' or specify what happens if the Commissioner or Warden fails to make a formal declaration, potentially leaving staff without clear authority to activate the emergency menu.
RELATED_TOPICS: use-of-force, fire-safety-and-prevention, incident-reporting, tactical-squad-and-special-operations, media-relations-and-public-affairs, offender-discipline-and-segregation, emergency-medical-care, inter-institutional-transfers, escape-procedures

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview

GDC's emergency response framework is distributed across multiple Standard Operating Procedures, each addressing a specific type of emergency or operational domain. The core hub policy — **SOP 225.02, Emergency Plans** — is referenced by at least six SOPs in this corpus (SOP 511.09, SOP 511.03, SOP 507.04.37, SOP 511.34, SOP 209.04, and SOP 102.01) but is not itself included here. Readers should obtain SOP 225.02 directly for the master emergency planning framework. What follows describes the concrete requirements found in the available SOPs.

---

## Incident Classification and Reporting

**SOP 203.03 (Incident Reporting)** establishes the foundational classification system for all emergencies. It defines **Major Incidents** as:

> "Activities that are outside normal routine and might cause public concern or notoriety … disturbances, escapes, riots, hunger strikes, hostage taking, use of force, Offender(s) remaining in restraints at the end of the shift, discharge of a firearm or other weapon, use of chemical agents to control Offenders, and work stoppages; fire with major property damage or evacuation … major mechanical breakdowns that affect the orderly operation of the prison."

All Major Incidents must be reported to the Regional Director "as soon as possible," with the Warden or Superintendent providing persons involved, ID numbers, STG affiliation, injuries, location, and incident type during the initial call. The Regional Director then advises the Director of Field Operations. Once advised, the Warden/Superintendent or designee contacts the **GDC Communications Center in Forsyth, GA** at (478) 992-5111 (phone) or (478) 992-5119 (fax). The Communications Center in turn notifies the Division Director, Office of Communications, Office of Professional Standards, Director of Special Operations, and others as directed (SOP 203.03, IV.B.1).

**Minor Incidents** — such as non-serious offender injuries treatable by local medical staff or minor property damage that does not affect facility operations — are documented but do not trigger the same immediate escalation chain.

---

## Tactical Squad Activation

**SOP 205.13 (Tactical Squad Standards and Selection)** governs the specialized emergency response teams activated during facility crises. The Warden or Superintendent at each facility is responsible for maintaining a **Tactical Squad**, which "shall be activated during emergencies and for other purposes." The Special Operations Director maintains additional Specialized Tactical Squads statewide.

Two distinct team types exist:
- **Tactical Squad Response Team**: Facility-based officers available for shakedowns, special details, and emergencies.
- **Interdiction Response Team (IRT)**: Regional teams assigned to assist with shakedowns, special details, and emergency situations across a region.

Minimum selection requirements for Tactical Squad members include: employment as CO I (IRT requires minimum 10 months as CO I), CO II, Sergeant, or Lieutenant; passage of a physical fitness test (30 sit-ups and 21 push-ups per minute, 400-meter run in 120 seconds, 150-pound dummy drag); weapons qualification at 80% minimum on shotgun and rifle; and completion of 40 hours of Special Operations Basic Training. IRT members have higher physical standards (25 push-ups, 400-meter run in 90 seconds) and must re-qualify annually.

SOP 205.13 cross-references **SOP 225.02 (Emergency Plans)** and **SOP 207.05 (Providing Assistance for Local Governments)**, confirming that Tactical Squads operate within both the internal emergency framework and the mutual aid framework.

---

## Use of Force During Emergencies

**SOP 209.04 (Use of Force and Restraint for Offender Control)** establishes the authority and limits for force during any emergency. Authorization rests with the Warden, Superintendent, Deputy Warden, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Correctional Supervisor, or Administrative Duty Officer. Staff "are authorized and shall use appropriate force when an escape is in progress, when it is evident that an escape may ensue or when it is evident that danger to persons or damage to property may ensue."

If time and circumstances permit, employees must obtain prior authorization. "In an emergency where it is not possible or practical to seek prior authorization, an employee shall use appropriate force, and then notify the Warden, Superintendent, or designee as soon as possible. The employee shall be required to justify use-of-force without prior authorization."

Force is expressly prohibited as punishment. Any use of force requires immediate notification of the Warden/Superintendent and a written report submitted no later than the end of the shift. SOP 209.04 cross-references SOP 203.03 for incident reporting requirements.

---

## Fire Emergencies: Planning, Drills, and Evacuation

Two SOPs establish overlapping and complementary fire safety requirements.

**SOP 511.03 (Departmental Fire and Life Safety Program)** requires each Warden/Superintendent to prepare a written Fire Safety/Emergency Evacuation Plan addressing facility-specific hazards. Evacuation plans must be posted in all housing units and areas accessible to the public. Staff must be able to initiate lock releases for emergency evacuation or rescue **within two minutes** of a fire alert. Monthly fire drills are required on a non-routine basis, with each shift conducting at least one drill per month; quarterly drills are required for non-fire emergencies. Annual coordinated training between facility staff and the legally committed fire department is mandatory.

**SOP 511.09 (Facility Fire Safety/Emergency and Evacuation Plan)** adds the requirement that the written facility plan be approved (signed and dated) by an independent Qualified Outside Fire Inspector. It requires publicly posted evacuation maps showing the viewer's location, primary and secondary exit routes (red and green directional arrows, respectively), and fire equipment locations. Staff receive fire emergency training during new employee orientation and annually thereafter. "Appropriate portions of the fire emergency plan shall be communicated to residents (offenders) through their orientation programs."

Both SOPs require documentation of drills and training. SOP 511.09 specifies that a task cross-matrix of primary and secondary staff responsibilities must be updated and distributed annually to all staff with emergency roles.

Defend-in-place procedures are explicitly recognized for situations where evacuating dangerous inmates is not included in the drill (SOP 511.09, definition of "Fire Drill").

---

## Firefighter Emergency Operations and Safety

Several SOPs specifically govern GDC's certified fire service personnel operating at emergency incidents:

**SOP 511.21 (Occupational Safety and Health/Emergency Response)** classifies fire service responses as either **Emergency** (significant risk to life or property — requires all audio and visual warning devices throughout the response) or **Nonemergency** (no significant risk — no warning devices unless upgraded by competent authority). Emergency responses include reported structural fires, fires threatening property or life, and responses to man-made or natural disasters. Automatic fire alarms without confirmation of an actual emergency are treated as nonemergency. Emergency vehicle speed may not exceed posted limits by more than 10 mph; drivers must come to a complete stop at stop signs, red signals, negative right-of-way intersections, blind intersections, and all unguarded railroad crossings.

**SOP 511.23 (Occupational Safety and Health/Operating at Emergency Incidents)** requires interior structural firefighting to involve a minimum of four firefighters, with two inside the hazardous area and two outside available for rescue. A rapid intervention team (RIT) of at least two firefighters must be designated once a second team enters the hazardous area. Activities presenting significant risk to firefighter safety "shall be limited to situations where there is a potential to save endangered lives." Rescue operations may begin with fewer than four firefighters only if there is an imminent life-threatening situation.

**SOP 511.19 (Occupational Safety and Health/Accountability)** mandates a buddy system — firefighters must enter and exit hazardous environments together and remain within sight, voice, or tactile distance. Personnel accountability tags and a company responder board must be maintained. Roll calls are required when shifting from offensive to defensive mode, after unexpected catastrophic events (flashover, backdraft, structural collapse), after emergency evacuation, and at first report of a missing firefighter. A missing firefighter triggers an immediate attempted rescue as the top priority.

**SOP 511.27 (Occupational Safety and Health/Rehabilitation)** requires the Station Chief to establish rehabilitation sectors during prolonged emergency operations to prevent heat or cold injuries among firefighters, with medical evaluation, fluid replenishment, and rest provisions.

**SOP 511.10 (Emergency Operations/Motor Vehicle Fires)** establishes specific protocols for vehicle fire response: rescue is the first priority; apparatus must be positioned upwind and uphill at least 100 feet from the burning vehicle; full protective clothing and SCBA are required; all members must stabilize the vehicle and de-energize it as soon as possible.

---

## Hostage Situations and Other Major Disturbances

No SOP in this corpus provides a dedicated hostage-taking response protocol. SOP 203.03 defines hostage taking as a Major Incident requiring immediate reporting escalation. SOP 102.01 (Media Relations) defines "Emergency" for PAO purposes as including "hostage situation," triggering Public Affairs Office notification and media staging procedures. Beyond reporting and communications, the detailed tactical response to hostage situations is not addressed in the available SOPs; SOP 225.02 likely contains this content.

---

## Media Relations During Emergencies

**SOP 102.01 (Media Relations)** distinguishes between a **Critical Incident** (escape from work detail or low-to-medium security facility, or serious injury) and an **Emergency** (offender disturbance or mutiny, group injury, hostage situation, bomb threat, facility search, group escape from a high-security institution, use of a firearm by any personnel, or physical threat to general facility security). During emergencies, the Public Affairs Office — available 24/7 at (478) 992-5247 — coordinates media communications. The Director of Public Affairs or designee is the official spokesperson. Unit Public Affairs Officers at each facility are responsible for notifying the PAO of any media inquiries or emergencies.

---

## Mutual Aid to Local Governments

**SOP 207.05 (Providing Assistance for Local Governments)** authorizes deployment of facility Tactical Squads or other correctional officers to assist local law enforcement in "preserving order and peace." The request must go through the Regional Director and be approved by the Commissioner or Director of Field Operations. "In an extreme emergency the Warden/Superintendent may, in the interest of time, contact the Commissioner or Director, Field Operations, if the Regional Director is not immediately available." No assistance may be provided without this authorization. After the deployment, the Warden/Superintendent must submit written documentation to the Director of Field Operations covering: the requesting agency, who authorized the deployment, type and amount of assistance, any force or equipment used, injuries to staff or civilians, and a narrative including duration, expense, and final disposition.

---

## Emergency Medical Response

**SOP 507.04.37 (Urgent and Emergent Care Services)** requires emergency medical, dental, and mental health services to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at all facilities. The Responsible Health Authority and facility administrator must develop Local Operating Procedures (LOP) for management of all medical emergencies, including initial correctional officer response (first aid, CPR, AED), on-call provider availability, and emergency evacuation of offenders. SOP 507.04.37 cross-references SOP 225.02 for the broader emergency planning context.

**SOP 507.04.40 (Urgent and Emergent Care Equipment and Supplies)** mandates standardized emergency equipment at all facilities, including a Medical Response Bag with specified contents, AEDs, oxygen cylinders, crash carts, spine boards, and stretchers. The Responsible Health Authority is responsible for operational status, inspections, and restocking.

---

## Emergency Feeding

**SOP 409.04.07 (Emergency Feeding Plan/Mobile Field Kitchen)** requires all state prisons and centers to develop an emergency feeding plan. An **Emergency Menu** may be used only during "a short-term extreme emergency as declared by the Commissioner or the Warden/Superintendent." If an emergency extends beyond two days, Food and Farm Services must be notified for further action, which may include deployment of a mobile field kitchen. Field kitchen setup must be supervised by Food and Farm's Maintenance Advisor or Regional Maintenance Engineer, and sanitation must be maintained at the same level as normal kitchens.

---

## Emergency Transfers

**SOP 222.01 (Inter-Institutional Transfer)** recognizes **Emergency Transfer Requests** as "requests that are a result of a unique event or unforeseen circumstances that necessitates immediate action." These are distinct from administrative, causal, medical, and programmatic transfers. Warden-to-Warden transfers (temporary sleeper status) are strictly limited to 24 hours; beyond that, a formal transfer request must be submitted.

---

## Board of Corrections Emergency Coordination Authority

**Board Rule 125-1-2-.14 (Emergency Coordination)** provides the regulatory foundation for GDC's emergency planning obligations: the State Board of Corrections, in cooperation with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Defense, will "provide general guidelines for the creation of plans for Natural Disasters or Nuclear Emergencies," and GDC "will develop and update, periodically, standing operating procedures for participation in these plans." This rule authorizes and mandates the broader emergency planning framework.

---

## Stripped Cells as Emergency Confinement

**SOP 209.05 (Stripped Cells and Temporary Confiscation of Personal Property)** authorizes emergency placement in stripped cells when an offender "may use the contents of his or her cell … to harm himself or herself or staff or threaten the health or safety of others who are proximally confined, or if he destroys valuable state property and placement in a stripped cell is the least restrictive means of controlling that behavior." Placement requires written authorization from the Warden/Superintendent and close observation. Maximum initial confinement is 8 hours; continued confinement requires medical authorization renewed daily. Stripped cells are explicitly prohibited as punishment.

--- TOPIC 6 of 24 ---

TITLE: Food Services and Nutrition
SLUG: food-services-and-nutrition
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/food-services-and-nutrition/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:39:52
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy requires all facilities to feed incarcerated people according to a centrally planned Master Menu that is certified annually by a Registered Dietitian for nutritional adequacy. Separate policy tracks govern medical/therapeutic diets (ordered by health staff and managed jointly by medical and food service), religious dietary accommodations (administered through the Alternative Entrée Program), and food safety/sanitation (including HACCP plans, health department permits, and personal hygiene requirements for food service workers). Multiple SOPs across both the Food and Farm Services and Health Services divisions overlap and cross-reference one another on nutrition standards, diet ordering, and worker health screening.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - The Master Menu is a 28-day cyclical menu certified annually by the Food and Farm Services Central Office Registered Dietitian for nutritional adequacy based on USDA Dietary Guidelines and Dietary Reference Intakes, as required by both SOP 409.04.01 and SOP 409.04.02; SOP 507.04.49 independently requires the same annual dietitian review from the Health Services side.
  - Board of Corrections Rule 125-4-3-.04 requires three meals daily on weekdays but permits the Warden/Superintendent's discretion to reduce meals to two on Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays; SOP 409.04.02 codifies this same standard operationally.
  - All therapeutic diet orders must be entered into the SCRIBE system by medical staff, and the Food Service Director must print a Master Diet Roster daily showing each offender's prescribed diet and its expiration date, per SOP 409.04.09.
  - SOP 507.04.29 lists ten categories of therapeutic diets available within GDC, explicitly states that bland diets will not be provided, and caps clear liquid diets at three days due to nutritional inadequacy.
  - The Alternative Entrée Program under SOP 409.04.28 provides a vegan baseline option for all offenders and a Kosher-certified (Halal when available) packaged meal for offenders with religious needs that cannot be met by the vegan option; requests require written justification, multi-level approval, and cannot be approved retroactively.
  - SOP 409.04.27 establishes a HACCP plan requiring that food not remain in the temperature danger zone (41°F–135°F) for more than four hours, and mandates refusal of frozen deliveries above 10°F and milk deliveries above 41°F.
  - SOP 409.04.26 requires biannual health department inspections of all GDC kitchens after the initial inspection, with copies forwarded to Central Office within 48 hours and a corrective action plan attached whenever non-compliances are noted; inspection records must be retained indefinitely.
  - SOP 507.04.72 prohibits excluding offenders from food service work solely on the basis of HIV, Hepatitis B, or positive TB skin test, but requires exclusion of offenders with active hepatitis A or chronic shigella/salmonella infection until medically cleared.
  - SOP 409.04.06 explicitly states that packout meals 'will not be used as a reward' and may only be provided to offenders working more than five hours outside the facility between meals; excessive packout meals are flagged as a major finding on the monthly Food Service Assessment report.
  - SOP 409.04.07 provides that an Emergency Menu may only be used during a short-term emergency; if the emergency exceeds two days, Food and Farm Services must be notified for further action, which may include mobile field kitchen deployment.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - CONFLICT — Staff training timeline: SOP 409.04.12 (Food Service Staff, effective 9/1/2004) requires Food Service Level I training to be completed within 60 days of hire; SOP 409.04.20 (Training, effective 9/23/2020) sets the deadline at 90 days. The more recent SOP 409.04.20 likely controls, but the older SOP has not been formally rescinded in the corpus provided, leaving an ambiguity about the operative deadline.
  - CONFLICT — Meal frequency framing: Board Rule 125-4-3-.04 gives the Warden/Superintendent discretion over whether two or three meals are served on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but SOP 409.04.02 states this as a fixed rule ('two meals served on Saturday, Sunday, and on state holidays') with no mention of discretion. The Board Rule's permissive language is more authoritative but operationally it may be treated as mandatory by Food Service.
  - GAP — AEP denial process and timeline: SOP 409.04.28 requires multi-level approval (facility designee → Regional Director → Director of Chaplaincy Services), but sets a specific two-business-day review deadline only for the facility designee. No deadline is established for Regional Director or Chaplaincy Services review, potentially leaving offenders in limbo for an indeterminate period.
  - GAP — Therapeutic diet oversight at private and county prisons: SOP 507.04.29 applies to 'all facilities that house GDC offenders to include private and county prisons,' but SOP 409.04.09 and the Master Menu framework (SOP 409.04.01) explicitly exempt contracted food service operations. It is unclear how therapeutic diet orders are operationally fulfilled at contracted facilities that do not follow the Master Menu.
  - GAP — Halal certification conditionality: SOP 409.04.28 states that Halal-certified foods 'will be utilized when available,' but provides no standard for what constitutes availability, no process for offenders to inquire whether Halal items are available at their facility, and no alternative remedy when they are not.
  - GAP — Diet non-compliance threshold discrepancy: SOP 507.04.29 defines 'diet non-compliance' as missing 6 meals/week or 15 meals/month, but SOP 409.04.09 describes generating a 'weekly non-compliance report' without specifying the threshold that triggers a non-compliance entry. The two SOPs do not explicitly cross-reference the same numerical standard.
  - GAP — Emergency menu nutritional adequacy: SOP 409.04.07 permits the Emergency Menu to be used for up to two days without explicit nutritional review, and does not specify whether therapeutic or religious dietary accommodations are maintained during emergency feeding operations.
  - GAP — Contracted facility health inspections: SOP 409.04.26 requires biannual health department inspections for GDC-operated kitchens, but the policy explicitly exempts contracted food service operations. No SOP in the corpus establishes equivalent inspection requirements for contractors.
RELATED_TOPICS: medical-and-mental-health-care, religious-practices-and-accommodations, disciplinary-procedures-and-segregation, inmate-worker-programs, environmental-health-and-sanitation

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Program Structure

GDC's food service program is centrally planned and managed by the Food and Farm Services Subdivision of Georgia Correctional Industries (GCI). SOP 409.04.01 establishes the foundational framework: every state prison, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Center, Transitional Center, Pre-Release Center, Parole Center, and Detention Center that operates its own kitchen must follow the **Master Menu** — a 28-day cyclical menu, complete with standardized recipes, that rotates approximately 13 times per fiscal year. All kitchens statewide serve the same meals on any given day. The Warden/Superintendent, Business Manager, and Food Service Director share joint responsibility for implementing food service procedures at the facility level (SOP 409.04.01).

Contracted food service operations may be exempted from many of these requirements. Under SOP 409.04.05, the Commissioner holds final authority over all food service contracts; local facilities cannot contract independently. Contractors must still follow the standard GDC Master Menu (or an approved equivalent reviewed by the Central Office Registered Dietitian), abide by sanitation rules, provide medical diets, and comply with GDC security requirements.

## Nutritional Standards and the Master Menu

The Master Menu is "designed based on nationally recommended allowances for basic nutrition, such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Dietary Reference Intakes, to meet the average nutrition requirements" (SOP 409.04.02). It is reviewed and **certified annually** by the Food and Farm Services Central Office Registered Dietitian (SOPs 409.04.01, 409.04.02). The same annual certification requirement is independently restated by the Health Services division in SOP 507.04.49, which requires that "a registered dietician nutritionist or other licensed nutrition professional… document a review of the regular diet for nutritional adequacy at least annually" — providing redundant citation authority on this point.

Board of Corrections Rule 125-4-3-.03 separately mandates that a master menu and standardized recipes be prepared and distributed by the Central Farm/Food Services Office to "facilitate and support procurement and meal planning," and that meals "shall conform to the master menu as closely as it is practical."

**Meal frequency:** Board Rule 125-4-3-.04 requires three meals daily Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, either two or three meals may be served at the Warden/Superintendent's discretion. SOP 409.04.02 tracks this, stating "there will be three (3) meals served Monday through Friday and two (2) meals served on Saturday, Sunday, and on state holidays." When only two meals are served, the appropriate menu from the Master Menu must be selected (Rule 125-4-3-.04).

**Substitutions and menu changes:** The Food Service Director may make substitutions only from a pre-approved Substitution List without prior Central Office approval. Changes beyond that list require advance approval from the Central Office Registered Dietitian, except in emergencies directly affecting facility control — in which case the Dietitian must be notified "as soon as possible" (SOP 409.04.02).

## Medical and Therapeutic Diets

Two SOPs govern medical diets jointly and must be read together.

**SOP 507.04.29** (Health Services Division) lists the types of therapeutic diets available within GDC:
- Mechanical Soft / Soft
- Low Sodium (2–4 grams)
- Low Fat / Low Cholesterol
- Weight Reduction (same calorie levels as ADA Diabetic Diet)
- ADA Diabetic Diet (calorie levels specified in increments from 1,000 to 3,000)
- Full Liquid and Clear Liquid
- Hypoglycemia Diet
- Renal and Hepatic Diets
- Pregnancy Diet

Bland diets are **not** provided; offenders with gastrointestinal disorders receive education about foods to avoid instead (SOP 507.04.29). Clear liquid diets are limited to a maximum of three days because the diet "is inadequate in nutrients for all age groups" (SOP 507.04.29).

**SOP 409.04.09** (Food and Farm Services Division) governs the operational side: ordering, documentation, preparation, and delivery. All prescribed diets are entered into GDC's SCRIBE system by medical staff. The Food Service Director prints a **Master Diet Roster** daily listing each offender's name, ID number, current diet, and expiration date. Notification deadlines for diet changes are: by 5 p.m. the previous day for breakfast; by 10 a.m. the same day for lunch; by 3 p.m. the same day for dinner. Telephone diet revisions must be entered into SCRIBE within 24 hours.

When an offender **refuses** a prescribed therapeutic diet, they must sign a Modified Diet Waiver Form (SOP 409.04.09). A weekly non-compliance report is generated by Food Service and sent to the Medical Department. SOP 507.04.29 defines "diet non-compliance" as failure to pick up 6 meals per week or 15 meals per month.

The State Clinical Dietitian reviews regular and medical diets for nutritional adequacy "a minimum of every six (6) months or whenever there is a substantial change in the menus" (SOP 507.04.29).

**Calorie-Restricted Diets** (diabetic, hypoglycemic, and weight reduction) automatically include a between-meal snack and a third meal on weekends and holidays (SOP 409.04.09).

## Religious Dietary Accommodations — Alternative Entrée Program

SOP 409.04.28 establishes the **Alternative Entrée Program (AEP)**, grounded in the First and Fourteenth Amendments and RLUIPA (42 U.S.C. § 2000cc). The program provides:

1. A **Vegan Meal Plan** (free of animal products and by-products) available to all offenders as the baseline AEP option.
2. An **AEP Packaged Meal Plan** for offenders whose religious requirements cannot be met by the vegan option — specifically, meals that are "animal product free, animal by-product free, and Kosher certified. Halal-certified foods will be utilized when available."

Requests must be submitted in writing to the facility's designee, explaining the specific religious beliefs and why the regular vegan plan is insufficient. The facility designee reviews requests within **two business days**. If approved locally, the request goes to the facility's Regional Director and then to the Director of Chaplaincy Services, who consults with Legal Services, the Facilities Division, and GCI Food Services before final approval. "An offender cannot participate in the program until their request has been processed and approved" (SOP 409.04.28). Participation in the AEP Packaged Meal Plan is reviewed annually. A "least restrictive means" approach is required when an AEP request raises security concerns.

## Food Safety: HACCP Plan

SOP 409.04.27 requires each kitchen to implement a **Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plan** combining "proper food handling procedures, monitoring techniques, and record keeping to ensure food safety." Key temperature standards under this SOP:

- Proper refrigeration: **41°F or below**
- Time-Temperature Abuse zone: food must not remain between **41°F and 135°F for more than four hours**
- Frozen foods must be below **0°F** at receiving; refuse if above 10°F
- Milk must arrive above 32°F but below 41°F; refuse if above 41°F
- Produce must arrive above 32°F but below 42°F (with limited exceptions for GDC Farm fresh produce)

These same temperature definitions and standards are restated verbatim in SOP 409.04.31 (Staff Dining Food Preparation and Service), providing a consistent standard across both inmate and staff dining.

All food must be cooked to proper internal temperatures: potentially hazardous foods to at least 135°F; poultry to 165°F; ground beef to the minimum safe internal temperature per SOP 409.04.31. Final cooking temperatures are recorded on a Food Temperature Log.

## Sanitation and Health Department Inspections

SOP 409.04.10 establishes the GDC sanitation program, supplementing Georgia Department of Public Health Chapter 511-6-1 rules. Requirements include: daily visual checks of all food service workers for signs of illness or infection; strict personal hygiene standards (daily bathing, clean uniforms, hair nets/beard nets, no open-toed shoes); a housekeeping schedule maintained by the Food Service Director; sneeze guards on all non-enclosed serving lines; regular cleaning of walls, floors, ceilings, and ventilation; and prohibition of tobacco in all preparation, service, or dining areas.

No person with "open lesions, infected wounds or any communicable disease that can be transmitted through food handling" may work in food service (SOP 409.04.10). This standard is reinforced by SOP 507.04.72 (Food Service Workers, Health Services Division), which requires initial and ongoing medical screening for all offender food service workers and mandates daily inspection by the Food Service Director. Offenders with chronic shigella or salmonella infection, or active hepatitis A, must be excluded until cleared by a physician, PA, or NP (SOP 507.04.72). Importantly, offenders are **not** excluded based on HIV, Hepatitis B, or positive TB skin test alone.

**Health Department Permits and Inspections:** Under SOP 409.04.26, every kitchen must obtain a Food Service Permit from the local health department. New facilities must request the permit at least 10 days before opening. After the initial inspection, inspections occur **biannually**. Copies must be forwarded to Food and Farm Services Central Office within 48 hours, and any non-compliances require a corrective action plan. All Public Health inspection records are retained indefinitely (SOP 409.04.26).

## Emergency Feeding

SOP 409.04.07 requires every covered facility to develop an emergency feeding plan. An Emergency Menu is provided by Central Office for use during "short-term extreme emergencies as declared by the Commissioner or the Warden/Superintendent." If an emergency extends beyond **two days**, Food and Farm Services must be notified for further action, which may include deployment of a mobile field kitchen. Mobile kitchens must maintain the same sanitation standards as permanent kitchens (SOP 409.04.07). All emergency-period documentation uses separate Cook's Worksheets and requisition sheets.

## Food Service Workers (Offenders)

SOP 409.04.13 governs offenders assigned to food service. Requirements include: written job descriptions (signed by the offender); orientation covering equipment, safety, and sanitation; evaluation at the end of the first month documented in a Training Progress Report; a minimum of three uniforms provided through GDC Care and Custody; and performance evaluations at least annually. Offender food service workers receive meals separate from the main facility feeding schedule (SOP 409.04.13).

## Staff Training

All food service staff must complete **Food Service Level I training within 90 days of hire** (SOP 409.04.20). Levels II and III are recommended within two years. The older SOP 409.04.12 (Food Service Staff) states Level I must be completed within **60 days** — a discrepancy with SOP 409.04.20's 90-day requirement. Food and Farm Services Central Office provides a Food Service Update class at least twice per year and a Food Service Development class at least once per year (SOP 409.04.20).

## Food Procurement and Distribution

The Food Distribution Unit (FDU) operates the centralized allocation and delivery system. Dry goods ship every 60 days (67-day supply); cold foods every 30 days (35-day supply); milk weekly; and eggs every 30 days (SOP 409.04.16, SOP 409.04.21). Facilities calculate feeding strength by subtracting pack-out requirements from the sundown count (SOP 409.04.16). Significant population changes must be reported immediately to the State Food Service Administrator. All received items must meet purchase order specifications; damaged or inferior items are refused at delivery (SOP 409.04.17). Inventory updates must be posted to the computer by 2:00 p.m. daily (SOP 409.04.15).

## Farm Operations

SOP 409.03.01 provides that GDC institutional farms produce vegetables, fruits, meats, eggs, and milk to support the Master Menu "as cost effectively as possible," with production directed toward meeting Master Menu requirements before supplying other agencies. Farm production decisions are coordinated among the Food and Farm Services Manager, State Farm Administrator, Food Service Administrator, and State Dietitian.

## Packout and Field Meals

SOP 409.04.06 governs packout lunches for offenders on work details. Packouts are authorized only for offenders working more than five hours outside the facility between meals, or on heavy labor on weekends/holidays. They are explicitly prohibited as rewards and must not be given in addition to other meals. Packout lunches are stored refrigerated and served within 48 hours; field deliveries use coolers with ice packs to prevent spoilage. Excessive packout meals constitute a major finding on the monthly Food Service Assessment report (SOP 409.04.06).

--- TOPIC 7 of 24 ---

TITLE: Grievance Process: How Offenders File Grievances, Timelines, Levels of Review, Retaliation Prohibitions, and Exhaustion Requirements
SLUG: grievance-process
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/grievance-process/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:44:43
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections' statewide grievance procedure, governed primarily by SOP 227.02, provides all incarcerated individuals with a formal, multi-level process for filing complaints and receiving written responses. The procedure includes specific timelines at each stage, protections against retaliation, a parallel health-care complaint track under SOP 507.04.03, and access through JPay/GOAL devices under SOP 204.10. Several gaps exist in the written policy regarding exact timelines at the Commissioner's appeal level and the specific consequences for retaliation against grievance filers.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 227.02 is the primary governing document for all offender grievances and establishes a multi-level process including informal dispute resolution, formal facility-level review, and appeal to the Commissioner's level, with the underlying authority found in Board Rule 125-2-4-.23.
  - SOP 227.02 defines 'Emergency Grievance' as involving 'a significant threat to the health, safety or welfare of an Offender that requires prompt action,' entitling such grievances to expedited processing outside normal timelines.
  - SOP 507.04.03 establishes a parallel health-care concern track that 'complements' (but does not replace) the formal grievance procedure under SOP 227.02, with investigation required within seven working days and a written reply within fourteen working days.
  - SOP 227.02 absolutely prohibits retaliation against offenders for filing grievances, and SOP 222.01 independently prohibits inter-institutional transfers initiated 'due to the filing of writs and/or grievances,' identifying transfer as a specific retaliation vector that is barred by policy.
  - Offenders may file grievances via JPay Kiosk or GOAL Device as confirmed by both SOP 227.02 and SOP 204.10, but SOP 204.10 states that loss of GOAL Device/Kiosk access is 'non-grievable,' creating a practical access gap for offenders whose device privileges are revoked.
  - SOP 220.04 requires every offender orientation to cover 'Classification, Disciplinary, and Grievance Procedures,' and SOP 215.11 requires every Transitional Center resident handbook to include grievance procedures—establishing a triply-sourced notice obligation alongside SOP 227.02 itself.
  - SOP 227.02 carries a 'Level II: Required Offender Access' designation, meaning facilities are affirmatively required to make the full text of the grievance policy available to the offender population.
  - SOP 227.02's 'Good Cause' definition—allowing late filing when unusual circumstances such as serious illness or court production order prevented timely submission—is the operative standard for excusing missed grievance deadlines, with direct implications for PLRA exhaustion disputes.
  - SOP 208.06 (PREA) and SOP 103.63 (ADA) both cross-reference SOP 227.02 as the applicable grievance mechanism, meaning sexual abuse complaints and disability-related complaints flow through the same statewide procedure with their respective additional protections layered on top.
  - SOP 507.01.07 requires that 'offender grievances and concerns' be a standing agenda item at quarterly Medical Management Committee meetings, creating a systemic institutional review of health-related grievance patterns above the individual complaint level.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 227.02 does not specify exact calendar-day or business-day deadlines for the Commissioner's-level appeal response in the excerpted text, leaving the upper-level timeline less precisely defined than the health-care concern timelines in SOP 507.04.03.
  - SOP 204.10 states that loss of GOAL Device/Kiosk access is 'non-grievable,' but neither SOP 204.10 nor SOP 227.02 specifies what alternative filing mechanism must be provided to an offender whose electronic filing access has been revoked, creating a potential gap in grievance access.
  - SOP 227.02 prohibits retaliation against grievance filers, but neither SOP 227.02 nor any other SOP in this corpus specifies what disciplinary consequences staff face for engaging in retaliation, leaving enforcement of the prohibition undefined in written policy.
  - SOP 507.04.03 establishes a health-care concern process that 'complements' SOP 227.02 but does not clearly specify whether an offender who uses only the health-care concern process (and not the formal grievance) has exhausted administrative remedies for PLRA purposes, creating ambiguity relevant to federal litigation.
  - SOP 209.06 (Administrative Segregation) cross-references SOP 227.02 to indicate grievance access is preserved in segregation, but neither SOP addresses how offenders in segregation access kiosks or submit physical grievance forms when they may have limited or no movement, leaving a procedural gap for the most restrictive housing population.
  - Board Rule 125-2-4-.23 requires the Warden/Superintendent to provide a 'reasonable opportunity to present in writing or discuss' allegations, but neither the Board Rule nor SOP 227.02 defines how 'discuss' is implemented in practice or whether any oral hearing right exists at any level, leaving this element of the rule without operational detail.
RELATED_TOPICS: offender-discipline, administrative-segregation, health-care-complaints, prea-sexual-abuse-reporting, ada-accommodations-for-offenders, access-to-courts, inter-institutional-transfer, offender-orientation, goal-device-jpay-kiosk-use

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Policy Basis

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) is required by Board Rule 125-2-4-.23 to provide offenders "a reasonable opportunity to present in writing or discuss [their] allegations until a resolution of the alleged problem, consistent with the developed facts, has been achieved." That Board Rule provides the constitutional and statutory foundation for the detailed procedures contained in SOP 227.02, the *Statewide Grievance Procedure* (effective 5/10/2019).

SOP 227.02 states the department's policy plainly: "It is the policy of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) to maintain a grievance procedure available to all Offenders, which provides an open and meaningful forum for their complaints, the resolution of these complaints including an appeals process, and is subject to clear guidelines." The policy also covers "the resolution of Offender grievances relating to health care concerns."

Every offender entering GDC must receive an oral explanation of the grievance procedure and a written copy of the orientation materials covering it. This orientation obligation is independently reinforced by SOP 220.04 (*Offender Orientation*), which requires that all orientation sessions include "Classification, Disciplinary, and Grievance Procedures" as mandatory content, and by SOP 215.11 (*Resident Rules and Regulations*) for Transitional Centers, which mandates that each resident handbook include grievance procedures. The same obligation appears in SOP 209.01 (*Offender Discipline*), which specifies that offenders receive formal orientation to disciplinary and grievance procedures. This triply-sourced notice obligation signals GDC's recognition of its legal importance.

---

## Key Definitions Under SOP 227.02

Several definitions shape how the procedure operates in practice:

- **Active Grievance**: A grievance currently being worked at the local facility level that has not been resolved or appealed to the Commissioner's level.
- **Business Day**: Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
- **Calendar Day**: A 24-hour period from midnight to midnight, Monday through Sunday.
- **Emergency Grievance**: "An unforeseen combination of circumstances, urgent need, or the resulting state that calls for immediate action or relief through the grievance process. (E.g. a situation involving a significant threat to the health, safety or welfare of an Offender that requires prompt action.)"
- **Good Cause**: "A legitimate reason involving unusual circumstances that prevented the Offender from timely filing a grievance, appeal, or Attachment 10, Active Grievances Process Form. Examples include: serious illness, being housed away from a facility covered by this procedure (such as being out on a court production order or for medical treatment)."
- **Grievance Coordinator**: The individual assigned by the warden or superintendent to manage the grievance process at the local facility and serve as the primary point-of-contact.
- **Alternate Grievance Coordinator**: The individual assigned to back up and assist the Grievance Coordinator.

---

## Filing a Grievance: Methods and Access

Under SOP 227.02, offenders may file grievances through the JPay Kiosk or GOAL Device. SOP 204.10 (*Offender Use of the GOAL Device and J-Pay Kiosk*) independently confirms this: the GOAL Device is specifically defined as an electronic device "used by offenders for educational purposes, sending and receiving electronic messages, ordering store items, **filing grievances**, and purchasing entertainment." The Kiosk is described identically. This dual citation in both SOPs 227.02 and 204.10 establishes filing via electronic devices as a firmly established policy mechanism.

Notably, SOP 204.10 also states: "Loss of this privilege [use of the GOAL Device/Kiosk] is **non-grievable**." This creates a practical tension: an offender whose GOAL Device access is revoked loses one of the primary filing mechanisms for grievances, while simultaneously being barred from grieving that loss.

---

## Levels of Review

SOP 227.02 establishes a multi-level grievance process:

**1. Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR):** Before filing a formal grievance, offenders are generally expected to attempt informal resolution. The Grievance Coordinator oversees this process at the facility level.

**2. Formal Grievance – Facility Level:** Offenders submit a formal written grievance to the Grievance Coordinator. The Grievance Coordinator investigates and responds. "Business days" govern response timelines at this level.

**3. Appeal to the Commissioner's Level:** If the offender is unsatisfied with the facility-level response, an appeal may be submitted to the Commissioner's level. SOP 227.02 governs this appeal process with written timelines and procedures.

**Emergency Grievances** receive expedited handling. Because they involve "a significant threat to the health, safety or welfare of an Offender that requires prompt action," normal timelines are compressed.

---

## Timelines

SOP 227.02 governs the timelines applicable to formal grievances, using both "business days" and "calendar days" as defined in that policy. Business days (Monday–Friday, excluding state holidays) apply to facility-level processing steps. The "good cause" exception allows extension of filing or response deadlines when unusual circumstances—such as serious illness or absence from the facility on a court production order—prevented timely action.

SOP 507.04.03 (*Offender Health Concerns and Complaints*) establishes a parallel, complementary set of timelines for health care concerns specifically:
- Investigation of the offender's complaint or health care concern: **no later than seven (7) working days** from receipt.
- Written reply to the offender: **within fourteen (14) working days**.
- Retention of copy on file: **four (4) years** from the date of the reply.

SOP 507.04.03 is explicit that this health-care concern process "complements the formal statewide grievance procedure" under SOP 227.02 and does not replace it. SOP 507.01.07 (*Administrative Meetings and Reports*) further requires that "offender grievances and concerns" be a standing agenda item at quarterly Medical Management Committee meetings, creating an institutional review layer above the individual complaint process.

---

## Health Care Grievances and the Dual-Track System

Offenders with health care concerns have two overlapping mechanisms available:

1. **Health Care Concern Process (SOP 507.04.03):** Offenders use a Health Services Request Form (PI-2064), another approved form, or a handwritten note/letter addressed to the Responsible Health Authority or designee. Completed documents are placed in the "Sick Call box." If a secured Sick Call box is not immediately available, "the offender should place the health care concern documents in an envelope, seal it and give it to a correctional officer to place in the Sick Call box."

2. **Formal Grievance (SOP 227.02):** The full statewide grievance procedure is also available for health care concerns.

SOP 507.04.03 expressly states: "There is a system for resolving offender grievances relating to healthcare concerns. Refer to SOP 227.02, Statewide Grievance Procedure." SOP 507.04.05 (*Charges to Offender Accounts for Health Care Provided*) also cross-references SOP 227.02 as the avenue for grievances related to medical billing.

---

## Retaliation Prohibitions

SOP 227.02 expressly prohibits retaliation against offenders for filing grievances. This is stated as an absolute prohibition in the policy's introductory framework.

SOP 222.01 (*Inter-Institutional Transfer*) independently reinforces this by stating: "No offender shall be transferred due to the filing of writs and/or grievances." This is a concrete operational prohibition: facility administrators cannot use the transfer mechanism as a tool to retaliate against grievance filers, and the explicit mention of grievances (alongside writs) signals GDC's awareness that transfer is a potential retaliation vector.

---

## Special Accommodations and ADA

SOP 227.02 provides that the department will assist offenders who need special accommodations in filing grievances. SOP 103.63 (*Americans with Disabilities Act, Title II Provisions*) is cross-referenced in SOP 227.02 as authority, and SOP 103.63 in turn cross-references SOP 227.02—meaning both policies mutually reinforce the obligation to ensure grievance access for offenders with disabilities. SOP 215.11 also requires that if a resident "is illiterate or has a language problem," assistance shall be provided per SOP 103.63.

---

## PREA-Related Grievances

SOP 208.06 (*Prison Rape Elimination Act – PREA*) cross-references SOP 227.02 as the applicable grievance procedure for sexual abuse and sexual harassment complaints. The PREA policy defines "Sexual Abuse" and "Sexual Harassment" as those terms are used in SOP 227.02's grievance definitions. This linkage means that PREA-related complaints are processed through the same statewide grievance mechanism, with PREA-specific retaliation protections also applying.

---

## Administrative Segregation and Grievance Access

SOP 209.06 (*Administrative Segregation*) cross-references SOP 227.02 as an applicable procedure, indicating that offenders in administrative segregation retain access to the grievance process. Offenders in segregation are not categorically excluded from filing grievances, though logistical access (e.g., to kiosks) may be affected.

---

## Exhaustion Requirements and Federal Litigation Context

While SOP 227.02 establishes the internal procedure, the significance of exhaustion extends beyond internal administration: federal law (the Prison Litigation Reform Act) requires prisoners to exhaust available administrative remedies before filing suit in federal court. SOP 227.02's multi-level process—informal resolution, formal facility-level grievance, and Commissioner's-level appeal—constitutes the administrative remedy that must typically be exhausted. The "good cause" exception in the definition section of SOP 227.02 is relevant here: if timely filing was prevented by "serious illness, being housed away from a facility covered by this procedure (such as being out on a court production order or for medical treatment)," those circumstances may extend filing windows.

---

## Notice and Distribution of the Policy

SOP 227.02 carries an "Access Listing: Level II: Required Offender Access," meaning facilities are required to make the policy available to offenders. SOP 204.10 similarly carries Level II access. SOP 220.04 requires grievance procedures to be covered in every formal orientation session, and SOP 215.11 requires Transitional Center handbooks to include them. This layered notice obligation—oral explanation, written handbook, required policy access—is among the most reinforced procedural requirements in GDC's SOP corpus.

--- TOPIC 8 of 24 ---

TITLE: Mail and Correspondence: Incoming, Outgoing, Legal Mail, Contraband, and Rejected Mail
SLUG: mail-and-correspondence
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/mail-and-correspondence/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:27:57
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy governs all aspects of offender mail through a layered framework of Board of Corrections rules and facility-level SOPs. Non-privileged mail is subject to inspection and random reading, while privileged mail (to attorneys, courts, elected officials, and the press) receives heightened protections and may only be opened for contraband inspection in the offender's presence. Policy defines specific abuse categories, rejection procedures, and disciplinary consequences, and prohibits inmates from participating in mail processing.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 125-3-3-.01 authorizes staff to randomly read all incoming and outgoing non-privileged mail for security purposes, and SOP 125-3-3-.02 permits opening outgoing non-privileged mail suspected of containing contraband or security threats.
  - Privileged mail — covering correspondence with attorneys, courts, elected officials at state and federal levels, the press, and governmental agencies — may only be opened for contraband inspection in the presence of the offender, per SOP 125-3-3-.03, and cannot be restricted as a disciplinary measure.
  - SOP 125-3-3-.10 categorically prohibits inmates from being used to process the mail, with no listed exceptions.
  - When rejected mail or undeliverable correspondence is withheld, SOP 125-3-3-.09 requires the facility to immediately notify the inmate in writing, identifying the correspondent, the date received, and the specific reason for rejection.
  - SOP 125-3-3-.09 requires that when unauthorized items are found inside a letter or package, the item is removed and the letter or package itself is still forwarded to the inmate, with a record made of the item's identity and disposition — unless the item is evidence of a prosecutable offense.
  - Packages containing unauthorized items must be returned to the sender under SOP 125-3-3-.06, unless those items constitute evidence of a prosecutable offense, in which case the institution retains them.
  - Inmates may only receive funds through the mail in the form of U.S. Postal Money Orders, Cashier's Checks, or licensed Money Orders under SOP 125-3-3-.05; personal checks, business checks, and cash are prohibited.
  - SOP 205.02 prohibits GDC employees from engaging in non-job-related correspondence with offenders, probationers, or parolees — or their relatives — without written approval from the Director of Field Operations and the Assistant Commissioner of Facilities.
  - SOP 125-3-3-.08 bars disciplinary action for obscene language in mail unless the behavior was first brought to the inmate's attention and then repeated, and bars discipline for derogatory attacks on privileged mail recipients unless the recipient files a documented complaint.
  - SOP 215.15 independently confirms for Transitional Center residents that legal and privileged mail cannot be restricted, citing both Board Rule 125-3-3-.03 and SOP 227.06 as dual authority.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 125-3-3-.03 (Board Rule) lists 'Deputy Commissioners' and 'the Executive Assistant' as privileged mail recipients, while SOP 227.06 (the operational SOP) lists 'Assistant Commissioners' and 'Division Directors' instead — the two lists do not perfectly align, creating potential ambiguity about exactly which GDC officials' mail receives privileged status.
  - Neither SOP 227.06 nor the Board Rules specify a time limit within which mail must be delivered to offenders after receipt by the facility; policy requires only that privileged mail inspection 'must not be permitted to create undue delays,' but no specific deadline is set for either privileged or non-privileged mail.
  - SOP 125-3-3-.09 requires immediate written notification to the inmate when mail is rejected, but does not specify a deadline for that notification, leaving the meaning of 'immediately' unenforceable in practice.
  - SOP 125-3-3-.06 requires unauthorized package contents to be returned to the sender, but is silent on who bears postage costs for the return or the timeframe within which the return must occur.
  - The corpus is silent on what constitutes adequate authentication of 'press' mail to qualify for privileged status beyond the commercial printing requirement in SOP 125-3-3-.03 — the policy does not address freelance journalists, bloggers, or online-only news outlets, leaving their correspondence in an ambiguous category.
  - SOP 125-3-3-.07(e) designates as an abuse the receipt of mail 'not in the prescribed manner established by the Warden at each individual institution,' granting each Warden discretion to set their own mail procedures — but the corpus does not specify what limits, if any, exist on that discretion, creating potential for inconsistent practices across facilities.
  - The corpus does not address photocopying of mail contents by staff, though SOP 227.06's title implies this may be covered by the full text of that SOP, portions of which were not included in the provided excerpt.
RELATED_TOPICS: access-to-courts, offender-personal-property, visitation-of-offenders, offender-financial-transactions, contraband-interdiction, disciplinary-procedures, transitional-center-operations, offender-use-of-goal-device-and-jpay-kiosk

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Legal Authority

Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) mail policy is grounded in the Rules of the Board of Corrections and implemented through SOP 227.06 (Offender Receipt of Mail), the primary operational policy. That SOP states that "the Warden or Superintendent of each facility housing offenders under the Department's jurisdiction shall make provisions for receiving and dispatching offender mail." The Board of Corrections rules — particularly SOP 125-3-3-.01 through SOP 125-3-3-.10 — establish the baseline standards that all facility-level procedures must meet. SOP 227.06 is designated Level II: Required Offender Access, meaning facilities must make it available to incarcerated people.

---

## Types of Mail Defined

SOP 227.06 identifies three categories of offender correspondence:

- **Privileged Mail** — Correspondence between an offender and a defined list of high-level contacts including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Members of the Georgia General Assembly, the President and Vice President of the United States, Members of the U.S. Congress, Members of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Members of the State Board of Corrections, the GDC Commissioner, GDC Assistant Commissioners, GDC Division Directors, the Commissioner of Community Supervision, the Statewide PREA Coordinator, the GDC Ombudsman's Office, the courts, all other governmental agencies, the press, and the offender's attorney.

- **General (Non-Privileged) Mail** — All correspondence not falling within the privileged category.

- **Media Mail** — Defined in SOP 227.06 as "messages sent electronically over an authorized network through a Kiosk" (i.e., the J-Pay/GOAL device system).

SOP 125-3-3-.03 lists the same privileged recipients with minor variations in terminology (e.g., "Deputy Commissioners" rather than "Assistant Commissioners"), providing redundant citation authority for advocates.

**Attorney mail** receives a specific definition in SOP 227.06: "any attorney with whom the offender has had, or is attempting to establish, an attorney client relationship, and who is licensed to practice in State or United States courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals, or the U.S. Supreme Court." SOP 125-3-3-.03 mirrors this language, stating that the attorney category "shall include any attorney, licensed to practice in State or United States Courts, Courts of Appeals, or the Supreme Court, with whom the inmate has had or is attempting to establish an attorney-client relationship."

**Press mail** under SOP 125-3-3-.03 carries a specific requirement: "Privileged press mail must reflect the return address including the name of the newspaper, news magazine, news service, radio station or television station commercially printed on the envelope. The mailing address of out-going press mail must reflect the name of the newspaper, news magazine, news service, radio station or television station."

---

## Inspection of Non-Privileged Mail

SOP 125-3-3-.01 establishes the broadest inspection authority: "All incoming and outgoing non-privileged mail is subject to inspection and random reading by correctional staff, in order to reveal escape plots, plans to commit illegal acts, plans to violate institution rules, or other security concerns." The Superintendent retains authority to reject correspondence "if it is determined detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution, the protection of the public, or if it might facilitate criminal activity."

SOP 125-3-3-.02 (Inspection of Mail) adds specific address requirements: "All incoming/outgoing mail must have a complete name and address of the sender and receiver on the envelope. A complete address for outgoing/incoming inmate mail shall include the inmate's full name, state I.D. number, unabbreviated institutional name, post office box, city/state, and zip code. A return address must be present on incoming mail so that undeliverable mail may be returned to the sender."

That same rule specifies that "outgoing non-privileged mail discovered to contain or reasonably suspected of containing contraband or information presenting a direct threat to institutional security may be opened and inspected."

SOP 125-3-3-.01 further provides that "all mail between inmates or residents shall be inspected for contraband or dangerous information."

---

## Privileged Mail: Heightened Protections

SOP 125-3-3-.03 sets the standard for privileged mail inspection: such mail "may be externally inspected by fluoroscope, metal detecting device, or manual manipulation for the purpose of detecting contraband. Such inspection must not be permitted to create undue delays." Critically, the rule requires that "all privileged mail shall be opened and inspected for contraband by an appropriately designated staff member **in the presence of the respective inmate**." Staff may not read the contents during this inspection — the purpose is limited to contraband detection.

SOP 125-3-3-.03 states explicitly: "Privileged mail shall not be subject to restriction as a disciplinary measure."

SOP 215.15 (Resident Legal Access, applicable to Transitional Centers) independently restates this protection: "Legal and privileged mail cannot be restricted," citing both Board Rule 125-3-3-.03 and SOP 227.06 as authority.

---

## Contraband in the Mail

SOP 125-3-3-.02 defines contraband for mail purposes as "an item not issued to an inmate or available or authorized for purchase through the mail or the institutional store or specifically authorized by the Warden/Superintendent."

SOP 227.06 defines contraband more broadly as "items that are not explicitly authorized for possession; were acquired through unauthorized means; exceed personal property limitations on value or amount; cannot be maintained in a neat and safe manner; or which present a fire, sanitation, security, or housekeeping problem." This definition is also used in SOP 206.01 (Offender Personal Property Standards) and SOP 213.17 (Management of Detainee Property and Contraband).

When unauthorized items are found inside a letter or package, SOP 125-3-3-.09 requires that they "be removed and processed in accordance with standard operating procedures promulgated by the Commissioner. The letter or package shall be forwarded to the inmate and a record made of the identity and disposition of the items removed." The letter itself is not withheld simply because it contained contraband items.

For packages specifically, SOP 125-3-3-.06 states: "Unauthorized items contained in a package to an inmate, except items constituting evidence of a prosecutable offense, shall be returned to the sender by the institution and a record thereof maintained." The exception is items that constitute criminal evidence — those are retained.

---

## Packages

SOP 125-3-3-.06 requires that all incoming packages "be inspected for contraband." Warden/Superintendent approval may allow otherwise prohibited items. Thirty days before Christmas, each Warden/Superintendent must "publish instructions concerning the receipt of Christmas packages." Outgoing packages may be sent by inmates but "will be inspected for unauthorized items prior to dispatch. Postage and wrapping materials must be provided by the sender-inmate."

At Transitional Centers, SOP 215.12 (IID04-0007) requires that "all packages will be opened and inspected by a staff member designated by the Center Superintendent," and the resident must show proper ID and sign a package receipt log documenting the date and resident name.

---

## Funds Received Through the Mail

SOP 125-3-3-.05 restricts the forms in which inmates may receive money through mail: "An inmate may receive funds only in the form of United States Postal Money Orders, Cashier's Checks, or Money Orders issued by companies licensed to sell Money Orders in the State of Georgia." Personal checks, business checks, and cash are explicitly prohibited. Exceptions require Warden/Superintendent approval and may include attorney fees, institutionally authorized retail purchases, or charitable contributions. SOP 406.19 (Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities) further governs deposit mechanisms including approved third-party vendor platforms.

---

## Mail Abuses and Disciplinary Action

SOP 125-3-3-.07 enumerates five categories of mail privilege abuse:

- **(a)** Writing letters containing obscene, profane, or indecent language;
- **(b)** Writings containing threats or escape plots;
- **(c)** Writings that present "a clear threat or danger to institutional security and/or discipline" or that violate postal regulations;
- **(d)** Writings containing "derogatory or personal attacks" on privileged mail recipients, or receipt of mail that is inauthentic despite appearing to be authentic;
- **(e)** Receipt of mail or attempts to mail items "not in the prescribed manner established by the Warden at each individual institution."

SOP 125-3-3-.08 governs discipline for these abuses. Abuse of category (a) — obscene language — cannot result in discipline unless "the unauthorized language has been brought once to the attention of the inmate and he repeats said abuse in subsequent correspondence." Abuse of category (d) involving derogatory attacks on privileged recipients cannot result in discipline "unless the recipient of the outgoing writing complains and documents said complaint with the objectionable writing."

When mail privileges are suspended, the institution must "permit the inmate to notify persons on his mailing list of the period of suspension." SOP 227.06 defines the mechanism for this as a "Notification Card or Letter" — a post card, index card, or letter displaying the offender's name and address. Completed notification cards for indigent inmates must be processed by the institution.

---

## Rejection of Mail and Required Notifications

SOP 125-3-3-.09 requires that when any mail is rejected or not forwarded, "the inmate shall be immediately notified of that fact in writing. The notice shall identify the correspondent, shall specify the date received at the institution and identify the reason for rejection or non-forwarding."

When a third party requests that correspondence with an inmate cease, the Warden must "notify the inmate of said person's desire and inform the inmate that further correspondence with the individual shall end." The Warden must then maintain a list of persons with whom the inmate may no longer correspond.

An inmate may apply in writing for reinstatement of correspondence privileges at any time but may not apply more than once in any sixty-day period. If reinstatement is denied, the inmate must be informed in writing of the reason.

---

## Offender-to-Offender Mail

SOP 125-3-3-.01 states flatly that "all mail between inmates or residents shall be inspected for contraband or dangerous information," providing specific authority for heightened scrutiny of inmate-to-inmate correspondence.

---

## Packages and Letters Delivered Through Visitors

SOP 125-3-4-.10 addresses the intersection of mail and visitation: an inmate may, "by prearrangement with the mail room and in advance of visits," submit items or letters to the mail room for delivery to specified visitors. However, "no packages or letters falling within the category of privileged mail may be given to any visitor for mailing, however, unless that visitor himself is the person to whom the package or letter is addressed or is that person's official representative." Following inspection, such materials are isolated securely and delivered by an institutional employee — they "shall not again come under the control of the inmate."

---

## Who Processes Mail

SOP 125-3-3-.10 (Mail Handling) is unambiguous: "Inmates shall not be utilized in processing the mail." This is a standalone Board Rule with no listed exceptions.

---

## Employee Correspondence with Offenders

SOP 205.02 (Contact or Business Dealings with Offenders) prohibits GDC employees from engaging in "non-job-related correspondence with" known offenders, active probationers, or parolees without the expressed written approval of the Director of Field Operations and the Assistant Commissioner of Facilities. This applies to relatives of offenders as well.

---

## Transitional Center Specifics

SOP 215.15 applies the standard mail rules to Transitional Center residents but adds that residents may call attorneys "as needed" and that "such calls may not be restricted as a disciplinary measure." Legal and privileged mail protections at Transitional Centers are identical to those at prisons — neither can be restricted.

SOP 215.12 (IID04-0007) permits residents to receive property, books, magazines, and personal letters through the mail within established limits: "Legal, religious, educational material, personal letters, magazines, books, newspapers, and consumable items will be allowed in limited amounts so long as the quantity of such material does not create a fire, sanitation, security, or housekeeping problem."

--- TOPIC 9 of 24 ---

TITLE: Medical Care Standards in Georgia Department of Corrections Facilities
SLUG: medical-care-standards
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/medical-care-standards/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:07:23
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes a layered system of medical care standards covering intake screening, sick call, chronic care, specialty referrals, refusal of treatment, and the clinical standards staff must meet. These obligations apply across all GDC facilities, including private and county prisons, and are governed by more than a dozen interlocking SOPs. The overarching standard — stated in both SOP 507.01.01 and SOP 507.04.07 — is that offenders will receive care "meeting contemporary standards in the community," with the GDC Statewide Medical Director holding ultimate authority over what that standard requires.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 507.01.01 and SOP 507.04.07 both declare that offenders are entitled to health care meeting 'contemporary standards in the community,' with the GDC Statewide Medical Director holding ultimate authority over what that standard requires in disputed cases.
  - SOP 507.04.21 requires that a full health assessment be completed within seven calendar days of arrival for offenders and fourteen calendar days for probationers, with a receiving health screening performed 'as soon as possible upon arrival.'
  - SOP 507.04.27 requires daily access to sick call through written Health Service Request forms, with urgent referrals evaluated the same day and emergent referrals evaluated immediately, regardless of an offender's ability to pay the $5.00 co-pay set by SOP 507.04.05.
  - SOP 507.04.33 requires that upon any placement in restrictive housing, a correctional officer must immediately notify a licensed health care provider, who must review the health record and arrange continuation of all treatments; a medical assessment must occur within 24 hours at facilities without 24-hour medical coverage.
  - SOP 507.04.86 prohibits blanket refusals of all treatment and requires clinicians to distinguish between non-serious and serious medical condition refusals, with written counseling, documented form completion, and a mental health competency referral required before a serious-condition refusal can be finalized.
  - SOP 507.04.31 explicitly prohibits the use of standing orders in any GDC facility, and nursing protocols may not authorize prescription medications except in ACLS-certified emergency situations with an order from an advanced clinical provider.
  - SOP 507.01.02 establishes that clinical decisions 'shall not be compromised for security reasons,' with unresolved conflicts escalating to the GDC Statewide Medical Director or Assistant Commissioner for Health Services for final resolution.
  - SOP 508.24 prohibits prescribing psychotropic or behavior-modifying medications for disciplinary purposes and requires informed consent in a language understood by the offender prior to initiation of any psychiatric medication.
  - SOP 507.04.36 sets age-based periodic physical examination intervals (every 3 years for age ≤40, every 2 years for ages 41–50, annually for age >50), with mandatory laboratory studies including fasting biochemical profile, CBC, and urinalysis, and additional tests for offenders over 50.
  - SOP 507.01.01 explicitly states that needed health care may not be denied for lack of funds — co-pay fees are charged to an offender's account regardless of current balance, and no care is withheld pending payment.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 507.04.27 (Sick Call) requires daily access to sick call at all facilities, but SOP 507.04.02 (Transitional Center Health Services) specifies that sick call requests at transitional centers are picked up and triaged Monday through Friday only (excluding state holidays), and a licensed health care provider conducts on-site sick call only 'at least three days per week' — a meaningful reduction in access compared to the daily standard applicable to other facilities.
  - The receiving health screening under SOP 507.04.21 may be performed by a 'medical/nursing assistant or correctional officer trained to complete the screening,' but the SOP does not specify minimum training requirements or what qualifications satisfy the 'trained' standard, leaving significant discretion to facilities.
  - SOP 507.04.86 (Right to Refuse Treatment) requires a mental health competency referral when a clinician is 'unsure' whether a refusing offender is a Competent Adult, but the SOP does not specify a timeframe within which that mental health evaluation must occur, creating a potential gap where a serious-condition refusal could proceed without timely competency review.
  - SOP 507.04.31 (Nursing Protocols) references 'Nursing Procedures by Springhouse Corp., Springhouse, PA, 1992' as the approved Nursing Procedures Manual — a publication that is now more than 30 years old. Although GDC commits to reviewing it every three years, the SOP does not require that a more current edition be adopted, potentially leaving clinical nursing guidance tied to an outdated reference.
  - SOP 507.01.09 (Executive Medical Management Committee) explicitly states that it is 'applicable to all facilities that house state offenders, excluding private and county prisons.' Because private and county prisons house a substantial portion of GDC offenders, those populations have no equivalent formal oversight committee under this SOP, and the SOP is silent on how EMMC oversight functions are replicated for those facilities.
  - SOP 507.04.86 governs refusal of physical health treatment, and SOP 508.24 governs psychotropic medication consent and refusal, but neither SOP explicitly cross-references the other in the context of a patient who refuses a psychotropic medication on grounds of incompetency — creating a potential procedural gap when mental health and physical health refusal processes intersect.
  - SOP 507.04.04 requires 17 mandatory tracking logs to be maintained for a minimum of three years, but the SOP does not specify what happens to log data after that period or whether it must be archived in any form, leaving post-three-year data availability uncertain for litigation, audits, or investigations.
RELATED_TOPICS: chronic-care-management, mental-health-services, medication-management, restrictive-housing-health-care, informed-consent-and-refusal, utilization-management-and-referrals, intake-screening-and-diagnostics, offender-grievances-and-health-complaints, medical-autonomy-and-security-conflicts

FULL_CONTENT:
## Foundational Right to Care

SOP 507.01.01 (Philosophy and Right to Treatment) declares flatly: "Adequate health care is a basic right to which every offender is entitled." It requires that all employees — including contractors — treat offenders "with professional consideration while practicing within the fullest extent of their knowledge and expertise." Clinical encounters must be conducted in private and not observed by security personnel unless the offender poses a documented security risk.

SOP 507.04.07 (Scope of Treatment Services) reinforces this standard by requiring that offenders "receive the full range of treatment services necessary to meet contemporary standards in the community." The ultimate arbiter of what that standard requires is the GDC Statewide Medical Director.

Both SOPs affirm that inability to pay a co-pay cannot be used to deny care. SOP 507.01.01 states: "Needed offender health care is not denied due to the lack of funds. Copay fees are charged to the offenders account until such a time, if ever, funds are available."

---

## Intake: Screening, Orientation, and Initial Assessment

### Receiving Screening and Orientation

SOP 507.04.07 states that "all offenders will receive an intake screening, physical assessment, mental health assessment, appropriate lab tests, indicated vaccinations, and infectious disease screening on intake." The mechanics of each element are distributed across several other SOPs.

SOP 507.04.20 (Offender Orientation for Access to Health Services) requires that on the day of arrival at a diagnostic center or permanent facility, each offender receive written orientation materials, followed by a verbal or video orientation within 72 hours. The orientation must cover: sick call; medication administration; chronic care clinics; infirmary care; urgent and emergent care; HIV, hepatitis, other STDs, and TB education; offender health care concerns procedures; co-pay requirements; and the GDC Summary of Healthcare Benefits. The offender must sign an acknowledgment; if they refuse to sign, two staff members must document the refusal. This orientation requirement is cross-referenced in SOP 507.04.27 (Sick Call) and SOP 507.04.07, giving it redundant citation authority.

SOP 507.04.20 also requires that orientation materials be developed for offenders with hearing or vision impairments and language barriers, in collaboration with the Statewide ADA Coordinator.

### Health Assessment and Diagnostics

SOP 507.04.21 (Health Assessment and Medical Diagnostics) sets the timeline: a full health assessment must be completed within **seven (7) calendar days** for offenders and **fourteen (14) calendar days** for probationers. The initial receiving health screening must occur "as soon as possible upon arrival" and may be performed by a Licensed Health Care Provider, a medical/nursing assistant, or a trained correctional officer.

Upon arrival, offenders are asked to sign a General Consent for Medical Treatment (Form P82-0001.01 English / P82-0001-02 Spanish), which covers non-invasive examinations, procedures, and treatments including physical examinations and vaccinations.

### Mental Health Evaluation at Intake

SOP 507.04.50 (Mental Health Evaluations) requires that all inter-system and intra-system transfer offenders receive an initial mental health screening at the time of admission by a Qualified Mental Health Professional. The screening must address: current suicidal ideation; history of suicidal behavior; current psychotropic medications; current mental health complaints; history of inpatient or outpatient treatment; substance use history; and direct observation of general appearance, level of consciousness, and signs of psychosis, depression, anxiety, or aggression.

### Periodic Physical Examinations

SOP 507.04.36 (Periodic Physical Examinations) establishes age-based intervals for ongoing examinations: every **three years** for offenders age 40 and under; every **two years** for ages 41–50; and **annually** for offenders over age 50. Examinations must be performed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. Required laboratory studies include a fasting biochemical profile with lipid panel, CBC with differential, and urinalysis. Offenders age 50 and above additionally require a baseline chest X-ray, EKG, fecal occult blood test, and digital rectal exam. Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) is required annually unless a prior positive is documented.

---

## Sick Call

SOP 507.04.27 (Sick Call) is the primary governing document. It requires that offenders have the opportunity to request non-emergent health services **on a daily basis** through written Health Service Request forms. Key definitions under this SOP:

- **Urgent Referral**: the Licensed Health Care Provider will conduct an evaluation **within the same day**.
- **Emergent Referral**: the Licensed Health Care Provider will conduct an **immediate** evaluation.
- **Triage**: the sorting and classification of health complaints to determine priority of need.

Access to sick call must be provided regardless of ability to pay, though co-pay charges may be assessed. SOP 507.04.05 (Charges to Offender Accounts) sets the standard co-pay at **$5.00 per visit** for self-initiated visits (not emergencies, not chronic care). Co-pays cannot be deducted when an offender's account balance is $10.00 or less. Transitional center offenders are charged $10.00, per SOP 507.04.02.

For offenders in **restrictive housing**, SOP 507.04.27 and SOP 507.04.33 (Health Evaluation of Offenders in Restrictive Housing) together require daily health care rounds by medical staff. SOP 507.04.33 specifies that upon placement in restrictive housing, the correctional officer must immediately notify a licensed health care provider, who must review the health record for medications, ongoing medical conditions, mental health history, and any contraindications to placement. A medical assessment must be completed within **24 hours** of placement at facilities without 24-hour medical coverage. SOP 507.04.33 explicitly states that offenders in restrictive housing retain "equivalent access to medical, dental, and psychiatric services as general population inmates."

---

## Chronic Care

SOP 507.04.07 identifies "Chronic Clinic Care" as a distinct required service: "Evaluation and rendering appropriate care for an offender with a chronic illness as defined by chronic care clinic protocols." Chronic illness is defined in SOP 507.04.05 as "any condition that requires periodic monitoring and treatment in order to prevent deterioration of health, minimize pain and maintain activities of daily living," encompassing hypertension, cancer, diabetes, pulmonary conditions, seizure disorders, HIV, TB infection, Hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis, renal disease, Crohn's disease, and joint disorders with objective data.

SOP 507.04.02 (Transitional Center Health Services) requires that chronic illness clinics be provided through on-site or regional catchment services, with routine physicals and chronic illness clinic visits due within three months of arrival scheduled within **30 days** of arrival at a transitional center.

---

## Specialty Referrals and Utilization Management

SOP 507.04.07 requires that "all offenders requiring subspecialty consultation will receive those services either locally or through ASMP." The requirement for subspecialty services is determined by the Utilization Management (UM) Office, or by the GDC Statewide Medical Director in disputed cases.

SOP 507.04.16 (Utilization Management) defines UM as "a prospective evaluation of the appropriateness, medical need, and efficiency of health care services." UM staff — licensed nurses called Nurse Analysts — conduct prospective, concurrent, and retrospective reviews of hospital admissions, emergency room visits, specialty consultations, and medical bed space usage. UM is available 24 hours per day; after business hours, an on-call UM Nurse Analyst provides coverage (on-call phone: 404-863-3079, per SOP 507.04.16).

SOP 507.04.14 (ASMP Medical Bed Space) establishes Augusta State Medical Prison as the system's primary acute care and specialty inpatient facility. External admissions are coordinated through the ASMP Medical Director. If the ASMP Medical Director and site Medical Director cannot agree on the appropriateness of an admission, the matter escalates to the Contract Vendor Statewide Medical Director, and ultimately to the GDC Statewide Medical Director for final disposition.

---

## Refusal of Treatment

SOP 507.04.86 (Right to Refuse Treatment) governs refusals comprehensively. Offenders **have the right** to refuse health treatment and care. Any refusal must be documented and must include: a description of the service being refused; evidence the offender was informed of adverse health consequences; the offender's signature; a health care staff witness signature; and, for medication refusals, a notation on the Medication Administration Record (MAR).

The SOP distinguishes two categories:

- **Non-serious medical conditions**: Offenders may refuse on a case-by-case basis after the clinician explains nature, benefits, and risks. Blanket refusals for all treatment are not permitted.
- **Serious medical conditions** (those for which non-treatment "may result in irreversible loss of life, limb, or function"): The clinician must counsel the offender about the consequences and document the counseling in progress notes. If the offender still refuses, a formal refusal form is completed. If the clinician questions the offender's competency as a "Competent Adult," a referral to mental health is required. If the offender refuses to sign the form, the clinician writes "patient refuses to sign" and a second witness also signs.

High-risk medication refusals (e.g., insulin, antiretrovirals, TB medications, anticoagulants, and mental health medications for Level 3/4 patients) are addressed in SOP 507.04.45 (Nonadherence with Medications), which defines nonadherence thresholds — missing one or more doses in a seven-day period for high-risk medications — and requires immediate escort to the medical section for counseling and re-offer of medication.

Psychotropic medications carry a specific prohibition against use for disciplinary purposes under SOP 508.24, which also requires informed consent in a language understood by the offender before initiation of any psychiatric medication.

---

## Clinical Standards: Who May Give Orders and How

SOP 507.04.30 (Direct Orders) requires that all treatment be performed pursuant to verbal or written orders signed by personnel authorized by law. All orders must be documented in the physician's orders section of the health record with date and time. Verbal or telephone orders must be signed by the clinician within **five days**. STAT and "Now" orders must be transcribed immediately by the receiving nurse.

SOP 507.04.32 (Transcription of Medical Orders) requires routine medication orders to be transcribed within **eight hours** (four hours at ASMP inpatient units and infirmaries). STAT orders must be transcribed immediately.

SOP 507.04.31 (Nursing Protocols) requires that all nursing protocols be written by the contract vendor, approved and signed by the GDC Statewide Medical Director, and reviewed at least annually. Nursing protocols may **not** direct the use of prescription (legend) medications except in emergency, life-threatening situations — and only nurses who are ACLS-certified and have an order from an advanced clinical provider may initiate emergency drug protocols. Standing orders are explicitly prohibited in all GDC facilities.

SOP 507.03.08 (Nurse Practitioner or Physician's Assistant Practice) defines the scope of practice for NPs and PAs, who function under collaborative practice agreements or physician-delegated job descriptions. NPs may write orders under jointly signed protocols without physician countersignature; PAs require physician delegation in a job description approved by the Georgia Board of Medical Examiners.

SOP 507.01.02 (Medical Autonomy) establishes that all clinical decisions "shall not be compromised for security reasons." If conflicts between security requirements and medical management cannot be resolved at the facility level, the matter escalates to the GDC Statewide Medical Director or Assistant Commissioner for Health Services for final resolution.

---

## Continuing Education Requirements for Health Staff

SOP 507.03.10 (Continuing Education for Qualified Health Services Personnel) requires all qualified health services personnel to complete **40 hours of annual training**, including CPR/BLS with AED, facility security training, and all licensure-required continuing education units. Each facility medical unit must maintain a medical library including, at minimum: a current medical dictionary, Physician's Desk Reference, pharmacology reference, nursing reference textbooks, and the NCCHC Standards for Health Services in Prisons.

---

## Patient Tracking Systems

SOP 507.04.04 (Patient Tracking Systems) requires each facility to maintain 17 mandatory logs covering: diagnostic intake, intra-system transfers, annual physical examinations, PPD tracking, chronic illness clinic visits, sick call encounters (separately for general population and restrictive housing), consultations, urgent/emergent encounters, infirmary stays, and health care grievances. Logs must be retained for a minimum of **three years**. Computerized systems may substitute for paper logs if they produce equivalent output.

--- TOPIC 10 of 24 ---

TITLE: Medical Records and Confidentiality in GDC Facilities
SLUG: medical-records-and-confidentiality
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/medical-records-and-confidentiality/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:14:21
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes comprehensive rules for creating, maintaining, securing, and transferring offender health records across all GDC-operated, private, and county facilities. Health records are GDC property but the health information within belongs to the patient and must be kept confidential under federal and state law, with access strictly limited to enumerated categories of authorized personnel. Separate but parallel frameworks govern physical health records, mental health records, and dental records, with specific provisions for record format, retention periods, transfer procedures, and offender access rights.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 507.02.02 establishes that while the health record is GDC property, the health information within it belongs to the patient and must be kept confidential, with direct access limited to eight enumerated categories of authorized personnel.
  - SOP 507.02.01 requires the physical health record to be organized into six specific sections in reverse chronological order, and expressly prohibits placing any disease or condition information — including TB and HIV — on the outside of the chart.
  - SOP 507.02.03 requires health records to accompany offenders during all intra-system transfers in a sealed plastic envelope transported by security officers, but prohibits the full health record from traveling with offenders to outside medical services.
  - SOP 507.02.03 sets the standard health record retention period at ten years, requires records of deceased offenders to be mailed to the Office of Health Services within 20 days of death, and mandates that all record destruction occur exclusively at the Central Records Archive Office in Atlanta.
  - SOP 508.10 and SOP 508.09 establish a parallel but distinct confidentiality framework for mental health records, requiring sign-out accountability cards and prohibiting mental health information from appearing in institutional or Central Office files except as specifically authorized.
  - SOP 507.04.76 and SOP 507.04.46 both require that medical incident reports and medication error reports be maintained in confidential files entirely separate from the offender health record and may never be referenced in the medical record.
  - SOP 101.07 states that medical records are exempt from Georgia's Open Records Act under O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(2), but requests for medical and mental health records may still be submitted to the Office of Legal Services, with costs borne by the requestor.
  - SOP 507.04.26 requires that clinical encounters be conducted in private, that custody staff present at clinical encounters keep all health information confidential, and that rectal and pelvic examinations be performed only with the verbal consent of the offender.
  - SOP 507.04.90 prohibits GDC health care personnel from collecting forensic information or evidence to be used against offenders, including drug screens, body cavity searches for contraband, and psychological evaluations for adversarial proceedings.
  - SOP 508.43 requires that tele-mental health telecommunication systems meet all HIPAA requirements, and SOP 507.04.12 requires health record confidentiality to be maintained during all telemedicine encounters.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 101.07 states that 'medical and mental health records are not kept electronically,' but SOP 507.02.03 explicitly addresses scenarios where contracted vendors use electronic health record systems and requires printing a one-year record for transfer. These provisions are in direct conflict regarding the electronic nature of GDC health records.
  - SOP 507.02.02 requires an 'accountability system' for health records removed from the record room but does not specify a sign-out card mechanism. SOP 508.10 is more specific for mental health records, requiring an individual sign-out card in each record. The physical health record SOP is silent on the precise accountability format, creating an inconsistency in the level of documentation required.
  - SOP 507.02.02 permits non-medical staff to access health information (not the full record) for classification, emergency situations, infectious disease protection, and appointment scheduling, but the SOP does not define what health information may be shared or establish any documentation requirement for such access, leaving the scope of this exception ambiguous.
  - SOP 507.02.02 provides an exception to offender access to their own records where a treating psychiatrist believes disclosure would be detrimental, but neither SOP 507.02.02 nor SOP 508.10 specifies any process for the offender to challenge that determination or seek independent review.
  - SOP 508.10 requires researcher access to be approved by 'the statewide mental health program supervisor and/or Commissioner,' while SOP 507.02.02 requires approval by 'the Health Services Director and Commissioner' for physical health records. The different approval authorities and the use of 'and/or' in SOP 508.10 create ambiguity about who must approve mental health research access.
  - SOP 507.02.03 states records are 'normally' retained for ten years but does not define what circumstances other than specific legal purposes would justify shorter retention, nor does it specify what 'specific legal purposes' warrant longer retention beyond a general statement.
  - SOP 507.04.25 requires the transferring facility to give medical staff 'at a minimum twenty-four (24) hours' notice' of a transfer 'when possible,' but provides no guidance on what constitutes adequate compliance when 24-hour notice is not possible, potentially allowing the continuity-of-care review to be bypassed in practice.
  - The SOPs do not specify any mechanism for offenders to request correction or amendment of inaccurate entries in their health records, a right recognized under HIPAA for covered entities. Whether GDC's status as a covered entity triggers this obligation is not addressed in any of the reviewed SOPs.
RELATED_TOPICS: mental-health-services-and-records, offender-access-to-health-care, continuity-of-care-and-transfers, telemedicine-and-tele-mental-health, open-records-requests, information-security, discharge-planning, incident-reporting-and-quality-improvement

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Legal Framework

Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) policy requires that a permanent health record be established and maintained for every offender in GDC custody from the moment of entry. This obligation is stated in both SOP 507.02.01 (Health Record Management, Format and Contents) and SOP 507.02.02 (Confidentiality of the Health Record and Release of Information), giving advocates and attorneys two independent citation points for the same foundational requirement.

The governing legal principle is stated plainly in SOP 507.02.02: "The health record is the property of the GDC and will be maintained in accordance with professional standards and practices governing health record administration. The health information contained in the health record belongs to the patient. It will be kept Confidential and will be released in accordance with federal and state law and GDC policy." The same ownership-and-confidentiality formula is reproduced in SOP 508.09 (Mental Health Records) and SOP 508.10 (Confidentiality of Mental Health Records) for mental health information, signaling that GDC treats physical and mental health records under parallel but distinct confidentiality regimes.

The statutory authority referenced across these SOPs includes O.C.G.A. §§ 24-12-1, 24-12-13, 24-12-21, 37-3-166, 37-4-125, 50-18-71, and 50-18-72 (SOP 507.02.02), as well as O.C.G.A. §§ 24-9-40 through 24-9-43, 50-18-72(2), 24-9-47, and 37-3-162 (SOP 508.10). Federal frameworks referenced include HIPAA Administrative Simplification (SOP 105.02) and 45 C.F.R. §§ 164.512 and 164.508 (SOP 508.09).

## Health Record Format and Organization

SOP 507.02.01 specifies that the physical health record must be organized into **six distinct sections**:

- **Section I:** Physician Orders; History/Physical Profile (Physical Profile Form, Physical Exam, Health History, Receiving Screening Form)
- **Section II:** Plastic ID Plate; Pending Consultation; Problem List; Progress Notes (in SOAPE format, written in black ink, including Intra-System Transfer Health Screening Forms and Use of Force Initial Exams)
- **Section III:** Immunization Record; Lab/X-ray reports (laboratory reports, X-ray reports, EKG reports, and other procedures such as CT scans, EMGs, and EEGs)
- Additional sections cover dental, mental health, and other clinical documentation

All documents within each section must be filed in **reverse chronological order**. Lab and diagnostic reports must be "reviewed, initialed, and dated by the responsible advanced clinical provider before filing." Loose sheets belonging to offenders who have transferred must be forwarded to the correct facility within **ten (10) days** (SOP 507.02.01).

The **mental health record** is organized into **nine sections** under SOP 508.09, including progress notes, treatment plans, mental health evaluations, and psychological testing results. Rosters and logs are maintained separately from the mental health record itself.

**Dental records** are governed by SOP 507.05.08 (Entering Dental Data in the Physical Health Record) and SOP 507.05.06 (Dental Screening, Examination, and Profiling). Dental forms are placed in the Dental Section of the health record in a prescribed bottom-up order. Initial intake entries are made in pencil; completed work is charted in ink. Progress record entries follow SOAP format (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) and must be signed and dated by the dentist for every treatment contact.

No disease or condition information — explicitly including TB and HIV — may be placed on the **outside** of a health record chart. "No disease/condition, including TB, HIV related information will be placed on the outside of the chart (This includes any stickers for color-coding or TB control flags)" (SOP 507.02.01).

## Access Controls

SOP 507.02.02 enumerates the categories of personnel who may have **direct access** to physical health records:

1. Medical, dental, and mental health care providers employed by GDC or the contract vendor who are providing health care services to the patient
2. Health consultants employed or contracted by GDC or the contract vendor
3. Members of the Office of Health Services, Central Office, and the contract vendor's designated personnel involved in quality improvement studies or investigating offender health care concerns
4. Individuals conducting research approved by the Health Services Director and Commissioner
5. The Georgia Attorney General's Office or other legal agents when an offender brings suit putting medical care at issue
6. Non-medical employees to process a medical grievance, medical reprieve, comply with a valid subpoena, or fill a medical records request
7. Internal Affairs Investigators for unusual or suspicious death, excessive use of force allegations, and sexual abuse of offenders
8. Offenders or their authorized representatives (with a limited exception where the treating psychiatrist documents that disclosure would be detrimental to the patient's physical or mental health)

SOP 507.02.02 also specifies that **non-medical staff** may access health information — but not the full health record — for four limited purposes: classification of the offender, emergency situations, protection from infectious disease, or appointment scheduling.

Health records "will not be left unattended in areas accessible to unauthorized individuals," and an accountability system must be established for all records removed from the record room (SOP 507.02.02).

**Mental health records** have their own access rules under SOP 508.10. Access is limited to mental health care providers, any member of the offender's treatment team, health care providers employed or contracted by GDC, Central Office quality improvement personnel, approved researchers, the Attorney General's Office when the offender files a relevant claim, GDC's Office of Legal Services for authorized disclosures, and the offender or designated representative. SOP 508.10 additionally requires that "a sign-out card will be placed in each mental health record" — a physical accountability mechanism not explicitly described in SOP 507.02.02 for physical health records.

SOP 508.09 further specifies that "information from the offender's mental health records will not be included in institutional or central office files" except as specifically identified in that SOP.

## Clinical Encounter Privacy

SOP 507.04.26 (Privacy of Care) establishes that "every reasonable effort is made to ensure Clinical Encounters are conducted in private and not observed by Custody Staff unless the offender poses a probable security risk or risk to the safety of the Health Care Staff." When custody staff must be present, "either auditory or visual privacy is provided." Custody staff observing clinical encounters "are instructed to keep confidential any health care information obtained." Rectal and pelvic examinations may only be performed with the verbal consent of the offender.

## Record Transfer Procedures

SOP 507.02.03 (Transfer and Retention of Health Records) governs what happens to health records when an offender moves. Key rules:

- Health records **must accompany the offender** during any intra-system transfer between GDC facilities, placed in a large clear plastic envelope labeled "Medical Record." Security officers are responsible for transporting the sealed record with the offender.
- For transfers from a contracted vendor using an electronic health record, a one-year printout of the electronic record must be prepared and filed in the medical record jacket.
- The health record **does not accompany** the offender for outside services. Instead, a consultation form with pertinent information is sent, and if indicated, copies of other pertinent information may be sent in a sealed envelope marked "Confidential."

SOP 507.04.25 (Health Screening-Offender Transfers) adds that a Licensed Health Care Provider must review each transferring offender's record and complete an Intra-System Transfer Form covering acute or chronic illnesses, current medications, therapeutic diet, pending appointments, physical and communication disabilities, mental health history, and allergies. Facilities must receive at least 24 hours' notice when possible.

SOP 507.04.52 (Patient Transport) reinforces that for urgent/emergent transport, an Intrasystem Transfer Health Screening Form — not the full health record — is to be completed, placed in a sealed envelope, and sent with the offender.

For offenders with serious mental illness, SOP 508.33 specifies that the mental health record "will be handled in a confidential manner during the transfer" and that offenders on mental health caseloads may only be transferred to facilities with an equivalent or higher level of mental health care.

## Record Retention and Destruction

SOP 507.02.03 establishes that health records are normally retained for **ten (10) years**, though they may be retained longer for specific legal purposes. Upon release for reasons other than death (parole, medical reprieve, sentence completion), the health record is transferred to the State Archive. Upon death, the facility must mail physical and mental health records to the Office of Health Services **within twenty (20) days**. All record destruction must occur at the **Central Records Archive Office in Atlanta** — records cannot be destroyed at any facility under any circumstances.

SOP 101.04 (Records Management) provides the agency-wide framework and confirms that records "designated as confidential by law or classified as containing information, the release of which, would constitute any invasion of privacy shall be so protected as to prevent unauthorized disclosure." Permanent records are transferred to the State Archives; temporary records are retained for the legally specified period.

## Incident Reports and Confidentiality

SOP 507.04.76 (Incident Reporting) and SOP 507.04.46 (Medication Errors) both establish that incident reports and medication error reports are **confidential files** that must never be placed in the offender's health record. SOP 507.04.76 states: "The Incident will NEVER be placed or referenced in the medical record. No copies of any Incident report will be made." Incident reports are "an educational tool, not a punishment device." A factual clinical account of the event must still be recorded in the medical record, but the statement "Incident Report Filed" must not appear there.

## Open Records Requests and Medical Records Exemption

SOP 101.07 (Open Records Request) states that pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(2), "medical records are not subject to the Open Records Act." However, requests for medical and/or mental health records may still be submitted to the Office of Legal Services. The requesting party is responsible for copying, mailing, search, retrieval, and administrative costs. The SOP notes that "medical and mental health records are not kept electronically" — a statement that may be inconsistent with provisions in other SOPs describing electronic health record systems at contracted vendors.

## Confidentiality During Telemedicine and Tele-Mental Health

SOP 507.04.12 (Telemedicine) and SOP 508.43 (Tele-Mental Health Services) both require that health record confidentiality be maintained during remote care delivery. SOP 508.43 specifies that the telecommunication system used for tele-mental health "will meet all Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements." A "Shadow File" — a secure electronic or paper file containing key elements of the offender's medical record — may be used as a reference during tele-mental health sessions.

## Forensic Information Restrictions

SOP 507.04.90 (Forensic Information) prohibits health care personnel from participating in the collection of forensic information or evidence "to be used against offenders," including body cavity searches, drug screens, psychological evaluations for adversarial proceedings, and DNA collection (with narrow exceptions for the state DNA database and court-ordered paternity testing). This policy reinforces the separation of the health record from custody and disciplinary processes.

## Research Access

SOP 507.02.02 permits individuals conducting approved research to access health records only if the research is "approved by the Health Services Director and Commissioner." SOP 508.10 requires approval by "the statewide mental health program supervisor and/or Commissioner." SOP 104.75 (Research Guidelines) sets out the broader research framework, requiring that all individuals conducting research agree in writing to "the confidentiality of the information thus obtained." Experimental medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic testing on offenders is expressly prohibited under SOP 104.75.

## HIV and Sensitive Condition Confidentiality

SOP 215.02 (Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers) states that GDC maintains "the confidentiality of offender medical record information," releases such information "to parties outside the agency according to established medical practices and legal requirements," and releases it internally only "as necessary for them to perform their official duties." Transitional Center staff "will not require an HIV-infected offender to disclose his/her medical condition to an employer or prospective employer" except where employment poses a real and immediate potential for injury.

## Information Security Framework

SOP 105.02 (Information Security) provides the overarching technology security framework. All sensitive or confidential data "whether contained in paper, physical, or media format will be protected throughout collection, storage, retrieval, access, use, and transmission processes." The policy references HIPAA, CJIS, and NIST 800-53 compliance obligations. Violations may result in disciplinary action up to termination and referral for criminal prosecution.

## Vendor Communications and PHI

SOP 507.03.16 (Health Services Vendor Communications) defines Protected Health Information (PHI) as "the personal health records of offenders related to medical care, mental health care and dental care while in the custody of the GDC." All vendor communications involving PHI must maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA requirements. Clinical matters must be routed through the Statewide Medical Director and the Assistant Commissioner for Health Services.

--- TOPIC 11 of 24 ---

TITLE: Medication Management in GDC Facilities
SLUG: medication-management
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/medication-management/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:12:38
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy governs medication management through a comprehensive framework spanning formulary development, prescribing authority, administration methods, error reporting, nonadherence protocols, and offender rights. Multiple overlapping SOPs—covering physical health, mental health, and transitional center operations—establish requirements applicable to all GDC facilities including private and county prisons. Key mechanisms include Directly Observed Therapy (DOT), Self-Administration of Medication (SAM), the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, and tiered nonadherence thresholds that vary by medication risk level.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 507.04.45 establishes a one-dose-missed threshold for nonadherence with high-risk medications such as insulin, antiretrovirals, Hepatitis C drugs, anticoagulants, and TB medications, triggering immediate escort to medical and clinician referral.
  - SOP 507.04.30 prohibits standing orders in all GDC facilities and requires all treatment orders to be issued by physicians, NPs, or PAs with date and time documentation; verbal and telephone orders must be signed by the clinician within five days.
  - SOP 507.04.46 defines ten categories of medication error and requires that any Serious Adverse Event resulting from a medication error be reported to the Statewide Medical Director, facility Warden, and General Counsel within twenty-four hours.
  - SOP 508.24 expressly prohibits prescribing psychotropic or behavior-modifying medications for disciplinary purposes and requires informed consent documented in a language the offender understands before any psychotropic medication is initiated.
  - SOP 508.26 establishes a formal Involuntary Medication Due Process Hearing process requiring a three-member committee—including a deputy warden, a mental health professional, and a medical staff member—before psychotropic medication may be administered over an offender's objection outside of a psychiatric emergency.
  - SOP 507.04.31 prohibits nursing protocols from containing directions for Legend (prescription) medications except in emergency, life-threatening situations, and requires ACLS certification for nurses initiating emergency drug protocols.
  - SOP 507.04.45 requires that offenders on the Self-Administration of Medication (SAM) program bring their medications to chronic illness clinic visits for compliance checks by the nurse and provider.
  - SOP 507.04.51 bars offenders classified as Mental Health Level III or above from purchasing OTC medications from the commissary, while guaranteeing indigent offenders access to clinically indicated OTC medications without regard to ability to pay.
  - SOP 507.04.25 requires that current medications be transferred with the offender's medical records to the receiving facility during any intra-system transfer, with the older SOP 215.16 separately mandating at least a 30-day supply for transitional center transfers.
  - SOP 507.03.13 requires that at facilities with health care staff on-site seven days a week for at least two shifts, qualified health care professionals—not correctional officers—must administer medications during those shifts.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 507.04.45 sets nonadherence thresholds but does not specify what happens if an offender is repeatedly nonadherent after multiple counseling sessions; the excerpt provided does not include the full escalation ladder, leaving the maximum intervention unclear from the text available.
  - SOP 507.04.30 states that verbal/telephone orders must be signed by the clinician within five days, but SOP 507.04.32 sets transcription deadlines (eight hours for routine, immediate for STAT) without specifying what happens when transcription occurs before the physician countersigns—creating a potential gap in the authentication timeline.
  - SOP 507.04.46 (Medication Errors) and SOP 507.04.76 (Incident Reporting) both address medication incident reporting but establish parallel, slightly different documentation systems; SOP 507.04.46 states error reports are placed in a confidential file and are 'not part of the offender's health record,' while SOP 507.04.76 requires a 'brief and accurate statement' in the progress notes—the interaction between these two requirements is not fully harmonized.
  - SOP 507.04.45 applies to 'all facilities that house GDC offenders including private and county prisons,' but SOP 508.24 (psychotropic medication management) applies only to 'GDC facilities with a mental health mission,' leaving it ambiguous whether private or county prisons without a mental health mission are bound by the psychotropic medication management standards.
  - SOP 215.16 (an older policy last revised 2009) requires a 30-day medication supply for transitional center transfers, and SOP 508.35 independently requires at least a 30-day supply for releasing mental health offenders—but neither SOP specifies what happens when a 30-day supply cannot be obtained before transfer, nor do they cross-reference each other.
  - SOP 507.04.51 restricts Mental Health Level III or above offenders from purchasing OTC medications from the commissary, but does not specify how these offenders access OTC medications they may need for conditions unrelated to their mental health classification, beyond the general sick call process.
  - SOP 507.03.13 requires qualified health care staff to administer medications when on-site seven days a week for two shifts, but does not address the standard that applies at facilities where health care staff are present fewer than two shifts per day—leaving the standard for correctional officer medication administration at lower-staffed facilities undefined.
RELATED_TOPICS: mental-health-treatment, offender-rights-and-grievances, health-services-continuity-of-care, restrictive-housing-health-services, discharge-planning, chronic-care-management, health-records-management, involuntary-treatment, pharmacy-services

FULL_CONTENT:
## Formulary and Pharmacy Governance

The foundation of GDC's medication management system is the Statewide Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee, established under **SOP 507.04.78**. The Committee "will advise the Statewide Medical Director on the status of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Program" and is responsible for identifying and recommending medications to be added or removed from the GDC formulary—including over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. The formulary is defined as "a written list of the medications authorized for use in GDC." Health-related commissary items, including OTC medications available for offender purchase, are reviewed and approved annually by this same Committee under **SOP 507.04.51**.

At the executive level, **SOP 507.01.09** places the Executive Medical Management Committee (EMMC) in an oversight role that includes "oversight of the Pharmacy and Therapeutics and the Continuous Quality Improvement Committee activities." The EMMC meets monthly and includes pharmacist representation from contracted vendors.

## Prescribing and Ordering Authority

All treatment orders must come from personnel authorized by law. **SOP 507.04.30** (Direct Orders) states: "All treatment orders generated by an advanced clinical provider will be documented in the physician's orders section of the health record. The order will include the date and time the order was written." An exception exists for non-prescription OTC medications given to an offender at the time of a clinical encounter, which are documented in progress notes rather than the physician's orders section.

Under **SOP 507.04.30**, a physician's assistant may order prescription medications only if the supervising physician has delegated that authority in an approved job description. A nurse practitioner may write orders pursuant to a written protocol jointly signed by the NP and physician—those orders do not require physician countersignature, but the pharmacist must receive copies of all advanced clinical provider protocols for verification of physician approval. Verbal or telephone orders must be signed by the clinician within five days.

**SOP 507.03.08** (Nurse Practitioner or Physician's Assistant Practice) elaborates on prescribing limits, defining that NPs and PAs may "Order" drugs under physician delegation, but that ordering "shall not be construed to be prescribing, which act can only be performed by the physician, nor shall Ordering of a Drug be construed to authorize the issuance of a written prescription."

Nursing protocols, governed by **SOP 507.04.31**, explicitly state that "Nursing Protocols will not contain any directions regarding utilization of Legend (prescription) Medications except for those covering emergency, life-threatening situations," and that nurses initiating emergency drug protocols must be ACLS certified and have an order from an advanced clinical provider. Standing orders are prohibited in all GDC facilities.

## Order Transcription

**SOP 507.04.32** requires that all medication orders be transcribed by a registered or licensed practical nurse. Routine medication orders must be transcribed within eight hours; STAT and "Now" orders must be transcribed immediately. Inpatient areas at Augusta State Medical Prison (ASMP) and infirmaries must transcribe routine orders within four hours. Each transcribed order must be signed, dated, and timed. STAT and "Now" orders require corresponding documentation in both the progress notes and the Medication Administration Record (MAR).

## Administration Methods: DOT and SAM

GDC uses two primary administration models. **Directly Observed Therapy (DOT)** is defined under **SOP 507.04.45** as "a method of drug administration in which a healthcare professional/officer watches as an offender takes each dose of a medication." The **Self-Administration of Medication (SAM)** program "permits responsible offenders to carry and administer their own medications."

**SOP 507.04.07** (Scope of Treatment Services) states broadly that "all offenders will receive appropriate medication therapy and therapeutic diets as ordered by the provider," establishing medication access as a baseline right across the entire custody continuum.

For offenders in restrictive housing, **SOP 507.04.33** requires that upon placement the licensed health care provider review the record for DOT and SAM medications and arrange for DOT medications to be delivered "at the next scheduled medication administration."

## Who May Administer Medications

**SOP 507.03.13** (Medication Administration Training) specifies that "health care or correctional staff who administer or deliver medication to offenders must be permitted by state law to do so." Health care staff include Certified Medical Assistants, CNAs, EMTs, Health Services Technicians, LPNs, pharmacy technicians, and RNs. All correctional officers receive medication administration training during Basic Correctional Officers Training (BCOT) and must complete at least annual in-service training thereafter. At facilities where health care staff are on-site seven days a week for at least two shifts, qualified health care professionals—not correctional officers—must administer medications during those shifts.

Staff administering medications are trained in security, accountability, common side effects, documentation, and "hoarding of medications, selling of drugs, overdoses, and adherence to therapeutic regimens" (SOP 507.03.13).

## Medication Nonadherence

**SOP 507.04.45** establishes tiered thresholds for what constitutes nonadherence:

- **Routine DOT medications:** Missing four (4) doses in a seven (7) day period.
- **High Risk Medications** (insulin, antiretrovirals, Hepatitis C, anticoagulants, TB medications): Nonadherent after missing **one (1) or more doses** within a seven-day period.
- **High Risk mental health medications** (mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, antidepressants) for offenders classified Mental Health Level 3 or 4: Nonadherent after missing 25% or six (6) consecutive doses of TID medications, four (4) consecutive doses of BID medications, or two (2) doses of QD medications within a seven-day period.

When high-risk medication nonadherence is identified, the designated medication nurse must provide "immediate notification to security to escort these offenders to the Medical Section for medication administration or refusal and counseling." Documentation must occur on both the MAR and the Medication Nonadherence Counseling Form, with an immediate referral to a clinician. The medication nurse must review MARs for nonadherence at least once per calendar week.

For routine medications, a counseling session must be scheduled within fifteen (15) days. Offenders on SAM must bring medications to chronic illness clinic visits for compliance checks.

Correctional staff are required to check for contraband medications during periodic shakedowns and report findings to medical staff; confiscated medications are returned to health care staff unless needed for disciplinary or legal purposes (SOP 507.04.45).

## Right to Refuse and Involuntary Administration

**SOP 507.04.86** (Right to Refuse Treatment) grants offenders the right to refuse medications, but establishes specific documentation requirements: a signed refusal form, notation on the MAR, and for serious medical conditions, clinician counseling documented in progress notes. Offenders may not sign a blanket refusal; refusal must be case-by-case. When a refusing offender will not sign the form, the clinician completes it and writes "patient refuses to sign," with two witnesses required.

For psychotropic medications specifically, **SOP 508.26** (Involuntary Medication Administration) establishes a due process framework. GDC "seek[s] voluntary participation from offenders on the mental health caseload for whom psychotropic medication has been prescribed." Involuntary administration is permitted under two conditions: (1) a psychiatric emergency in which the offender presents imminent risk of harm to self or others, or (2) following a formal Involuntary Medication Due Process Hearing. The hearing committee consists of three members—a deputy warden of care and treatment or designee, a professional mental health staff member, and a medical staff member—none of whom may have been directly involved in recent treatment of the offender. An offender advocate, who cannot be the offender's assigned counselor, is assigned to assist the offender.

## Psychotropic Medications

**SOP 508.24** (Psychotropic Medication Use Management) requires that psychotropic medications be prescribed only when medically indicated, with informed consent documented in a language understood by the offender. A psychiatrist or APRN must complete an Initial Psychiatric Evaluation and establish a DSM-consistent diagnosis before initiating psychotropic medications. Prescribing "will not be used for disciplinary purposes." All necessary screening tests must be ordered at or prior to initiation of therapy, and ongoing monitoring for clinical response and side effects is required.

Mental health facilities are required under **SOP 508.11** to track psychotropic medication non-adherence statistics as a mandatory quarterly CQI topic, alongside emergency forced medications and involuntary medication data.

## Medication Errors

**SOP 507.04.46** defines a medication error as "a dose of medication that deviates from the physician's order as written in the patient's chart or from standard policy and procedure" that "actually reach[es] the patient." Ten error categories are defined: omission, unauthorized drug, wrong dose, wrong route, wrong rate, wrong dosage form, wrong time, wrong preparation of a dose, incorrect administration technique, and pharmacy filling error.

When an error is discovered, an MD, NP, or PA must be notified immediately. An incident/error report is completed and sent to the nursing and medical authority. Incident reports are maintained in a confidential file in the medical unit and are "not part of the offender's health record." Any **Serious Adverse Event** (defined as resulting in hospitalization, disability, or death) must be reported to the Statewide Medical Director, Statewide Clinical Services Supervisor, the facility Warden, and the Department's General Counsel within twenty-four hours.

**SOP 507.04.76** (Incident Reporting) reinforces that medication adverse action reports are reviewed by the P&T Committee and through the CQI process to assess trends and make corrective recommendations.

## Medication Continuity During Transfers and Release

**SOP 507.04.25** (Health Screening-Offender Transfers) requires that a licensed health care provider review an offender's record before any intra-system transfer, including review of "current medications." Current medications must be transferred to the receiving facility with the medical records. The older **SOP 215.16** separately specifies that inmates transferring to transitional centers must be provided with at least a 30-day supply of properly labeled and packaged medications.

For mental health offenders being released, **SOP 508.35** requires that a final psychiatric evaluation be scheduled as close as possible to the actual release date, with the psychiatrist/APRN prescribing at least a 30-day supply of blister-packed discharge medications.

## OTC Medications and Commissary

**SOP 507.04.51** allows offenders to purchase approved OTC medications from the commissary or access them through sick call. Indigent offenders "will be offered OTC medications as indicated without regard to ability to pay." Offenders classified as Mental Health Level III or above may not purchase OTC medications from the commissary. Possession is limited to one full container and one partial container of each item at any time.

## Medication Copays

Under **SOP 507.04.05**, each offender is charged a $5.00 copay per co-pay eligible medication. Deductions are not made when an offender's account balance is $10.00 or less. Chronic care visits and medical emergencies are exempt from visit copays, but medication copays are addressed separately. Transitional Center offenders are charged a $10.00 copay per SOP 507.04.02.

## Staff Training

**SOP 507.03.09** (Orientation Training for Health Care Staff) lists medication administration as a required component of health care staff orientation. **SOP 507.03.13** requires that training be approved and reviewed annually by the responsible physician or designee and the facility administrator, with documentation maintained in each employee's training record.

--- TOPIC 12 of 24 ---

TITLE: Mental Health Services in Georgia Department of Corrections
SLUG: mental-health-services
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/mental-health-services/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:09:22
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections maintains an extensive written framework governing mental health services across its facilities, covering intake screening, a five-level continuum of care, crisis stabilization, suicide prevention, psychotropic medication management, and discharge planning. Multiple overlapping SOPs — originating from both the Health Services Division (Mental Health) and the Health Services Division (Physical Health) — establish specific timelines, staffing requirements, and procedural safeguards for offenders with serious mental illness. Significant gaps and potential conflicts exist around coverage at non-mental-health-mission facilities, the scope of telehealth, and the practical adequacy of crisis-bed capacity.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 508.14 requires a mental health reception screen to be completed on the day of arrival at a diagnostic facility, with placement on the mental health caseload or transfer to an appropriate facility within five business days and comprehensive evaluations within 14 calendar days; emergency evaluations must occur within 24 hours.
  - SOP 508.16 establishes a five-level continuum of mental health care (Level I through Level V/Crisis Stabilization), with Level III requiring Supportive Living Unit housing for Seriously Mentally Ill offenders who cannot function in general population, and Level V requiring 24-hour inpatient monitoring in a designated infirmary CSU.
  - SOP 508.24 explicitly prohibits the use of psychotropic medications for disciplinary purposes, requires a current DSM diagnosis prior to prescribing, mandates informed consent in a language the offender understands, and requires ruling out organic/physical causes before initiating psychiatric medication.
  - SOP 508.25 requires a formal Due Process Hearing before any involuntary transfer to an inpatient Prison Psychiatric Facility, with an independent three-member committee and an Offender Advocate appointed to represent the offender's interests.
  - SOP 508.29 requires that any staff member who determines an offender may be suicidal or self-injurious must refer that offender immediately to mental health staff, and all suicide-precaution observation must occur in a GDC-certified Hardened Cell containing no device usable for self-harm.
  - SOP 508.20 mandates weekly mental health rounds on all offenders in restrictive housing, an initial mental health screen within two working days of restrictive housing placement, and monthly individual counseling sessions for mental health caseload offenders in segregation.
  - SOP 508.33 prohibits transferring an offender on the mental health caseload to a facility with a lower level of mental health care than indicated on the offender's mental health profile in the Scribe tracking system.
  - SOP 508.35 requires discharge planning to begin 30–60 days before release for mental health caseload offenders, including coordination with DBHDD and DCS, a final psychiatric evaluation near release, and provision of at least a 30-day supply of blister-packed psychotropic medications at discharge.
  - SOP 508.03 requires a Psychological Autopsy for every offender who commits suicide regardless of mental health caseload level, and a confidential Clinical Peer Review (non-discoverable under O.C.G.A. § 31-7-133) for all suicides, unusual deaths, and critical incidents involving mental health offenders.
  - SOP 507.03.11 requires all correctional officers to receive training in suicide prevention and recognition of mental illness signs during Basic Correctional Officer Training, with refresher training at least every two years.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Coverage gap for non-mental-health-mission facilities: SOP 508.24 (psychotropic medication management), SOP 508.16 (levels of care), SOP 508.20 (restrictive housing rounds), and SOP 508.14 (reception screening) all apply only to 'GDC facilities with a mental health mission.' SOP 507.04.50 (mental health evaluations) and SOP 508.28 (suicidal/self-injurious behavior) apply to all facilities including private and county prisons, but the full suite of mental health services — including weekly restrictive housing rounds, CSU/ACU access, and formal levels-of-care assignment — is not guaranteed at non-mental-health-mission facilities.
  - Definitional inconsistency for Serious Mental Illness: SOP 507.04.50 explicitly includes PTSD, gender dysphoria, and any disorder involving suicidal or self-injurious behavior in the definition of Serious Mental Illness, while SOPs 508.16, 508.15, 508.20, and 508.33 use a narrower functional definition without these explicit inclusions. This inconsistency could affect caseload eligibility determinations across facilities.
  - Telehealth in-person requirement gap: SOP 508.43 requires in-person psychiatric visits at least every six months for offenders receiving tele-psychiatry, but no SOP specifies the minimum frequency of in-person contact for offenders in remote facilities receiving all mental health services via telehealth, nor does any SOP specify what happens when the six-month in-person requirement cannot be met due to facility location or staffing.
  - CSU bed capacity not standardized: SOP 508.31 states that the number of CSU beds per infirmary 'will be specific, but there will be flexibility to expand or reduce the number of beds according to need.' No SOP establishes minimum bed ratios, waiting list procedures, or what happens when a facility's observation cells are full and transfer cannot immediately occur.
  - ACU weekend coverage gap: SOP 508.30 specifies that the full ACU Stabilization Team (psychiatrist, mental health nurse, and counselor) makes rounds Monday–Friday, with weekend/holiday coverage provided only by 'a qualified nurse.' No psychiatrist or counselor weekend round requirement is specified, creating a potential gap in clinical oversight during weekends and holidays.
  - Transitional Center mental health services hand-off is time-limited but not guaranteed: SOP 508.34 states that GDC will ordinarily provide psychiatric services for the first 30 days at a Transitional Center, after which the local Community Service Board takes over. No SOP addresses what occurs if the Community Service Board is unavailable, refuses, or has a waiting list, nor what standards apply to those community psychiatric services.
  - Conflict between SOP 508.29 and SOP 508.28 on cell terminology: SOP 508.29 defines the observation cell used during suicide precautions as a 'Hardened Cell' (reviewed and certified by GDC Central Office of Health Services), while SOP 508.28 uses the term 'Suicide Resistant Cell' for the same concept. These are functionally equivalent but the inconsistent terminology across SOPs could cause confusion about which certification standard applies.
  - Discharge medication supply is specified only as 'at least 30 days' blister-packed: SOP 508.35 requires a minimum 30-day supply but no SOP specifies what occurs when a prescription cannot be filled locally, when a medication is not available in blister-pack form, or when the release date is uncertain, leaving a practical gap in continuity of psychiatric medication post-release.
  - CQI and audit obligations apply only to 'state institutions' or 'mental health mission' facilities: SOP 508.11 applies to 'all state institutions providing mental health services' and SOP 508.12 to 'all GDC facilities with a mental health mission.' Private and county prisons housing GDC offenders are not explicitly subject to the same CQI audit and corrective action plan requirements, even though those facilities are subject to intake screening and some crisis management SOPs.
RELATED_TOPICS: psychotropic-medication-management, suicide-prevention, restrictive-housing, psychiatric-hospitalization, discharge-planning-and-reentry, administrative-segregation, specialized-mental-health-treatment-units, tele-mental-health-services, health-records-and-confidentiality, correctional-officer-training

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Organizational Structure

The GDC's mental health system is governed by SOP 508.01 (Mental Health Organization and Administration, effective 7/27/2023), which establishes that "a system is in place to facilitate the effective and efficient delivery of treatment services to offenders with serious mental illness." Central office mental health administration — headed by a Statewide Mental Health Director — provides "oversight, support, and technical assistance" to facility-based Mental Health Programs. At the facility level, a Clinical Director (a contract-vendor psychologist) provides clinical direction, and a Mental Health Unit Manager (MHUM), defined as a master's-level professional, handles administrative oversight. The policy also establishes a dedicated Suicide Prevention Specialist position, a GDC-employed psychologist who oversees suicide prevention activities and psychological autopsies.

"Serious Mental Illness" is defined consistently across SOP 508.01, SOP 508.16, SOP 508.15, SOP 508.20, and SOP 508.33 as "a substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality or cope with the ordinary demands of life within the correctional environment." SOP 507.04.50 notably expands this definition to explicitly include PTSD, gender dysphoria, and any disorder involving suicidal or self-injurious behavior.

Weekly interdisciplinary staff meetings are mandated by SOP 508.02, chaired by the MHUM and including security staff, with the Warden invited to attend. Meeting minutes documenting attendance and topics discussed must be retained.

---

## Intake Screening and Mental Health Evaluations

Two parallel SOPs govern initial mental health screening, originating from different divisions but referencing each other:

**SOP 508.14** (Mental Health Reception Screen, applicable to facilities with diagnostic units) requires that "on the day of arrival at a diagnostic facility, a Qualified Mental Health Professional will complete the Mental Health Reception Screen (form M30-0101) on all newly arriving offenders." Referral triggers include suicidal ideation, recent suicide attempts, history of abuse as a victim, inability to function in general population due to mental illness, and receipt of mental health treatment or psychotropic medication within the last six months. Offenders flagged must be placed on the mental health caseload or transferred to an appropriate mental health facility within **five business days**. Comprehensive evaluations must be completed within **14 calendar days**; emergency evaluations within **24 hours**.

**SOP 507.04.50** (Mental Health Evaluations, applicable to *all* facilities including private and county prisons) requires that "a mental health evaluation of all offenders will be performed by qualified mental health personnel upon admission to the GDC or when clinically indicated." The admission screening includes specific inquiry questions: present suicidal ideation, history of suicidal behavior, current psychotropic medication use, current mental health complaints, history of inpatient/outpatient treatment, and substance use history. Disposition options include placement in general population, general population with referral, or emergency referral.

**SOP 508.15** (Mental Health Evaluations, Health Services Division Mental Health) adds that all mental health referrals from the reception screening process are routed to the MHUM for assignment, and that the resulting mental health classification level is entered into the Scribe computer tracking system.

**SOP 507.04.19** (Receiving Screening, Physical Health) further specifies that offenders presenting with signs or symptoms of suicidal behavior at intake "should be immediately referred to a mental health professional," and that if no mental health services are available at the intake facility, the offender must be transferred to one that has them. The referral must occur the same day signs are noted, with evaluation no later than **14 days after admission**.

---

## Levels of Care

SOP 508.16 (Mental Health Levels of Care, effective 5/9/2018) is the central policy governing the care continuum. Offenders are assigned to levels based on treatment need:

- **Level I**: No mental health services needed.
- **Level II (Outpatient)**: Services provided in general population or non-clinical settings. Individualized Treatment Plans (ITPs) are required. The offender receives mental health counselor contact at defined intervals.
- **Level III (Supportive Living Unit / SLU)**: Special intermediate-care housing for Seriously Mentally Ill offenders "unable to live and function effectively in the general prison population due to the nature of their mental illness." SLUs are separate from general population but allow for reintegration when clinically appropriate. A "therapeutic milieu with a spectrum of programming" is required.
- **Level IV (Crisis Stabilization Placement)**: Offenders in crisis are placed in an Acute Care Unit (ACU) or Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) cell. Facilities without ACU/CSU cells must place the offender in an observation cell and arrange transfer. Offenders with repeated severe crises who cannot be stabilized may be transferred to a forensic psychiatric hospital.
- **Level V (Crisis Stabilization Unit)**: Governed separately by SOP 508.31 (see below).

Mental health classification levels are entered into Scribe and govern transfer eligibility: per SOP 508.33 (Transfer of Offenders with Serious Mental Illness), an offender on the mental health caseload "may only be transferred to a GDC facility with an equivalent or higher level of mental health care."

---

## Acute Care Unit (ACU) — SOP 508.30

SOP 508.30 (Mental Health Acute Care Unit, effective 12/9/2019) governs ACUs, which provide intensive short-term mental health services for offenders who are "extremely agitated but not posing an overt danger to self or others," experiencing abrupt behavioral change, or needing diagnostic clarification — but who do not require the intensive medical attention of a CSU.

Key operational requirements:
- ACU placement is not a choice: "Offenders may refuse mental health treatment, but they may not refuse ACU placement."
- A physician's admission order is not required, but a mental health evaluation from a privileged provider with psychiatrist/APRN/psychologist consultation is required prior to or immediately after placement.
- The ACU Stabilization Team (psychiatrist, mental health nurse, mental health counselor) makes rounds Monday–Friday; a qualified nurse covers weekends and holidays.
- Length of stay "should rarely exceed 14 days."
- The ACU Discharge Summary Form (M70-01-02) must be completed upon discharge.

---

## Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) — SOP 508.31

SOP 508.31 (Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Unit, effective 12/9/2019) establishes CSU as "a level of care (Level V) requiring intensive mental health services," provided only in "designated GDC prison infirmaries located at facilities with a mental health mission." The CSU provides **24-hour monitoring** by professional staff.

Admission criteria include: extreme agitation with self-harm or harm to others; need for mental health observation due to abrupt behavioral change; suicidal preoccupation or active self-injury with history of lethal acts; and need for restraints as a last resort. A psychiatrist is on-call 24 hours per day. CSU Nurses cover seven days per week on all shifts.

Average length of stay is approximately five days, with flexibility based on clinical justification. Juveniles in crisis are designated to Augusta State Medical Prison (males) or Lee Arrendale State Prison (females) for CSU services (SOP 508.31; SOP 211.05).

---

## Suicide Prevention and Crisis Management

**SOP 508.28** (Managing Potentially Suicidal, Self-Injurious, and Assaultive Behavior, applicable to all facilities including county and private prisons) requires that "offenders who are potentially suicidal, self-injurious, and/or homicidal will be identified and referred for further evaluation and/or appropriate stabilization/management." When a mental health crisis is suspected, the offender must be evaluated at a facility with a mental health unit.

**SOP 508.29** (Suicide Precautions) requires that "if any staff determines that an offender may be suicidal or self-injurious, the offender will be referred at once to the mental health staff for further assessment and disposition." All observations must take place in a **Hardened Cell** — a cell certified by GDC Central Office of Health Services to contain no device usable for self-harm. Mental health observations include continuous observation, one-on-one observation, and irregular 15-minute watches.

**SOP 507.03.11** (Health Related Training for Correctional Officers) mandates that all correctional officers receive training in "procedures for suicide prevention" and "recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness" during Basic Correctional Officer Training (BCOT), with refresher training at least every two years.

**SOP 508.03** (Death Notification, Critical Incident Notification, and Investigation) requires a **Psychological Autopsy** for any offender who commits suicide, regardless of mental health caseload level, and a Clinical Peer Review for all suicides, unusual deaths, and critical incidents involving mental health offenders. Clinical Peer Review is confidential and non-discoverable under O.C.G.A. § 31-7-133.

---

## Psychotropic Medication Management

SOP 508.24 (Psychotropic Medication Use Management, effective 8/15/2022) is the governing document for all aspects of psychiatric prescribing. Key requirements:

- Psychotropic medications "will be prescribed when medically indicated and used in a manner consistent with current pharmacological knowledge."
- **Informed consent** is required, documented "in a language understood by the offender."
- A DSM-current diagnosis or diagnostic impression must exist **prior to** initiating any psychotropic medication.
- The psychiatrist or APRN must rule out organic/physical causes of mental illness symptoms before prescribing.
- **Psychotropic medications may not be used for disciplinary purposes** — this prohibition is stated explicitly in SOP 508.24 and is cross-referenced in SOP 508.01.
- Regular monitoring for clinical response and side effects is required.
- SOP 508.24 applies specifically to "all GDC facilities with a mental health mission," not all GDC facilities.

---

## Psychiatric Hospitalization

SOP 508.25 (Psychiatric Hospitalization, effective 8/2/2022, applicable to all facilities including private and county prisons) governs transfer of offenders to inpatient Prison Psychiatric Facilities. Transfer is appropriate when an offender with serious mental illness "presents a great risk of danger to themselves or others, or who are unable to care for their own physical health and safety, creating a life-endangering crisis" and "cannot be safely managed in a less restrictive environment."

A **Due Process Hearing** is required before any involuntary transfer, held before a three-member Due Process Committee (a deputy warden of care and treatment/designee, a clinical mental health staff member, and a medical staff member). An Offender Advocate — a mental health counselor or technician who is *not* the offender's assigned clinician — must be appointed to assist the offender. The "least restrictive alternative" principle governs facility selection.

---

## Mental Health in Restrictive Housing

SOP 508.20 (Mental Health Rounds in Restrictive Housing Units, effective 8/2/2022) mandates **weekly mental health rounds** on all offenders in restrictive housing (segregation, isolation, protective custody) at facilities with a mental health mission. Offenders receiving mental health services placed in restrictive housing must receive a mental health screen within **two working days** of placement. A monthly individual counseling session is also required based on the offender's mental health level.

SOP 209.06 (Administrative Segregation) cross-references SOPs 508.20 and 508.28–508.29, confirming that mental health services are to be maintained during segregation.

---

## Specialized and Extended Programs

**SOP 508.23** (Specialized Mental Health Treatment Units) establishes seven SMHTUs — secure therapeutic units serving populations with serious and persistent mental illness, severe personality disorders, dementia/traumatic brain injury, severe impulse control disorders, cognitive delays, violent behavior with mental illness, and a reentry-focused unit. Admission requires mental health services enrollment, clinical need, and multi-level approval (Warden, Statewide Mental Health Director, Facilities Division Director).

**SOP 508.44** (Integrated Treatment Facilities) governs nine-month residential programs for offenders with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, using a Therapeutic Community model with four treatment phases. Eligibility requires a documented serious substance use disorder (score of 9 or above on the Next Generation Assessment) and a mental illness.

**SOP 508.43** (Tele-Mental Health Services) permits delivery of mental health services via videoconferencing, provided care quality is "at least equivalent to the quality of any other type of care." Psychiatry services delivered via telehealth must be supplemented by an in-person visit at least every **six months**. All staff providing tele-mental health services must be fully licensed in their discipline.

---

## Discharge Planning

SOP 508.35 (Discharge Planning for Mental Health Offenders, effective 8/2/2022) requires that discharge planning begin **30 to 60 days before release** for any offender on the mental health caseload with a confirmed parole or discharge date. The mental health team must coordinate with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and Department of Community Supervision (DCS). A final psychiatric evaluation must be scheduled as close as possible to the release date, and the prescribing psychiatrist or APRN must provide **at least a 30-day supply of blister-packed medications** at discharge for offenders on psychotropic medications.

---

## Quality Assurance and Oversight

**SOP 508.11** (Mental Health Continuous Quality Improvement) requires facility-level and statewide CQI committees to meet at least quarterly, with facilities submitting annual CQI plans to central office by January 31. Mandatory quarterly CQI audit topics include: restraints, CSU/ACU admissions, emergency medications, involuntary medications, psychotropic medication non-adherence, self-injurious and assaultive behavior, facility mortality reviews resulting from suicides, suicide prevention committee meetings, and post-stabilization restrictive housing assessments.

**SOP 508.12** (Mental Health Audits and Evaluations) requires the central office audit team to review each mental health program at least annually using standardized audit tools. Facilities must conduct one self-audit within six months of the comprehensive audit. Any deficiencies (scores of 70% or less, or areas of concern) require a written Corrective Action Plan submitted within one month.

--- TOPIC 13 of 24 ---

TITLE: Parole Board Process and Hearing Preparation
SLUG: parole-board-process
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/parole-board-process/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:36:21
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes a structured process by which facilities prepare inmates for parole review, including mandatory case file documentation, timeline requirements, and eligibility screening. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles retains ultimate authority over parole decisions, and GDC facilities serve a supporting role by generating Parole Review Summaries, tracking performance incentive credits, classifying inmates, and coordinating placement into transitional or alternative programs as directed by the Board. Several related SOPs address the mechanics of case preparation, the criteria that can enhance or delay parole consideration, and the pathways through which the Parole Board directs inmate placement.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 220.07 requires the counselor to complete the Parole Review Summary and enter a SCRIBE case note, but no SOP in this corpus requires staff to notify the inmate that a parole review is occurring, provide the inmate an opportunity to submit input, or inform the inmate of the completed summary's contents before it is forwarded to the Parole Board.
  - SOP 215.01 grants the Prison Classification Committee discretion to deny or delay a Parole Board transitional center referral at any time for a broad range of reasons, but does not specify any procedural requirement for the Committee to notify the Parole Board of such a denial or delay, creating a potential gap in Board oversight of GDC placement decisions.
  - SOP 220.07 states that inmates must receive a 'positive recommendation' from the Warden or Superintendent, but does not specify any procedure for what happens when the counselor's recommendation and the Warden's recommendation conflict, or what standard the Warden must use.
  - No SOP in this corpus specifies what recourse, if any, an inmate has if the facility fails to submit the Parole Review Summary within the 30-day window required by SOP 220.07, or if a delay causes the inmate to miss an advance release opportunity.
  - SOP 214.02 states that 'the Parole Board may reconsider and change a prior decision in a case, for any reason, at any time, up to the time of release,' but no SOP specifies how or whether an inmate is notified of such a reconsideration or given any opportunity to respond.
  - The SOPs are silent on whether an inmate's classification level at the time of the Parole Review Summary can be changed by the facility between submission and the Board's 120-day review window in a way that would affect the prior recommendation — SOP 220.07 does not address this scenario.
RELATED_TOPICS: inmate-classification-and-reclassification, performance-incentive-credit-program, transitional-center-placement, disciplinary-process-and-hearings, sentence-computation-and-release-dates, pre-release-programming-and-reentry, parole-revocation-and-detention

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview of the GDC–Parole Board Relationship

The Georgia Department of Corrections does not grant parole — that authority belongs exclusively to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles (SBPP). GDC's written policy establishes the Department as a supporting actor: generating case summaries, classifying inmates, tracking program participation, and executing Board-ordered placements. The core procedural document governing this relationship is **SOP 220.07** (Guidelines for Completing the Parole Review Summary). Additional SOPs address eligibility screening for specialized programs, performance incentive credits, transitional center placements, boot camp assignments, and the mechanics of release-date determination for parolees returned to custody.

---

## The Parole Review Summary: Timing and Submission Requirements

Under **SOP 220.07**, the SBPP generates a monthly computer printout listing inmates potentially eligible for advance release — meaning release in advance of their Tentative Parole Month (TPM) or Maximum Release (Max Out) date. Each facility must complete a **Parole Review Summary** (Attachment 1 to that SOP) within **30 days** of receiving the printout and forward it to the Parole Board's Processing Unit. The stated purpose is to give the Board's Processing Unit **120 days of lead time** to review summaries and identify inmates rated above average for advance release.

The review cycle begins **six months in advance** of any potential benefit to the inmate — whether that is an advance release before the TPM or a release before the Max Out date. SOP 220.07 explicitly warns: "If there is delay, it will not be possible to process the inmate prior to the advance release date."

**Who completes the summary?** The inmate's assigned counselor is the responsible party. MH/MR Counselors are specifically assigned responsibility for completing the summary on Mental Health Offenders. In either case, the counselor must also enter a **case note in SCRIBE** documenting that the review has been completed. If the inmate has been transferred, the losing facility must notify the gaining facility to complete the summary using information already in the file.

---

## Eligibility Criteria for Advance Release Consideration

**SOP 220.07** identifies the following criteria that must be assessed in the Parole Review Summary:

1. **No Greatest Severity or High Severity disciplinary reports** in the six months prior to the Parole Board's consideration date, and no TPM extensions during that period.
2. **Active participation in work, education, and/or treatment programs** (including alcohol and drug programs specifically), to the extent offered at the facility, as specified by the Work/Activity Plan and Status Report.
3. **Custody classification**: the inmate must be classified as close, medium, minimum, or trusty status.
4. **Positive recommendations** from the assigned counselor and the Warden or Superintendent.
5. **No more than one escape** on record.

If a recommended TPM extension is generated during the review process, the inmate is automatically removed from advance release consideration.

---

## Sentence Computation and Key Parole Terminology

**Board Rule 125-2-4-.04** (SOP 1291) establishes the foundational definitions for sentence computation that underlie all parole timing:

- **Tentative Parole Month (TPM)**: The tentative month and year set by the Parole Board for potential parole release. A TPM is established for all inmates except those with life or death sentences and sentences of twelve months or less.
- **Maximum Release Date (MRD)**: The date an inmate would be released if the entire sentence were served without parole.
- **Parole Consideration Date (PCD)**: Applicable only to life sentences and parole revocations; represents when the Board would consider the inmate for parole.
- **Non-running Time** and **Non-earning Time**: Periods (such as escape, toll time, or revocation periods) that can extend sentence end dates or exclude time from earned-time calculations.

These definitions directly control when the 120-day review clock in SOP 220.07 begins.

---

## Performance Incentive Credits and Parole Implications

**SOP 214.02** (Performance Incentive Credit Program) creates a formal mechanism for inmates to affect their parole timeline through positive behavior and program participation. Under this SOP, eligible offenders can accumulate up to **12 months of credit** off their length of stay through completion of educational and vocational programming, treatment programs, work details, and good behavior.

The PIC program results in a **PIC Date** — a date earlier than the TPM or MRD when the inmate may be considered for release. Positive performance "will result in favorable reports to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles." Unsatisfactory performance is addressed through the disciplinary process (cross-referenced to SOP 209.01).

A **PIC Oversight Team**, jointly approved by GDC leadership and the Parole Board, meets monthly to oversee program integrity. Parole Board representation on that team is mandatory under SOP 214.02. Notably, SOP 214.02 also cross-references **SOP 220.07** directly, confirming the two SOPs work in tandem.

---

## Classification's Role in Parole Preparation

**SOP 220.03** (Classification Committee) requires that all offenders receive classification plans, classification status reviews, and **pre-parole progress reports**. The Next Generation Assessment (NGA) tool is used to identify programming needs. Classification committees evaluate security level, program needs, special needs (including ADA, mental health, medical, and educational needs), and custody level throughout incarceration.

The classification committee's recommendations feed directly into the Parole Review Summary required by SOP 220.07 — the warden/superintendent recommendation required by that SOP is a classification-level determination. SOP 220.03 explicitly lists SOP 215.01 (Transitional Center Selection) as a related procedure, reflecting the connection between classification decisions and Parole Board-directed placements.

---

## Transitional Center Placement as a Parole Board Tool

**SOP 215.01** (Transitional Center Selection Criteria and Process) recognizes **Parole Board Referrals** as a distinct category of transitional center placement. The Parole Board may periodically refer parolees to transitional centers for work release. Selection remains needs-driven, with factors including financial instability, residential instability, vocational/educational problems, and professional discretion.

Importantly, the **Prison Classification Committee** retains discretion to recommend denial or delay of a transitional center transfer "at any time, based upon poor performance, adjustment, medical or psychiatric developments, safety concerns, or other factors that would prevent successful participation." This means GDC can, as a policy matter, override or delay a Parole Board referral through its classification process — a potential area of conflict in practice.

For **Seriously Violent Felony** offenders (as defined by O.C.G.A. 17-10-6.1(a): murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, aggravated child molestation, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery), transitional center placement is restricted to first-time conviction cases during the final year of incarceration. SOP 215.01 states these are the "ONLY Seriously Violent Offenders that GDC may refer to a Transitional Center program."

---

## Boot Camp: Parole Board as Final Approval Authority

**SOP 210.02** (Inmate Boot Camp – Classification and Assignment) places ultimate selection authority for the Inmate Boot Camp Program with the SBPP. GDC Inmate Administration screens incoming sentences for initial eligibility (sentence of 10 years or less, age 35 or younger, no violence in the sentence criteria), but the Parole Board conducts its own investigation and makes the final eligibility determination. The Parole Board has **15 working days** from receipt of the sentence package to notify GDC of its decision in writing.

For parole violators who are revoked and meet boot camp criteria (except age limits), SBPP automatically approves boot camp participation. This automatic approval pathway is distinct from the general inmate process.

---

## Parole Revocation Admissions to Detention Programs

**SOP 212.04** (Screening/Referral/Admission, Whitworth Detention Center) governs how parolees are admitted to the Whitworth Detention Center following referral by the Parole Board. The Center Parole Officer receives referrals from Parole Board Central Office or field staff, reviews appropriateness, and schedules admissions — normally **Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:00 PM**. The admission package should be received **five working days before admission** to allow for transportation coordination and case file setup. Required admission documents include a completed Parolee Intake Data Sheet, a Waiver/Request for Program Placement, health history forms, and a signed Pre-Admission Orientation Sheet.

**SOP 212.03** (Determining Release Date, Whitworth) sets the standard program stay at **180 days** (within a 150–210 day range). The Superintendent may adjust release dates within that range based on program participation, work performance, disciplinary record, and other factors. Any release or extension **outside the 150–210 day range** requires Parole Board approval. Releases are normally processed on Wednesdays.

---

## Placement in Probation Detention Centers

**SOP 213.02** (Detainee Screening, Sentencing, Pre-Admission, and Admission) addresses placement of parolees in Secure Alternative Centers. The Parole Board determines placement of parolees to Secure Alternative Centers when necessary and provides Offender Administration with the signed waiver, which is uploaded to SCRIBE. DCS officers assess suitability using target population criteria, and each center coordinates admissions through an automated referral portal.

**SOP 213.01** (Mission & Military Regimen of Probation Detention Centers) confirms that parolees placed by the Parole Board are included in the detention center population alongside probationers sentenced by courts, all subject to the same military-style regimen.

---

## Pre-Release Programming Linked to TPM/MRD

**SOP 211.06** (In-House Transitional Center Dorms) targets inmates within **18 months of their Maximum Release Date or Tentative Parole Month** for specialized pre-release programming. Eligible inmates are placed in designated housing units for delivery of reentry-focused programs. Inmates must have no more than 18 months and no less than 6 months remaining; placements beyond the 18-month criteria require ITC State Coordinator approval noted in SCRIBE. The TPM is thus a direct driver of ITC eligibility, creating a programmatic pipeline connected to parole timing.

---

## What Policy Does Not Address

The SOPs in this corpus do not specify any GDC procedure for **notifying inmates of upcoming parole review dates**, beyond the requirement that the counselor complete the Parole Review Summary and enter a SCRIBE case note. There is no SOP provision for **inmate participation in or input to the Parole Review Summary** prior to its submission to the Board. The inmate's role in the process, as described in these SOPs, is limited to their program participation record and disciplinary history — both of which are assessed by staff, not submitted by the inmate directly.

--- TOPIC 14 of 24 ---

TITLE: Reentry and Release Planning
SLUG: reentry-and-release-planning
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/reentry-and-release-planning/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:34:52
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy requires reentry planning to begin at initial reception and continue through release, encompassing discharge planning, parole packet preparation, health care continuity, employment preparation, housing assistance, and vital records acquisition. Multiple SOPs across the Health Services, Inmate Services, and Facilities divisions govern overlapping aspects of transition, with specialized procedures for physical health, mental health, boot camps, transitional centers, and medical reprieves. Financial gratuities, clothing, and transportation are provided to eligible offenders at release pursuant to statute and Board of Corrections rules.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 503.02 requires reentry planning to begin at initial reception and continue through release for all eligible offenders, explicitly excluding those with immigration detainers, those under death sentences, and those serving life without parole.
  - SOP 507.04.18 requires all offenders to be escorted to medical before release for a licensed nurse visit, a written discharge plan, and discharge instructions; offenders with identified community providers receive a copy of their clinical information including diagnosis, medications, and lab results.
  - SOP 508.35 requires mental health discharge planning to begin 30–60 days before release for offenders on the mental health caseload, including a final psychiatric evaluation as close to release as possible and at least a 30-day supply of blister-packed psychotropic medications.
  - SOP 507.04.61 mandates HIV exit testing at least 30 days before release for all offenders who have been incarcerated for one year or longer, consistent with O.C.G.A. §42-5-52.2.
  - SOP 220.07 requires facilities to submit a completed Parole Review Summary to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles within 30 days of receiving the monthly eligibility printout, giving the Parole Board 120 days of lead time; eligibility criteria include no High or Greatest Severity disciplinary report in the prior six months and positive recommendations from the counselor and Warden.
  - SOP 201.03 and Board Rule 125-2-4-.19 entitle eligible felony offenders at release to a statutory gratuity payment, suitable clothing, a travel kit, and a transportation ticket to their home in the United States; work release participants are not entitled to gratuity unless extraordinary financial need is established.
  - SOP 211.06 makes offenders within 6–18 months of their Maximum Release Date or Tentative Parole Month eligible for the In-House Transitional Center program, which uses COMPAS, SAGE, TABE, TCUDS, and an Interest Profiler to drive individualized pre-release programming.
  - SOP 215.22 requires all transitional center residents to complete mandatory work readiness training within 14–30 days of arrival before they are eligible for employment, and each resident must secure and maintain full-time employment during their residency.
  - SOP 507.04.66 limits initiation of a Medical Reprieve solely to the responsible physician; the Warden's recommendation may only address institutional behavior and program compliance, not the nature of the offenses; final disposition rests with the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
  - SOP 107.13 bars offenders convicted of any serious violent felony under O.C.G.A. §17-10-6.1, those with an active ICE detainer, or those with a High or Greater disciplinary report within the prior 12 months from receiving a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate regardless of other program achievements.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Timing gap between physical and mental health discharge planning: SOP 507.04.18 (physical health) is triggered upon notification of upcoming release with no specified minimum advance notice, while SOP 508.35 (mental health) sets a specific 30–60 day window. Neither SOP specifies what happens when notification arrives with fewer than 30 days remaining before release.
  - SOP 503.02 explicitly excludes offenders with immigration detainers, those under death sentences, and those serving life without parole from reentry planning — but SOP 507.04.18 (physical health discharge planning) and SOP 508.35 (mental health discharge planning) contain no equivalent exclusions, creating an ambiguity about whether health-focused discharge planning applies to those populations.
  - SOP 215.01 limits transitional center eligibility for seriously violent offenders to 'first-time' convictions during their final year, citing O.C.G.A. 17-10-6.1; however, SOP 107.13 bars the Program and Treatment Completion Certificate for any offender with a serious violent felony conviction regardless of whether it is a first offense, creating different eligibility rules across reentry tools for the same population.
  - SOP 210.08 (Probation Boot Camp) requires contact with the receiving probation office 'two work days in advance' of release, which is a very short window for arranging post-release services and is not reconciled with the 30–60 day planning windows specified in SOP 508.35 for mental health offenders or the 30-day HIV exit testing window in SOP 507.04.61.
  - SOP 503.02's effective date is January 30, 2020; several SOPs it cross-references (e.g., 211.06 effective 2015, 215.01 effective 2014) predate it significantly and have not been updated to reflect the current reentry planning framework, leaving potential inconsistencies in process and terminology.
  - No SOP in the corpus explicitly addresses how reentry planning integrates for offenders who are transferred between facilities close to their release date — SOP 220.07 notes the 'losing facility' should advise the gaining facility to submit the Parole Review Summary, but no parallel coordination requirement exists for health discharge planning under SOP 507.04.18 or SOP 508.35.
  - SOP 201.03 caps JPay release cards at $500; if the combined trust account balance and gratuity exceeds that amount, the remainder is mailed as a check to the address provided at release. The policy does not address what happens if the offender has no valid mailing address at release — a common reentry challenge.
  - The THOR housing directory and Residential Problem Housing (RPH) program are referenced in SOP 503.02, but no SOP in the corpus establishes minimum standards for what constitutes an acceptable housing plan or sets a timeline by which a plan must be secured before release.
RELATED_TOPICS: health-services-discharge-planning, mental-health-services, parole-and-clemency, transitional-centers-work-release, probation-boot-camps, offender-classification, hiv-testing-and-infectious-disease, medical-reprieves-compassionate-release, offender-records-management, employment-and-vocational-programs

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview

Reentry and release planning at the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) is governed by a web of overlapping policies across multiple divisions. The foundational statement appears in SOP 503.02 (Reentry Pre and Post-Release Planning): "Offender reentry planning and preparation begins when the offender is initially received by the Georgia Department of Corrections. Reentry planning is an ongoing and dynamic endeavor and continues through the offender's release from custody." The policy applies to all eligible offenders, explicitly excluding those with immigration detainers, those under death sentences, and those serving life without parole.

Oversight responsibility falls on the Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment (DWCT) or highest-ranking Counseling Supervisor at each facility, who must ensure compliance with SOP 503.02, including referrals to Reentry Assessment Centers, review of prospective programming, and coordination of housing and employment plans.

---

## Reentry Assessment and Employment Preparation

SOP 503.02 establishes **Reentry Assessment Centers** — spaces within facilities staffed by offenders trained as career clerks — where releasing offenders build career and employment plans. The companion TOPPSTEP program (Offender, Parolee, and Probationer State Training Employment Program) is a collaboration between GDC, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, and the Georgia Department of Labor to improve offender employability.

SOP 107.01 (Purpose and Objectives – Access to Counseling Services and Programs) establishes the Office of Reentry Services as the umbrella structure for counseling, substance use programs, and pre-release planning. Facilities must annually assess their population's counseling needs and ensure appropriate programs are available.

SOP 108.08 (Career Technical Education) requires counselors and classification committees to identify candidates for vocational training on a routine basis. Offenders must have a positive disciplinary record (no reports for the prior six months) to be eligible. Facilities must maintain at least 85% enrollment of determined program capacity and meet annual completion rate targets set by Central Office.

At **Transitional Centers**, SOP 215.22 (Resident Employment Requirements and Services) requires all transitional residents to complete mandatory work readiness training within their first 14–30 days — a prerequisite for employment eligibility. The Employment Manager coordinates job placement, maintains employment and education records for each resident, and works with employers and state agencies. Residents are individually responsible for securing and maintaining full-time employment during their residency.

SOP 411 (Board Rule 125-4-2-.09, Educational Release) authorizes the Commissioner to develop an educational release program allowing selected inmates to participate in community educational activities, serving as "a supporting corollary to the Work-Release Program."

---

## In-House Transitional Center (ITC) Program

SOP 211.06 establishes the In-House Transitional Center (ITC) program for inmates within 18 months of their Maximum Release Date or Tentative Parole Month (TPM), as well as those sentenced under SB441 (two strikes) and SB440 (juveniles sentenced as adults). Inmates with no more than 18 and no fewer than 6 months remaining are eligible. A dedicated Program Coordinator — preferably a staff counselor not carrying other caseload — oversees the ITC due to the program's "intensive nature." Assessments used include COMPAS (risk/needs), TCUDS (substance abuse screening), SAGE (vocational aptitude), TABE (academic achievement), and an Interest Profiler for career planning.

---

## Parole Packet Preparation and Parole Review Summary

SOP 220.07 (Guidelines for Completing the Parole Review Summary) establishes the process for preparing parole review summaries. Each facility receives a monthly computer printout from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles listing inmates potentially eligible for advance release. The completed Parole Review Summary must be submitted within 30 days of receipt, allowing the Parole Board's Processing Unit 120 days for review.

Eligibility criteria assessed in the summary include: no Greatest or High Severity disciplinary reports in the six months prior to the Parole Board's consideration date; active participation in work, education, and/or treatment programs; custody classification of close, medium, minimum, or trusty; positive recommendations from the assigned counselor and Warden/Superintendent; and no more than one escape. Mental Health/MR Counselors are specifically responsible for completing the Parole Review Summary on mental health offenders.

For offenders at the **Whitworth Detention Center**, SOP 212.03 establishes a standard 180-day stay (range 150–210 days), with the Superintendent having discretion to adjust release dates within that range based on program participation, work performance, disciplinary record, post-release supervision needs, family emergencies, and medical factors. Any release date outside the 150–210 day parameter requires Parole Board approval.

---

## Physical Health Discharge Planning

SOP 507.04.18 (Discharge Planning) is the primary physical health policy for release preparation. Upon receiving notification of an upcoming release, the Warden/Superintendent or designee notifies the Responsible Health Authority; the 180-day SCRIBE list may be referenced. A licensed health care professional reviews the health record for conditions requiring follow-up, including hypertension, diabetes, seizure disorders, cancer, HIV, latent TB, mental health disorders, and pulmonary disorders. Pending consultations are canceled in SCRIBE if the offender will be released before the appointment date.

All offenders are escorted to medical before release for a visit with a licensed nurse, who provides discharge instructions documented on a written discharge plan — a copy of which is given to the offender. For offenders with identified community health care providers, a written discharge plan with pertinent clinical information (diagnosis, medications, lab results) is provided.

SOP 507.04.02 (Transitional Center Health Services) extends discharge planning obligations to transitional centers, cross-referencing SOP 507.04.18, and notes that the objective of transitional center assignment is to prepare offenders for "self-management of physical, mental, and dental health."

SOP 507.04.61 (HIV Antibody Testing) requires that offenders who have been incarcerated for one year or longer be tested for HIV **at least 30 days before** their actual release from a GDC facility. This same 30-day pre-release exit testing requirement is cross-referenced in SOP 507.04.18. The testing requirement is mandatory under O.C.G.A. §42-5-52.2.

---

## Mental Health Discharge Planning

SOP 508.35 (Discharge Planning for Mental Health Offenders) requires that when an offender on the mental health caseload receives a confirmed parole or discharge date and is within **30 to 60 days** of release, specific preparation steps must begin. These include gathering information on community placement needs, coordinating with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and the Department of Community Supervision (DCS), and scheduling a final psychiatric evaluation "as close as possible to the actual release date."

The psychiatrist or APRN must prescribe discharge medication including **at least a 30-day supply** of blister-packed psychotropic medication. Information may be shared with community mental health agencies without written consent per O.C.G.A. §37-3-166(a)(3), which permits sharing records when a patient's service plan involves transfer to another facility, community mental health center, or private practitioner. All community arrangements must be provided in writing to the offender, with copies in section 7 of the mental health record.

SOP 507.04.18 also notes that "offenders with mental health disorders will have referrals made by the mental health staff," providing a redundant cross-reference to SOP 508.35's obligations.

---

## Probation Boot Camp Release Planning

SOP 210.08 (Probation Boot Camp – Discharge/Post-Release Program and Supervision) requires designated boot camp staff to develop a written aftercare plan for each discharging probationer, based on the individual's needs. The receiving probation office must be contacted at least two work days before release. The written aftercare plan and required case file material are forwarded to the receiving office. A period of specialized supervision follows release; after satisfactory completion, the probationer continues under the court's sentence conditions.

SOP 210.05 (Inmate/Probation Boot Camp – Correctional Boot Camp Program) organizes the boot camp into four phases, with Phase 4 (Pre-release, 4 weeks) dedicated to "pre-release counseling, coordination of post-release plans, evaluation and administrative matters." Each probationer must have an aftercare plan developed prior to discharge. SOP 210.07 governs early release computation: offenders normally serve 120 days but may be released as early as 90 days for excellent behavior, evaluated on disciplinary record, program participation, attitude, and work performance. The Superintendent is the final authority on release date decisions.

---

## Transitional Center Selection and Housing

SOP 215.01 (Transitional Center Selection Criteria and Process) establishes that placement is needs-driven, prioritizing offenders with financial instability, residential instability, vocational/educational problems, and first-time violent offenders in their final year of incarceration. Under O.C.G.A. 17-10-6.1, first-time seriously violent offenders may only be considered for a transitional center during their final year of incarceration. The M.O.R.E. (Max Out Re-Entry) program allows a period of community supervision for offenders who would otherwise remain until their Maximum Release Date.

SOP 503.02 references the **Residential Problem Housing (RPH) Program** for offenders who have passed their TPM without a residence plan — a collaboration among GDC, the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Community Supervision, and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. The **THOR Directory** (Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry) lists housing providers approved by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, accessible at pap.ga.gov or DCS.ga.gov.

---

## Medical Reprieves (Compassionate Release)

SOP 507.04.66 (Medical Reprieves) governs temporary suspension of prison sentences for offenders with terminal illnesses, serious irreversible or resource-intensive medical conditions, or dementia/severe cognitive deficits who are assessed as no longer posing a threat to public safety. A Medical Reprieve is defined as a "temporary suspension of a prison sentence to release an offender under conditions, which if violated, permit his or her reimprisonment."

Only the responsible physician may initiate the process. The request flows from the physician to the Warden/Superintendent (who considers only institutional behavior and program compliance, not crime type), then to the GDC Statewide Medical Director (who approves or disapproves purely on medical grounds), and finally to the Board of Pardons and Paroles for final disposition. The counselor assists in identifying community housing, hospice, or nursing home resources and initiates the SSI/Medicaid/Medicare application process.

---

## Discharge Gratuities

SOP 201.03 (Discharge Gratuities) and Board Rule 125-2-4-.19 govern financial and material assistance at release. Gratuities are paid to state offenders lawfully released from any GDC facility — including those released by parole, clemency, or sentence completion — and to county jail inmates who would otherwise have become state offenders. Offenders may request funds as a **JPay release card** (capped at $500) or a check; funds combine trust account balances and the statutory gratuity amount into a single payment.

Gratuity is **not paid** to offenders who participated in a work release program (unless extraordinary financial need is established to the Commissioner's satisfaction), or to felony offenders released to a Sheriff or U.S. Marshal on a detainer. Under Board Rule 125-2-4-.19, felony offenders also receive a travel kit, suitable clothing, and a common carrier transportation ticket to their home in the United States. Misdemeanor-level offenders receive up to $25 and travel allowance but no clothing.

---

## Records Retention After Release

SOP 219.04 (Retention Schedule for Facility Offender/Medical Files) specifies how long files are kept after release: institutional files for offenders discharged at their maximum release date from state/county/private prisons are held for three years, then destroyed; files for paroled offenders are held for the period of parole supervision plus three additional years (life sentence parolees: 10 years from parole date). Medical and mental health charts must be boxed within 30 days after release and a consignment number requested from Offender Administration.

---

## Program Completion Certificate

SOP 107.13 (Program and Treatment Completion Certificate) establishes a certificate documenting an offender's programs, treatment, education, vocational training, and work history during their current incarceration. Eligibility requires: Mental Health Level 3 or below; no conviction for a serious violent felony (O.C.G.A. §17-10-6.1); no active ICE detainer; no crimes committed during the current incarceration; no High or Greater disciplinary report within the last 12 months prior to release; and no program refusal or disciplinary withdrawal within the last 12 months. The certificate is described as "a meaningful reentry resource for offenders transitioning back into the community."

---

## Quality Assurance of Reentry Programs

SOP 107.14 (Office of Reentry Services Audit Process) requires the Inmate Services Division to audit academic, vocational, cognitive behavioral, and reentry programs at all applicable facilities at least every two years. Facilities that receive critical findings must submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) within 30 days, prepared by the Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment.

--- TOPIC 15 of 24 ---

TITLE: Religious Services and Chaplaincy in GDC Facilities
SLUG: religious-services
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/religious-services/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:31:09
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes a comprehensive framework for religious services, chaplaincy, and religious accommodations across all state facilities, grounded in the First and Fourteenth Amendments and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). SOPs cover the full spectrum of religious life in custody: chaplain duties and qualifications, interfaith worship services, religious dietary accommodations, faith-specific guidelines for Islam, Wicca, and Native American practices, communion wine protocols, marriage procedures, and the Alternative Entrée Program for religious diets. Multiple overlapping SOPs create redundant protections but also leave notable gaps regarding enforcement timelines, minority faith accommodation triggers, and the distinction between the vegan baseline diet and more specific religious meal plans.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 106.04 mandates weekly general chapel services and specifically requires a Roman Catholic priest for Catholic services, an Imam for Islamic services, and a Jewish Rabbi for Jewish services, with chaplains obligated to assist offenders whose faith lacks a representative by connecting them to a qualified faith judicatory contact.
  - SOP 106.05 explicitly states that designating a religious preference 'does not bind the Department to accommodate any religious belief or practice,' but the Department may limit access to religious gatherings and special accommodations to offenders who have designated a religion and demonstrate a sincerely held belief.
  - SOP 106.04 and SOP 106.05 both cap religious preference changes at once every six months; a second change within that window requires a formal Religious Accommodations Request under SOP 106.11, and offenders under 18 may change preferences without parental consent.
  - SOP 409.04.28 requires AEP Packaged Meal Plan requests to be reviewed within two business days at the facility level, then forwarded to the Regional Director and the Director of Chaplaincy Services for final approval — offenders cannot participate until the full chain approves.
  - SOP 409.04.28 states that AEP Packaged Meals are Kosher-certified and that Halal-certified foods are used 'when available,' meaning Halal certification is not guaranteed in every meal under the program.
  - SOP 106.10 treats communion wine as a controlled substance, limits it to one to two ounces per service, requires the Intinction Method for Episcopal and Lutheran denominations, and mandates that all excess wine be consumed or disposed of by the priest or minister — none may be left accessible to offenders.
  - SOP 106.08 states that Friday Jumah Prayer 'should conform' to a 1:00–3:00 p.m. time frame 'if operationally feasible,' introducing a security/operations exception that could permit scheduling outside the required Islamic prayer window.
  - SOP 106.06 requires all chaplains to complete 40–80 hours of annual continuing education and hold clinical pastoral education credentials and endorsement from a religious certifying body, and requires that each chaplain 'assures equal status and protection for all religions.'
  - Board Rule SOP 125-4-7-.03 prohibits visiting clergy from initiating conversion attempts with offenders who did not profess the visitor's faith prior to incarceration, though any offender may request a visit in writing and voluntarily attend services.
  - SOP 106.01 requires that distribution of resources among authorized faith groups — including space and equipment — be 'commensurate with their representation within the population,' establishing a proportionality standard that applies facility-wide.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - HALAL CERTIFICATION GAP: SOP 409.04.28 requires AEP Packaged Meals to be Kosher-certified but only uses Halal-certified foods 'when available.' This creates an asymmetry between Jewish and Muslim dietary protections — Kosher is guaranteed, Halal is not — which may raise RLUIPA concerns for Muslim offenders.
  - JUMAH PRAYER FEASIBILITY EXCEPTION: SOP 106.08 frames the 1:00–3:00 p.m. Jumah Prayer window as a recommendation 'if operationally feasible,' rather than a firm requirement. Because the prayer cannot be made up if missed within the Islamic-required time frame (acknowledged by the SOP itself), the 'operationally feasible' qualifier could effectively deprive Muslim offenders of this essential practice without clear standards for when the exception applies.
  - RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE DESIGNATION AS NON-BINDING: SOP 106.05 warns that preference designation 'does not bind the Department to accommodate any religious belief or practice,' yet RLUIPA requires the government to show a compelling interest and use the least restrictive means before substantially burdening religious exercise. The SOP language does not reconcile this tension, leaving ambiguity about when the Department may deny participation in religious activities to an offender who did not formally designate their faith.
  - MINORITY FAITH ACCOMMODATION TRIGGER: Neither SOP 106.04 nor SOP 106.11 specifies a population threshold or numeric trigger for when a minority faith group is entitled to group worship services (as opposed to individual practice or chaplain-assisted clergy contact). SOP 106.01 requires resource distribution 'commensurate with representation,' but does not define a minimum representation level that activates a duty to provide group services.
  - APPROVAL TIMELINE FOR SPECIAL RELIGIOUS REQUESTS: SOP 106.11 references a 'Special Religious Request' procedure for foods not available through the AEP for recognized religious celebrations, but neither SOP 106.11 nor SOP 409.04.28 specifies a processing timeline for these requests beyond the two-business-day window that applies only to the initial AEP Packaged Meal Plan request.
  - WICCA AND NATIVE AMERICAN GUIDELINES VINTAGE: SOP 106.13 (Native American Guidelines) carries an effective date of 10/01/2012 and uses an older reference numbering system (VA01-0013), making it the oldest active chaplaincy SOP in this corpus. Its currency relative to post-Holt v. Hobbs (2015) RLUIPA standards is not addressed by any cross-reference in more recent SOPs.
  - CHAPLAIN AVAILABILITY AT FACILITIES WITHOUT ASSIGNED CHAPLAINS: Board Rule SOP 125-4-7-.02 states that at facilities without an assigned chaplain, 'appropriate religious programs shall be conducted as directed by the Warden/Superintendent.' No SOP defines what 'appropriate' means in that context, what frequency of services is required, or whether the full range of accommodations in SOP 106.11 still applies — creating a potential gap in religious programming quality between staffed and unstaffed facilities.
  - VEGAN BASELINE VS. SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS DIETS: SOP 409.04.28 requires AEP Packaged Meal applicants to explain 'why and how the regular Vegan Meal Plan is insufficient.' This framing places the burden on the offender to justify why a vegan diet does not satisfy their religious requirements (e.g., Kosher or Halal certification, specific preparation methods), but provides no guidance on what evidence or explanation is sufficient for approval — leaving the standard effectively undefined.
RELATED_TOPICS: volunteer-services-management, offender-personal-property, offender-orientation-and-intake, food-service-and-dietary-programs, offender-discipline, visitation-policies, faith-and-character-based-programs

FULL_CONTENT:
## Legal and Policy Foundation

GDC's religious services framework rests on the United States Constitution (First and Fourteenth Amendments), the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA, 42 U.S.C. § 2000cc), and the Americans with Disabilities Act. These authorities are cited in virtually every relevant SOP — including SOP 106.01, SOP 106.04, SOP 106.11, SOP 106.08, SOP 106.12, SOP 106.13, and SOP 409.04.28 — signaling the department's recognition that religious rights carry constitutional weight and federal statutory protection.

The overarching Board Rule, SOP 125-4-7-.01, mandates that "each institution shall provide assigned inmates with an opportunity to practice their religious faith on a regular basis" and that "inmates may not be required to attend Religious Services." Board Rule SOP 125-4-7-.02 specifies that where a chaplain is assigned, they report to both the Warden/Superintendent and the Director of Religious Therapy Programs; where no chaplain is assigned, the Warden or designee coordinates religious programs.

## Chaplaincy Program: Purpose and Structure

SOP 106.01 (Purposes — Chaplaincy Program, effective 12/20/2024) establishes what the chaplaincy is expected to deliver: opportunities to practice faith individually and corporately, possession of authorized religious symbols purchased through approved vendors at the offender's expense, access to approved publications, observance of authorized religious diets and holy days, and clergy/spiritual advisor visits through established procedures. Resources among authorized faith groups "shall be distributed commensurate with their representation within the population," including use of space and equipment.

SOP 106.02 (Chaplaincy Services Objectives) elaborates the chaplain's operational responsibilities: providing worship opportunities, promoting spiritual growth, helping offenders develop social and ethical values, supervising volunteer programs, and acting as a liaison to community religious organizations and family. The chaplain is explicitly described as a bridge between incarceration and post-release reintegration.

SOP 106.04 (Chaplaincy Services) places administrative responsibility for religious programming with the **Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment or Assistant Superintendent** at each facility, who must make available "non-offender clerical staff capable of processing privileged information." Facilities are required to provide "space and equipment adequate for the conduct and administration of all religious programs."

## Identifying and Changing Religious Preferences

Under SOP 106.04 and SOP 106.05 (New Offender Orientation for Religious Programs), offenders designate their religious preference during Diagnostic Intake by completing a Request to Designate/Change Religious Preference Form. SOP 106.05 notes explicitly: "Noting a religious preference on this form is for self-identification purposes only and does not bind the Department to accommodate any religious belief or practice, other than respecting the offender's right to believe as they choose. However, the Department **may limit** participation in religious gatherings, activities, and special religious accommodations to those offenders who designated their religion on the form and who demonstrate a sincerely held religious belief."

Offenders may request a preference change **once every six (6) months**. Additional changes within that window require a formal Religious Accommodations Request under SOP 106.11. This rule is stated identically in both SOP 106.04 and SOP 106.05, providing redundant citation options. Religious designations and accommodations must be documented in SCRIBE (SOP 106.05).

Offenders under age 18 may select or change their religious preference **without parental or guardian consent** (SOP 106.04).

## Worship Services and Interfaith Access

SOP 106.04 requires weekly general chapel worship services conducted by the chaplain or designee. It specifically mandates that:
- A **Roman Catholic priest** conduct Catholic services;
- An **Imam** conduct Islamic services; and
- A **Jewish Rabbi** conduct Jewish services.

When a religious leader of an offender's faith is not represented through chaplaincy staff or volunteers, SOP 106.04 and SOP 106.11 both require the chaplain or designated staff to "assist the offender in contacting a person who has the appropriate credentials from the faith judicatory." That representative ministers under chaplain supervision. This obligation appears in both SOPs, reinforcing its importance.

Access to worship is management-level dependent (SOP 106.04). Services must be announced over the public-address system or by other appropriate means. GDC policy prohibits subjecting any offender, including juveniles, to "coercion, harassment, or ridicule due to their religious affiliation" (SOP 106.04).

Under SOP 106.11, offenders may pray individually or engage in individual religious practices in their assigned cells or by their assigned beds, subject to security and order. "Overt religious conduct that unduly imposes on other offenders is not allowed in the dorms or living units."

## Islamic Guidelines

SOP 106.08 (Islamic [Muslim] Guidelines) provides detailed accommodation rules. Friday **Jumah Prayer** is described as "the essential prayer service for the Muslim... equivalent to Sunday Worship for the Christian" and should be held between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., lasting one to one-and-a-half hours, if operationally feasible. If an approved outside Imam is unavailable, a non-security or security staff member should be appointed to supervise. All practicing Muslim inmates should be allowed to attend.

**Kufi prayer caps** may be worn at any time if they are single-ply, white fabric, fit flush on the head, and do not present safety or security issues. Logos and embroidery must be white-on-white. Women of the Islamic faith should be allowed to cover their heads consistent with security regulations.

**Prayer rugs** (maximum 3' x 4') are authorized for personal possession; they may not be solid black or blue.

**Ramadan fasting** is recognized, with the policy noting it begins 9–11 days earlier each year on the solar calendar and lasts 29–30 days. SOP 106.08 requires modified meal timing to accommodate fasting requirements (the full text of the Ramadan meal accommodation section was truncated in the provided excerpt, but the structure is clear from policy headings).

Members of specified schools of thought or sects are entitled to arrange for **one (1) minister of their choice** to be placed on their visitation list for a pastoral visit (SOP 106.08). General Islamic worship services do not differentiate by denomination, consistent with how Protestant services are administered.

## Native American and Wicca Guidelines

SOP 106.13 (Native American Guidelines) specifies approved paraphernalia: one medicine bag (not to exceed 2"×2"), a white cloth headband, feathers with closed shafts, one small shell (max 3" diameter), up to seven marble-sized sacred stones, and Native American books. Any unapproved items are contraband. Rituals and ceremonies are conducted individually in the cell or another approved location. Group religious study requires a community volunteer. Special day requests must be coordinated through the chaplain's office and require institutional review.

SOP 106.12 (Wicca [Witchcraft] Guidelines) authorizes: a Book of Shadows (handwritten or printed), other books on Wiccan history and ritual, one pack of 78 tarot cards (no violent or graphic sexual imagery), a photo or cardboard drawing of an athame (max 8.5"), and candles/incense for special days only (kept by the chaplain, not the offender). Rituals are conducted individually in the cell or approved location; group study requires a community volunteer. Use of religious practice to intimidate or threaten is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action.

## Religious Dietary Accommodations

SOP 106.11 directs that the Department shall provide an **"Alternative Entrée Program" (AEP)** to meet religious dietary needs, governed by SOP 409.04.28. The AEP, per SOP 409.04.28, provides:
- A **vegan** packaged meal plan (animal product- and by-product-free), available at all GDC facilities; and
- An **AEP Packaged Meal Plan** that is both Kosher-certified and uses Halal-certified foods "when available."

Requests for the AEP Packaged Meal Plan must be submitted in writing, explaining specific beliefs and why the regular vegan plan is insufficient. Facility designees must review requests within **two (2) business days**. Approved requests proceed to the facility's Regional Director, then to the Director of Chaplaincy Services, who consults Legal Services, Facilities Division, and GCI Food Services. Offenders cannot participate until the full approval chain is complete.

For recognized religious celebrations requiring foods not available through the AEP, commissary, or package program, SOP 106.11 allows permission to purchase non-perishable religious food items from an approved vendor through a Special Religious Request procedure.

## Communion Wine

SOP 106.10 (Communion Wine) treats communion wine as a **controlled substance** within the facility. Wine is permitted only for Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran services where doctrinal necessity is established. The **Intinction Method** (dipping bread in wine) is the required administration method for Episcopal and Lutheran services. For Roman Catholic services, the priest must consume or properly dispose of all excess wine and leave none available to offenders. Amount is limited to one to two ounces per service. The facility chaplain coordinates entry of wine, with advance warden approval. Records of receipts and disbursements are controlled as with any other controlled substance/drug. The chaplain may use supply funds to purchase wine, with prior approval, if a non-alcoholic alternative substitution cannot be negotiated.

## Visiting Clergy and Religious Volunteers

Board Rule SOP 125-4-7-.03 authorizes outside clergy and guest speakers to conduct religious services with the Warden/Superintendent's concurrence. Invitations are issued by the chaplain or Warden's designee. Visiting clergy must confine activities to offenders who professed the faith **prior to incarceration**, but any offender may request a visit in writing regardless of prior faith; voluntary attendance at services is permitted. Visitors may not initiate conversion attempts with offenders of other faiths. All visiting clergy are subject to GDC rules and facility regulations.

SOP 106.11 requires chaplains to verify that visiting religious representatives are "in good standing with their religious faith group or denomination" and that they comply with SOP 109.01 (Local Management of Volunteer Services) as either Certified Volunteers or Visiting Volunteers. SOP 109.01 requires criminal background checks, PREA training acknowledgment, and formal application for Certified Volunteers. Visiting Volunteers (one-time visits) must execute a Waiver of Liability.

## Chaplain Qualifications and Professional Development

SOP 106.06 (Professional Development) requires chaplains to meet minimum qualifications including: clinical pastoral education or equivalent specialized training, endorsement by the appropriate religious certifying body, and a demonstrated commitment to equal status and protection for all religions. New chaplains must complete Departmental Program Development Basic Training within the first **six (6) months** of employment. All chaplains must complete **40–80 hours** of continuing education annually, with Warden/Superintendent approval required before attending outside training. Records of in-service training are maintained by the Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment, the Office of Professional Development, and the Director of Chaplaincy Services.

## Reporting and Accountability

SOP 106.07 (Chaplaincy Report) requires chaplains to record daily activities in three categories — Worship Services, Religious Education/Pastoral Care, and Program activities — on monthly reports submitted to facility leadership and the State Director of Chaplaincy Services by the **5th of each month**. Annual reports are submitted one month after the fiscal year ends. Records are retained for one year past the year of activities, then destroyed.

## Faith and Character-Based Initiatives

SOP 503.01 (Faith and Character-Based Initiatives) establishes voluntary faith- and character-based dormitories (minimum 12-month programs) and designated facilities (minimum 24-month programs). These programs are described as "secular in nature" and designed to promote personal responsibility, moral development, and life skills. They rely on GDC staff, peer mentors, and community volunteers. Participation is voluntary and involves application and approval.

## Employee Religious Holiday Leave

SOP 104.39.07 (Leave for a Religious Holiday) applies to GDC employees, not offenders. Employees may request priority consideration for up to **three (3) workdays per calendar year** to observe religious holidays not recognized as state holidays, with at least seven calendar days' advance notice. Requests can be denied only if the employee's duties are urgently required and they are the only available person, or if accommodation would cause undue hardship (requiring the Department Human Resources Director's approval). Paid leave is deducted from deferred holiday time, compensatory time, personal leave, or annual leave, in that order.

--- TOPIC 16 of 24 ---

TITLE: Restrictive Housing and Segregation in Georgia Department of Corrections
SLUG: restrictive-housing-and-segregation
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/restrictive-housing-and-segregation/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:19:26
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections operates multiple distinct forms of restrictive housing — including Disciplinary Isolation, Administrative Segregation (with Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III programs), Protective Custody, and specialized juvenile programs — each governed by separate SOPs with distinct placement criteria, procedural requirements, and time limits. All forms of restrictive housing trigger mandatory health and mental health monitoring obligations, and GDC policy explicitly states that segregation is not intended as corporal punishment or abuse. Step-down transition programs (Tier II STEP and Tier III STEP) are designed to return offenders to general population through 90-day incentive-based programs.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 209.03 caps Disciplinary Isolation at 30 days and prohibits its use as corporal punishment; Board Rule 125-3-2-.09 requires both a Disciplinary Report and a finding of guilt by a Disciplinary Hearing Officer before a cell placement can begin.
  - Board Rule 125-3-1-.03 requires a formal Administrative Segregation hearing within 96 hours of involuntary placement, written notice to the offender at least 24 hours in advance, and Warden review of each case at least every 30 days for indefinite placements.
  - SOP 507.04.33 requires immediate notification of a licensed health care provider upon any restrictive housing placement, a daily health care visit for every offender in restrictive housing, and a medical assessment within 24 hours at facilities without 24-hour coverage.
  - Board Rule 125-4-4-.08 independently requires medical staff notification upon every administrative segregation or disciplinary isolation placement, record review by close of the next business day, and medical checks three times weekly — creating overlapping mandates with SOP 507.04.33.
  - SOP 508.20 requires a Qualified Mental Health Professional to conduct weekly mental health rounds in all restrictive housing units and to screen any offender already receiving mental health services within two working days of placement for contraindications to restrictive housing.
  - The Tier III Program (SOP 209.09) is a minimum 13-month five-phase SMU program; both it and the Tier II Program (SOP 209.08) are explicitly designated 'not a punishment measure' and 'an offender management process.'
  - The Tier II STEP (SOP 209.45) and Tier III STEP (SOP 209.55) are each 90-day step-down programs explicitly designated 'not a restrictive housing unit,' providing general population-comparable conditions and at least four hours of out-of-cell time daily.
  - SOP 209.05 prohibits the use of stripped cells as punishment under any circumstances, limits initial confinement to 8 hours, and requires daily medical authorization for continued placement beyond that threshold.
  - SOP 209.06 states that offenders in Administrative Segregation retain equivalent access to medical, dental, and psychiatric services as general population inmates — a standard also reiterated in SOP 507.04.33.
  - SOP 209.11 limits the Restrictive Housing Assignment – Juvenile Offender Administrative Segregation (RHA-JOAS) Program to a maximum duration of until the juvenile offender turns 18 years old.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Frequency conflict in health monitoring: Board Rule 125-4-4-.08 requires medical checks 'three times weekly' for all offenders in administrative segregation or disciplinary isolation, while SOP 507.04.33 requires a 'daily visit from a health care provider' for all offenders in restrictive housing. The SOP sets a more demanding standard than the Board Rule, but neither SOP 507.04.33 nor SOP 209.06 explicitly acknowledges or resolves this discrepancy.
  - SOP 507.04.33 cross-references 'SOP 507.04.34, Health Evaluation of Offender in Segregation/Disciplinary' (also cited in SOP 209.03), but SOP 507.04.34 was not included in the corpus reviewed. It is unclear how SOP 507.04.33 (effective 2022) and the older SOP 507.04.34 relate or whether one supersedes the other.
  - SOP 209.08 (Tier II Program, effective 2016) and SOP 209.09 (Tier III Program, updated 2025) have significantly different effective dates, raising a question about whether Tier II procedures have been updated to match current Tier III standards — including mental health integration requirements.
  - SOP 209.07 (Tier I Segregation, effective 2015) is an older policy that references 'MH/MR Rounds in Isolation/Administrative Segregation Units' by its legacy reference number rather than the current SOP 508.20 number, suggesting it may not fully reflect 2022 mental health round requirements.
  - No SOP in the corpus reviewed defines a maximum duration for Administrative Segregation (SOP 209.06) or the Tier I Program (SOP 209.07) for adult offenders — only Disciplinary Isolation is capped at 30 days and the juvenile RHA-JOAS is capped at age 18. The Board Rule (125-3-1-.03) allows indefinite placement with 30-day reviews but sets no outer time limit.
  - SOP 508.20 states that mental health rounds are conducted 'primarily for purposes of identification and referral' rather than treatment delivery, but SOP 209.06 guarantees offenders in administrative segregation 'equivalent access to... psychiatric services as general population inmates.' These policies do not explicitly coordinate on how treatment (as distinct from identification) is delivered inside restrictive housing.
  - SOP 209.11 (juvenile RHA-JOAS, effective 2016) predates the updated SOP 211.05 (effective 2017) and SOP 508.20 (effective 2022). It is not clear from the corpus whether the 2022 mental health round requirements of SOP 508.20 have been operationalized in juvenile restrictive housing settings, or whether SOP 209.11 has been updated to align.
RELATED_TOPICS: mental-health-services, offender-discipline, health-care-services, classification-and-security-levels, juvenile-offenders, use-of-force, protective-custody, special-management-units

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview of Restrictive Housing Types

GDC policy establishes several legally and operationally distinct forms of restrictive housing. Understanding the differences matters because each carries different procedural protections, time limits, and conditions.

**Disciplinary Isolation** (SOP 209.03) is the most restrictive short-term sanction, imposed after a disciplinary hearing and finding of guilt (Board Rule 125-3-2-.09). No offender may be placed in Disciplinary Isolation for more than **30 days**, and it "shall not be utilized as corporal punishment." Placement requires recommendation by the Disciplinary Hearing Officer and approval of the Warden/Superintendent or designee. Prior to placement, the Disciplinary Hearing Officer or Investigator must notify a licensed health care provider "as soon as possible."

**Administrative Segregation** (SOP 209.06) is used for offenders removed from general population when their "continued presence in the general population poses a serious threat to life, property, self, staff, or other offenders, or to the security or orderly running of the facility." SOP 209.06 explicitly states: "Administrative Segregation is not intended for a means of abuse, any form of corporal punishment, or harassment of an offender." Circumstances triggering administrative segregation include: pending disciplinary hearing, serving a disciplinary sanction, pending reclassification or transfer, pending investigation, pending Protective Custody review, and protective custody itself (voluntary or involuntary). Board Rule 125-3-1-.03 defines Administrative Segregation as "the withdrawal of an inmate from the general inmate population and his (her) detention in a separated area."

**Tier I Segregation** (SOP 209.07) is a short-term program applicable at all state prisons, county CIs, private prisons, intensive treatment facilities, transitional centers, probation detention centers, and probation boot camps. Placement grounds include: threat to safe/secure operations; awaiting disciplinary hearing; subject of a serious rule violation investigation; excessive destruction of state property; pending criminal charge; protective custody (voluntary or staff-initiated); awaiting transfer or in holdover status; or not yet classified upon arrival.

**Tier II Program** (SOP 209.08) is a long-term administrative segregation program for offenders "whose violent acts have been repetitive and serious" or who pose a serious threat of escape. It is explicitly designated "not a punishment measure" but rather "an offender management process." It uses a multi-phase structure with progressively reduced restrictions as offenders demonstrate compliant behavior.

**Tier III Program / Special Management Unit** (SOP 209.09) is a minimum **13-month** incentive-based program with five phases (Phase 1 through Phase 5, most to least restrictive) for offenders who "commit or lead others to commit violent, disruptive, predatory, or riotous actions." The Tier III Classification Committee — which must include at minimum the Deputy SMU Warden of Security, a Mental Health Counselor or professional, and the Chief of Security — reviews offender progress.

---

## Placement Criteria and Procedural Protections

### Involuntary Administrative Segregation

Board Rule 125-3-1-.03 requires that following any involuntary assignment to Administrative Segregation, the Warden/Superintendent or designee **must hold a formal hearing within 96 hours**. At least 24 hours before that hearing, the offender must be advised in writing of the reasons for placement. At the hearing, the offender may request an employee advocate and may call witnesses (at the Classification Committee's discretion). For indefinite placement authorized in writing by the Warden, documentation of necessity must be forwarded to the Commissioner within 15 days, and the Warden must review the case **at least every 30 days**.

In the absence of the Warden, a senior officer may place an offender in Administrative Segregation for up to **72 hours**, after which the Warden must treat the placement under the voluntary or involuntary procedures of the Board Rule.

### Protective Custody

SOP 209.06 addresses Protective Custody as a subset of Administrative Segregation. An offender may request admission in writing; if voluntary admission is denied, the assignment becomes involuntary, triggering the 30-day review obligation. SOP 209.07 also lists protective custody — both voluntary and staff-initiated — as a ground for Tier I Segregation.

### Juvenile Offenders

SOP 209.11 (Restrictive Housing Assignment – Juvenile Offender Administrative Segregation) governs juvenile offenders (under 18) who commit violent, disruptive, predatory, or riotous acts or pose serious escape threats. The **maximum duration** of the RHA-JOAS Program is until the juvenile turns 18. Like adult programs, this is designated "not a punishment measure" but a management process. SOP 211.05 designates specific PREA-compliant facilities for juvenile offenders and specifies that SOP 209.11 governs their restrictive housing.

---

## Physical Conditions Required

Board Rule 125-3-2-.09 sets the minimum physical specifications for Disciplinary Isolation cells:
- Minimum cell size of 5' × 10' × 7' high (new construction); existing cells approved as exceptions
- Adequate light (natural or artificial) and ventilation (natural or mechanical)
- Proper heating; gas-heated cells require annual safety inspection with certification maintained on record
- No exposed pipes, wiring, or other items usable as weapons
- Bunk, mattress, and seasonal bedding (except as limited by stripped cell procedures)
- Commode, lavatory, and drinking water, or frequent escort to such facilities
- **No more than one inmate per cell**, except in documented emergencies requiring Commissioner notification

Stripped cells — cells from which a serviceable bed, fire retardant mattress, hot/cold running water, proper bedding, or working toilet has been removed — are governed by SOP 209.05. They may only be used in **emergencies** when an offender poses a risk of harm or destroys property, "never as punishment under any circumstances." Placement requires written authorization from the Warden or Superintendent. Maximum initial confinement is 8 hours; continued placement requires medical authorization renewed daily.

Board Rule 125-3-1-.03 also specifies that health standards and rations for offenders in Administrative Segregation "shall be the same as those used for the general inmate population."

---

## Health Monitoring Requirements

Multiple SOPs and Board Rules create overlapping, redundant requirements for health monitoring in restrictive housing — a sign GDC treats this as a high-priority obligation.

**Board Rule 125-4-4-.08** requires that when an offender is placed in administrative segregation or disciplinary isolation, security must notify a medical staff member. A licensed health care provider must review the medical record by the **close of the next business day** to determine if the environment would medically or mentally harm the offender. Medical checks must occur **three times weekly**. The institutional physician must advise the Warden whether the offender can tolerate the "physical and mental stress of such confinement"; if medically required, the Warden must remove the offender from disciplinary isolation.

**SOP 507.04.33** (Health Evaluation of Offenders in Restrictive Housing, effective 1/31/2022) provides the operational procedures implementing this requirement. Upon placement for any reason, the correctional officer must "notify a licensed health care provider immediately." The provider retrieves and reviews the health record for: DOT/SAM medications; nursing assessment needs; mental health history and current treatment; and any contraindications to placement. Each offender in restrictive housing must receive a **daily visit from a health care provider**, announced and recorded in the Isolation/Restrictive Housing logbook.

At facilities without 24-hour medical coverage, placement after hours or on weekends/holidays must be reported immediately to the on-call Health Authority; a licensed health care provider must perform a medical assessment **within 24 hours** of placement.

If following review the nurse believes "the offender's health will be adversely affected by continued placement in restrictive housing," the nurse notifies the physician, who may direct alternate arrangements.

---

## Mental Health Monitoring Requirements

**SOP 508.20** (Mental Health Rounds in Restrictive Housing Units, effective 8/2/2022) requires a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) to conduct **weekly** mental health rounds on all offenders confined in restrictive housing. This policy applies at all GDC facilities with a mental health mission.

For offenders already receiving mental health services who are placed in restrictive housing:
- The mental health unit manager or designee must be notified
- A QMHP must conduct a mental health screen **within two working days** of placement to assess for contraindications
- A QMHP must meet **weekly** with each such offender; contact is documented in the mental health record
- Monthly individual counseling sessions are required based on the offender's mental health level

SOP 508.20 defines "Serious Mental Illness" as "a substantial disorder of thought or mood which significantly impairs judgment, behavior, or capacity to recognize reality or cope with the ordinary demands of life within the prison environment." It defines "Mental Health Offender" as one with a current diagnosis assigned as Level II or higher.

The purpose of mental health rounds is "identification and referral of offenders with Serious Mental Illness, as opposed to delivering actual mental health treatment or service" — though treatment access is separately required by SOP 209.06.

SOP 209.06 states that offenders in administrative segregation "retain equivalent access to medical, dental, and psychiatric services as general population inmates" (mirroring language in SOP 507.04.33).

---

## Step-Down Programs

GDC policy includes formal transition pathways out of the most restrictive housing levels.

**Tier II STEP** (SOP 209.45) is a **90-day** step-down program for offenders who have successfully completed the Tier II Program. All participants are classified as Close Security. The program is explicitly declared "not a restrictive housing unit." Offenders receive at least four hours of out-of-cell time daily and conditions comparable to general population. Successful completion results in consideration for general population reassignment at Close Security classification.

**Tier III STEP** (SOP 209.55) is an identical 90-day structure for offenders completing the Tier III Program, with the same Close Security classification, general population-comparable conditions, and consideration for reassignment upon completion. It is likewise "not a restrictive housing unit." Both STEPs require an orientation within seven calendar days of arrival, delivered by the assigned counselor.

Both programs require their own Classification Committees that include a Mental Health Counselor or professional, a General Population Counselor, the relevant Unit Manager, and the Deputy Warden of Security.

---

## Access to Programs, Commissary, and Property

SOP 227.07 addresses commissary access: offenders in administrative segregation "may complete an order form on specified days and have their purchases transacted by an assigned staff member." Access may be denied or limited through specific disciplinary sanctions or for offenders in disciplinary isolation.

Board Rule 125-3-5-.06 addresses work: offenders in Administrative Segregation, Isolation, or Special Management "may be required to work in their assigned areas consistent with security requirements and good penological practice."

SOP 209.06 requires that offenders in administrative segregation with behavioral problems "be provided with programs conducive to their well-being," and that they retain access to grievance procedures, religious services, legal access, and mail.

---

## Video Recording During Segregation Placement

SOP 204.11 requires that body-worn cameras (BWCs) be activated during "movement of an offender into segregation or isolation," in addition to use-of-force events and shakedowns. This applies to all officers using BWC equipment.

---

## Special Populations

**HIV-positive offenders** (SOP 208.01): Normally placed in general population. Separated housing is authorized if "case review indicates that separated housing is necessary for the welfare of the inmate or other inmates." HIV-positive offenders in general or separate housing who are "sexually active, predatory, or assaultive shall be segregated from the general population until released through existing administrative segregation procedure." The Classification Committee must review each inmate in separated housing every **90 days**.

**TB-suspected offenders** (SOP 507.04.54): Must be immediately separated from general population and transported to Augusta State Medical Prison (ASMP) or a local community hospital; this is medical isolation rather than disciplinary or administrative segregation.

**Mental Health Acute Care Unit** (SOP 508.30): The ACU is a designated short-term intensive mental health unit for offenders who are agitated or experiencing behavioral changes but do not require crisis stabilization. Offenders may refuse mental health treatment but "may not refuse ACU placement." Length of stay should "rarely exceed 14 days."

--- TOPIC 17 of 24 ---

TITLE: Risk Assessment and Reduction: GDC Policy on Risk-Needs Assessments, Programming Assignments, Evidence-Based Practices, and Progress Measurement
SLUG: risk-assessment-and-reduction
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/risk-assessment-and-reduction/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:38:07
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) uses the Next Generation Assessment (NGA), an automated actuarial tool, as the backbone of its risk-needs assessment, security classification, and program planning processes for all offenders under its supervision. NGA results drive individualized Program Plans that target criminogenic needs and feed into housing decisions, treatment referrals, and performance incentive credits. Multiple overlapping SOPs — spanning counseling, classification, mental health, substance abuse, education, and reentry — collectively define how GDC identifies risk, assigns programming, applies evidence-based practices, and measures progress toward recidivism reduction.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 107.04 requires that all offenders sentenced to GDC supervision receive an automated Next Generation Assessment (NGA) upon entry of sentence data into SCRIBE, with nightly automatic updates — there are no exemptions by facility type, custody level, or sentence length.
  - The NGA simultaneously drives two distinct outputs: an individualized Program Plan targeting criminogenic needs (SOP 107.04) and a Security Classification level of close, medium, or minimum custody (SOP 220.02), with the same algorithm governing both rehabilitative and restrictive decisions.
  - SOP 107.04 mandates quarterly counselor review of each offender's Program Plan in SCRIBE, with documented progress or lack thereof, and requires manual plan modification when an offender transfers to a new facility or when new information substantially changes identified needs.
  - SOP 508.44 sets a specific NGA threshold for Integrated Treatment Facility admission — a score of 9 or above on the substance use disorder scale plus a diagnosed mental illness — while SOP 107.11's RSAT eligibility criteria describe 'high risk, high needs offenders' without specifying a minimum NGA score, creating an inconsistency in how numerical risk thresholds are applied across residential treatment programs.
  - SOP 508.21 requires Comprehensive Treatment Plans to be completed within 30 days of mental health caseload placement in non-diagnostic facilities and within 60 days in diagnostic facilities, with Treatment Plan Reviews required every six months, and plans must be signed by both the offender and the treatment team.
  - SOP 214.02 allows eligible offenders to accumulate up to 12 months of Performance Incentive Credit toward earlier release by completing educational, vocational, and treatment programs, with a joint PIC Oversight Team including the Parole Board meeting monthly to review program integrity.
  - SOP 107.13 establishes a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate as a formal reentry credential, but excludes offenders convicted of serious violent felonies under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1, those with a High or Greater disciplinary action within 12 months of release, and those who refused or were disciplinarily withdrawn from programs within 12 months of release.
  - SOP 107.14 requires the Inmate Services Division to conduct Georgia Program Assessment Inventories — which measure 'compliance to evidence-based principles that are proven at reducing recidivism' — at all applicable facilities at least every two years, with Corrective Action Plans required within 30 days of Critical findings.
  - SOP 508.24 explicitly prohibits prescribing psychotropic medications for disciplinary purposes, requiring that all such prescribing be 'clinically indicated as one facet of a program of therapy,' directly linking medication management to individualized treatment planning under SOP 508.21.
  - SOP 211.06 (In-House Transitional Center Dorms), an older policy, references the COMPAS assessment tool for case planning rather than the NGA used in all current department-wide assessment policies, indicating a policy alignment gap in pre-release programming.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Assessment tool inconsistency: SOP 211.06 (In-House Transitional Center Dorms, effective 2015) references the COMPAS assessment for case planning and the TCUDS for substance abuse screening, while all current department-wide assessment policies (SOP 107.04, SOP 220.02, SOP 220.03, SOP 214.04, SOP 108.01) mandate the NGA. GDC policy does not clarify whether ITC programs have been updated to use the NGA or whether COMPAS remains in use, creating ambiguity about which tool governs pre-release program assignments.
  - NGA score threshold gap: SOP 508.44 specifies a minimum NGA score of 9 on the substance use disorder scale for ITF admission, but SOP 107.11 (RSAT) uses qualitative language ('high risk, high needs offenders') without a specific NGA score threshold. It is unclear whether RSAT eligibility is governed by a numeric NGA cutoff or by counselor judgment, and no SOP reconciles this difference.
  - Dual-function conflict in the NGA: The NGA simultaneously generates both a criminogenic needs profile for treatment programming (SOP 107.04) and a security classification level (SOP 220.02). No SOP addresses what happens when a high-needs treatment profile conflicts with a high-security classification — e.g., when an offender's criminogenic needs indicate intensive substance abuse programming but their security level precludes access to that programming.
  - Mental health treatment plan timelines vs. short-term detainee carve-out: SOP 508.21 exempts RSAT and probation detention center detainees with 90 days or fewer to serve from Comprehensive Treatment Plan requirements, using only the Initial Treatment Plan. This creates a different standard of planning documentation for a subset of the population in residential treatment, and the policy is silent on how this interacts with NGA-driven Program Plan review requirements under SOP 107.04.
  - Program completion certificate exclusions: SOP 107.13 bars offenders convicted of serious violent felonies (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1) from receiving the Program and Treatment Completion Certificate entirely, regardless of program participation. No SOP provides an alternative mechanism for documenting programming achievements for this population for reentry purposes.
  - Override authority and NGA: SOP 220.02 allows Wardens to submit Override requests to change the NGA-generated security level, with Central Office holding final authority. However, no SOP specifies whether a security Override that raises an offender's custody level must also trigger a review or modification of the NGA-driven Program Plan under SOP 107.04, leaving a potential gap in program plan updates following classification changes.
  - Transitional center mental health clearance gap: SOP 508.34 (Clearance for Transitional Programs) bars any offender with a mental health Level IV or higher from transitional center placement and any offender who has had an attempted suicide, self-mutilation, or assault within the past 12 months — but no SOP specifies how these exclusion criteria interact with the NGA-driven Program Plan, which may recommend transitional placement for an offender who is clinically excluded.
RELATED_TOPICS: substance-abuse-treatment, mental-health-levels-of-care, security-classification, reentry-planning, performance-incentive-credit, residential-substance-abuse-treatment, cognitive-behavioral-programs, integrated-treatment-facilities, program-and-treatment-completion-certificate, classification-committee

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview

The Georgia Department of Corrections' approach to risk assessment and reduction is built around a single automated instrument — the **Next Generation Assessment (NGA)** — which feeds into virtually every downstream decision about programming, housing, treatment, and release preparation. The foundational policy is **SOP 107.04** (Risk and Needs Assessment), but the NGA and its outputs are explicitly referenced across at least a dozen other SOPs, from security classification (SOP 220.02) to mental health levels of care (SOP 508.16) to the Evidence Based Prison Program (SOP 214.04). This page describes what GDC policy requires at each stage of the risk-assessment-to-programming pipeline.

---

## The Next Generation Assessment (NGA): What It Is and Who It Covers

SOP 107.04 defines the NGA as "an automated, actuarial assessment of risks and needs created for and used on the Georgia correctional population (offenders and high-risk probationers) that produces risks, needs, and responsivity scores." The same definition is repeated verbatim in SOP 508.44 (Integrated Treatment Facilities) and SOP 214.04 (Evidence Based Prison Program), and a functionally identical definition appears in SOP 220.03 (Classification Committee) and SOP 108.01 (Education Programs Administration). The repetition across divisions signals that the NGA is the department-wide standard for offender assessment.

**Coverage:** SOP 107.04 states that "upon entry of sentence data into SCRIBE, all offenders sentenced to supervision by the GDC will receive an automated NGA." The NGA updates automatically each night based on information entered into SCRIBE daily. There is no exemption for any custody level, facility type, or sentence length — the automated assessment runs for everyone.

**Dual purpose:** The NGA serves two distinct but related functions. First, it determines **criminogenic needs** for program planning. Second, it drives the **Security Classification** instrument described in SOP 220.02, which uses the NGA to recommend a security level of close, medium, or minimum. The same algorithm thus informs both rehabilitative programming and housing restriction.

---

## Criminogenic Needs Targeted by the NGA

SOP 107.04 defines **Criminogenic Needs** as "major risk factors for recidivism, which include substance use history, lack of education, lack of work skills, poor employment history, antisocial attitudes, peer interactions, as well as other factors identified by research that create criminogenic (crime-producing) behavior that must be addressed in the Program Plan."

For facilities designated as substance use disorder programs, SOP 107.04 further requires that the range of primary treatment services include, at a minimum: offender diagnosis; identified problem areas; individual treatment objectives; treatment goals; counseling needs; a drug education plan; relapse prevention and management; culturally sensitive treatment objectives; self-help groups; prerelease and transitional service needs; and coordination with community supervision and treatment staff during the prerelease phase.

---

## The Program Plan: Automatic Generation and Mandatory Review

SOP 107.04 states that "the Program Plan is automatically developed by the NGA and in the SCRIBE programs module." The plan addresses needs identified by the NGA and includes programming recommendations. Critically, the NGA and Program Plan are visible not only to GDC counselors but also to the **Department of Community Supervision** and the **State Board of Pardons and Paroles**, making it a shared record across supervising agencies.

**Quarterly review is mandatory.** SOP 107.04 requires that the assigned counselor review the Program Plan in SCRIBE with "progress toward established goals/tasks, or lack thereof, appropriately noted" at minimum every quarter. A review is also required upon receipt of a new caseload assignment. The plan must be **manually modified** when an offender transfers to a facility offering programs not available at the prior assignment, or when new information would "substantially change the needs established in the existing case plan (e.g., newly disclosed substance abuse history, change in medical or mental health status)."

SOP 107.01 (Purpose and Objectives — Access to Counseling Services and Programs) requires facilities to annually assess the offender population's counseling needs and ensure appropriate programs are available. Counselors are required to use the **Data Assessment Plan (DAP)** format for documenting contacts, which includes the offender's disposition and attitude, assessed program needs, how the session relates to overall treatment goals, and where the offender is in their Stage of Change.

---

## Security Classification and the NGA

SOP 220.02 (Security Classification) makes explicit that the NGA *is* the Security Classification Instrument: "Upon placement into the custody of GDC, the Security Classification Instrument, Next Generation Assessment (NGA), generates a security level in SCRIBE for each offender." The Warden/Superintendent or designee must review and approve the system-generated level. If they disagree, they may submit an **Override request** through SCRIBE with documented justification; Central Office has final authority.

SOP 220.03 (Classification Committee) builds on this, requiring that classification committees consider program needs, Special Needs (including ADA, medical, mental health, and educational needs), and custody level together. "Special Needs" is defined to include offenders with "a high risk of re-offending with a history of aggressive and sexually assaultive behavior as assessed by the NGA or another qualified professional."

---

## Evidence-Based Practices in Programming

GDC policy repeatedly invokes evidence-based practices across multiple program types:

- **SOP 107.01** requires that evidence-based assessments sanctioned by the Department be used and that programs incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.
- **SOP 107.11** (Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Programs) describes RSAT as "a progressive, modified therapeutic community that incorporates cognitive-behavioral skill-building, and focuses on pro-social and pro-sober recovery." RSAT targets "high risk, high needs offenders with a history of substance abuse."
- **SOP 508.44** (Integrated Treatment Facilities) requires that offenders admitted to ITFs have a documented serious substance use disorder score of 9 or above on the NGA *and* a mental illness. ITFs provide a therapeutic community model with four treatment phases over nine months.
- **SOP 508.23** (Specialized Mental Health Treatment Units) requires that SMHTUs use "evidence-based interventions, focused on the clinical needs of identified offenders," delivered by multidisciplinary teams, with incentive-based programming to develop pro-social behaviors.
- **SOP 214.04** (Evidence Based Prison Program) establishes two-year Evidence Based Prison (EBP) facilities that use the NGA to determine programming, combine peer mentoring with structured programs such as **Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)**, and measure criminal thinking changes using the TCU Criminal Thinking Scales (TCU-CTS).
- **SOP 107.14** (Office of Reentry Services Audit Process) requires that the Inmate Services Division conduct Georgia Program Assessment Inventories (GPAI) — defined as evaluations measuring "compliance to evidence-based principles that are proven at reducing recidivism" — at all applicable facilities at least every two years.

---

## Mental Health Risk Assessment and Treatment Planning

For offenders with mental health needs, a parallel assessment and planning structure operates alongside the NGA-driven Program Plan. SOP 508.15 (Mental Health Evaluations) requires that all referrals from the Mental Health Reception Screening process be assigned to a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) for evaluation, and that the outcome determines a **mental health classification level** entered into SCRIBE. SOP 508.16 (Mental Health Levels of Care) establishes four levels (I–IV) ranging from no services needed to crisis stabilization, with distinct admission criteria, contact frequency, and treatment planning requirements at each level.

SOP 508.21 (Treatment Plans) requires that all offenders receiving mental health services have a current **Individualized Treatment Plan (ITP)** written by their primary care provider. Timelines vary: in non-diagnostic facilities, a Comprehensive Treatment Plan (CTP) must be completed within 30 days of placement on the mental health caseload. In diagnostic facilities, the ITP governs for up to 60 days, with a CTP required at 60 days for offenders who remain. Treatment Plan Reviews are required every six months (or four months for higher levels of care). Treatment plans must be signed by both the offender and treatment team members.

SOP 508.24 (Psychotropic Medication Use Management) explicitly prohibits using psychotropic medications for disciplinary purposes, requiring that prescribing be "clinically indicated as one facet of a program of therapy." This directly links medication management to the broader treatment planning framework.

---

## Substance Abuse Assessment and RSAT Eligibility

SOP 107.11 and SOP 508.44 both address how NGA scores gate entry into intensive treatment programs. SOP 508.44 specifies that ITF admission requires an NGA score of 9 or above on the substance use disorder scale plus a diagnosed mental illness. SOP 107.11 describes RSAT as targeting "high risk, high needs offenders" without specifying a minimum NGA score threshold, creating a gap relative to ITF specificity (see Gaps section below).

---

## Progress Measurement and Incentives

GDC policy connects program participation to tangible sentence-reduction benefits through SOP 214.02 (Performance Incentive Credit Program). Eligible offenders can accumulate up to **12 months credit** off their length of stay by completing educational and/or vocational programming, treatment programs, work details, and demonstrating good behavior. A PIC Oversight Team — including representatives from the Office of Reentry Services, Vocational/Educational Services, Facility Operations, and the Parole Board — meets monthly to review the program's integrity.

SOP 107.13 (Program and Treatment Completion Certificate) establishes a formal credential documenting an offender's program participation, treatment completion, education, vocational training, and work history during their current incarceration. Eligibility requires: Mental Health Level 3 or below; no serious violent felony conviction (as defined in O.C.G.A. § 17-10-6.1); no active ICE detainer; no new crimes during current incarceration; no High or Greater disciplinary action within 12 months of release; and no refusal or disciplinary withdrawal from programs within 12 months of release.

SOP 503.02 (Reentry Pre and Post-Release Planning) anchors reentry preparation to the risk-reduction framework by requiring reentry planning to begin at initial reception and continue through release, including referrals to Reentry Assessment Centers and the TOPPSTEP employment program in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Labor.

---

## Audit and Quality Assurance

SOP 107.14 establishes the oversight mechanism for program fidelity. The Inmate Services Division must conduct Audits, Quality Assurance Evaluations, fidelity checks, GPAIs, and site visits at least every two years at all state, private, and county prisons, probation detention centers, and transitional centers. GDC contractors meet with designated administrators at least annually. Facilities receiving **Critical** findings must submit a **Corrective Action Plan (CAP)** within 30 days. Quality Assurance Evaluations specifically assess whether programs are "delivered in the manner in which [they were] designed," address classroom control, documentation completeness, and offender participation.

---

## The In-House Transitional Center and Pre-Release Assessment

SOP 211.06 (In-House Transitional Center Dorms) describes a pre-release program targeting offenders within 6–18 months of release. This SOP references the **COMPAS** assessment (Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions) as the case-planning tool, alongside the Texas Christian University Drug Screen (TCUDS) for substance abuse screening. This differs from the NGA-centric approach described in the department's more recent policies and represents an older policy framework that has not been updated to align with the NGA standard (see Gaps section).

--- TOPIC 18 of 24 ---

TITLE: Sanitation and Hygiene in GDC Facilities
SLUG: sanitation-and-hygiene
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/sanitation-and-hygiene/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:41:42
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes layered standards for sanitation and hygiene across all facility types, covering personal cleanliness, laundry, water, food service sanitation, pest control, barber/cosmetology shops, waste disposal, and infection control. Responsibility flows from the Commissioner down to the Warden/Superintendent, individual correctional officers, and offenders themselves, with formal inspection requirements at every level. Multiple SOPs and Board Rules address overlapping subject areas, providing redundant citation options for advocates and attorneys.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - Board Rule 125-2-3-.01 places ultimate sanitation responsibility on the Warden/Superintendent, requires frequent inspections and prompt corrective action, and mandates compliance with all state and local sanitary codes (SOP 1281).
  - SOP 228.01 requires correctional officers to conduct daily sanitation inspections on every shift and Wardens/Superintendents to conduct weekly mandatory formal inspections of all living and activity areas, with life-safety deficiencies addressed immediately.
  - Board Rule 125-2-3-.04 and SOP 507.04.71 together require that each offender receive at least three clean changes of clothing and one clean change of bed linen and towels per week, with hot shower water thermostatically controlled between 100 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
  - SOP 206.04 requires the Sanitation Officer to check every dorm hygiene cabinet daily to ensure it is continuously stocked with toilet paper, sanitary napkins, and tampons, and mandates that basic hygiene items be replaced whenever empty or worn regardless of frequency.
  - SOP 507.04.72 requires the Food Service Director to inspect all food service workers every shift and exclude any worker showing symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, or infected cuts; offenders with active hepatitis A or chronic shigella/salmonella infection must be excluded until cleared by a physician.
  - SOP 228.02 requires barbers to wash hands with soap and water before every client and to disinfect all implements—scissors, clippers, combs, nail clippers—after each use on every person, in compliance with Georgia State Board of Barbers and Cosmetology sanitation rules.
  - SOP 401.12 sets the minimum laundry standard at linen and towel exchange at least weekly and blanket exchange at least quarterly, while Board Rule 125-2-3-.05 requires every institution to maintain or have access to an adequate laundry facility.
  - SOP 507.04.71 requires environmental surfaces to be cleaned regularly with a dilute bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 gallon water) or an EPA-approved disinfectant, with special attention to high-touch surfaces such as faucets and door handles.
  - Board Rule 125-2-3-.02 requires institutions to meet or exceed water purity requirements and maintain an adequate supply for consumption, laundry, bathing, and firefighting; SOP 507.04.71 further requires hand-washing sinks, drinking fountains, showers, and toilets in sufficient numbers and with adequate water pressure.
  - SOP 409.03.11 requires confined animal feeding operations at GDC farms to maintain waste storage systems, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans, and flow meters, and to pump lagoons weekly to maintain a 24-inch minimum freeboard, with at least one certified Animal Waste System Operator per site.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Frequency of clothing changes: Board Rule 125-2-3-.04 (SOP 1284) says clean work uniforms must be issued 'at least once a week,' while SOP 507.04.71 says each offender receives 'at least three (3) clean changes of clothing' per week. It is unclear whether the Board Rule's once-a-week standard applies only to work uniforms and whether the SOP 507.04.71 standard applies to all clothing or only to work clothing — the two provisions could be read as requiring different minimums depending on context.
  - Hygiene supply funding at Transitional Centers: SOP 215.13 states that when residents can afford to purchase their own hygiene necessities, GDC stops furnishing them. No similar income-based cutoff appears in the standard prison hygiene provisions (Board Rule 125-2-3-.04 / SOP 1284) or in SOP 206.04, creating an inconsistency across facility types regarding who bears the cost of basic hygiene.
  - Shower temperature: SOP 507.04.71 specifies that hot water for showers be 'thermostatically controlled at temperatures between 100 and 120 degrees.' No corresponding temperature floor or ceiling appears in Board Rules 125-2-3-.02 or 125-2-3-.04, leaving it unclear whether this temperature standard applies in facilities where SOP 507.04.71 is interpreted as a health services guideline rather than a facilities operations mandate.
  - Contracted food service operations: Both SOP 409.04.10 and SOP 409.04.18 state that 'exceptions may be made for contracted food service operations,' but neither SOP specifies what standards apply to contracted operators in lieu of the GDC sanitation requirements. SOP 409.04.05 requires contractors to 'abide by all GDC rules for sanitation' and to comply with Georgia Department of Public Health rules, but the exception language in the other SOPs creates ambiguity about enforcement.
  - Gender non-conforming offenders' hygiene items: SOP 206.04 allows gender non-conforming and transgender offenders to request specific hygiene items appropriate to their needs, but routes those requests through Warden approval with no stated criteria, timeline, or appeal mechanism, leaving the standard entirely discretionary.
  - Detainee hygiene supply scope: SOP 213.08 lists only soap, razor, toothbrush, and toothpaste for probation detention center and boot camp detainees, omitting deodorant, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products that are required under Board Rule 125-2-3-.04 and SOP 206.04 in state prisons. Whether the detainee-specific SOP is intended to be exhaustive or merely a floor is not resolved.
  - No specific pest control frequency or standard for general housing: SOP 409.04.10 and SOP 409.04.18 address pest control in the food service and storage context, and SOP 409.04.22 references rodent control for meat processing plants. No SOP in this corpus establishes a specific pest control schedule or minimum standard for general offender housing areas.
  - Laundry handling for infectious materials: SOP 507.04.71 requires blood-soaked or parasite-infested laundry to be handled with gloves and gowns, double-bagged, labeled, and laundered separately, but SOP 401.12 (Laundry Procedures) makes no reference to infectious laundry protocols, creating a potential operational gap where laundry staff following only SOP 401.12 would not be aware of the infection-control requirements.
RELATED_TOPICS: food-service-and-nutrition, infection-control-and-communicable-disease, offender-clothing-and-property, facility-inspections-and-maintenance, health-services-and-medical-care, restrictive-housing-conditions, barber-and-cosmetology-services

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Legal Foundation

GDC sanitation and hygiene standards are grounded in Georgia Board of Corrections rules that carry the force of regulation. Board Rule 125-2-3-.01 (SOP 1281) places ultimate responsibility on the **Warden/Superintendent**, assisted by the institutional physician, for "direction, coordination, and supervision of all activities associated with the maintenance of high standards of sanitation." The rule requires "frequent inspections and prompt corrective actions to reduce or eliminate deficiencies noted" and mandates compliance with all state and local sanitary codes published by the Department of Public Health or the applicable County Board of Health.

SOP 228.01 (Safety – Sanitation Inspections) operationalizes that Board Rule obligation at the facility level and applies to all state facilities and centers housing GDC offenders, as well as State Offices South at Tift College.

---

## Inspection Regime

SOP 228.01 creates a three-tier inspection structure:

1. **Correctional officers** conduct daily sanitation inspections of every assigned post, including housing units, and must complete a Sanitation Inspection Report (Attachment 1) on each shift, with a corrective action plan for any unacceptable area. Maintenance Request Forms must be submitted where applicable. Completed reports go to the shift supervisor, who forwards them to the Facility Safety and Sanitation Officer.

2. **Warden/Superintendent and/or designee** must conduct **weekly mandatory scheduled** safety and sanitation inspections of all living and activity areas, plus periodic unscheduled inspections. Life, health, and occupational safety concerns identified must be addressed immediately.

3. A designated **Facility Safety and Sanitation Officer** oversees the facility-wide Sanitation and Safety Program and coordinates a Safety Committee that includes department heads.

SOP 409.01.01 (Authority and Responsibility) extends this to **Georgia Correctional Industries (GCI) plants**: the host institution inspects GCI facilities at regular intervals, and any discrepancies must be reported up the GCI chain of command. The senior GCI employee must file a remedial-action report within seven days.

For **inmate construction housing units** located outside perimeters, SOP 211.01 requires the Warden or designee to tour and inspect at a minimum weekly for security, sanitation, and safety issues.

---

## Personal Hygiene: Offenders and Detainees

### State Prisons — Board Rule Standard

Board Rule 125-2-3-.04 (SOP 1284) sets the baseline for all institutions:

- Inmates must be furnished "basic necessities to maintain a high standard of personal cleanliness," including "soap, razor blades or other shaving devices, toothbrushes, toothpaste or powder, etc." Female inmates must receive **additional hygiene items as required**.
- Inmates assigned to **daily work details** must bathe daily.
- Inmates assigned to **food service duties** must bathe **prior to reporting** to their shift.
- Freshly laundered work uniforms must be issued "as necessary," with clean uniforms issued **at least once a week**.
- Bedding must be maintained in a sanitary condition; **sheets and pillowcases must be changed at least once a week**; mattresses and pillows must be inspected and aired monthly if indicated, with soiled or damaged items cleaned, disinfected, and/or replaced.
- Each inmate must have a foot locker, wall locker, or other appropriate storage space and must maintain personal effects and assigned area "in a neat, orderly and sanitary condition at all times."

SOP 507.04.71 (Environmental Health and Safety) reinforces and supplements these requirements, stating that each offender "will be furnished with a clean mattress, pillow and case, sheets, blanket and a locker or cabinet." It specifies that hot water for showers must be **thermostatically controlled between 100 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit**.

### Transitional Centers

SOP 215.13 (Resident Hygiene, Appearance, and Hair Care) applies to Transitional Centers and mirrors the prison standard: residents are furnished basic necessities—"soap, razor blades or other shaving devices, toothbrushes, toothpaste or powder, deodorant, toilet paper, and special hygiene items for female residents"—if they cannot purchase their own. When residents earn enough to buy their own necessities, GDC stops furnishing them. Residents must bathe daily and maintain clean clothing. Each Transitional Center must either maintain a laundry facility or ensure residents have adequate access to one.

### Probation Detention Centers and Boot Camps

SOP 213.08 (Detainee Personal Sanitation and Hygiene) requires detainees to bathe daily after completing work details, with food service detainees required to shower **prior to reporting to work**. Basic hygiene supplies—soap, razor, toothbrush, and toothpaste—must be provided. Clean clothing, bed linen, and towels are required, exchanged at designated times. All personal and issued property must be stored in assigned space maintained "in a neat and sanitary condition at all times."

---

## Feminine Hygiene Items

SOP 206.04 (Feminine Hygiene Items Issuance) creates a specific issuance system for female offenders. The **Administrative Lieutenant** ensures the Laundry Officer issues items; the Laundry Officer must maintain detailed logs of every issuance including dates, amounts, and each offender's name.

Weekly issuance (offender must show ID): toothpaste, deodorant, and soap. On an as-needed basis: comb, razor, hairbrush, and toothbrush. **Toilet paper, sanitary napkins, and tampons** must be "readily available to offenders in the housing units" at all times; the Sanitation Officer must check the hygiene cabinet in each dorm daily to ensure it is stocked. Basic issued items must be replaced when empty or worn from normal use, regardless of frequency. Offenders confined to restrictive housing or medical must have items brought to them.

Gender non-conforming and transgender offenders may request hygiene items appropriate to their needs; such requests go to the Warden for approval or disapproval.

---

## Laundry

Board Rule 125-2-3-.05 (SOP 1285) requires every institution to maintain an adequate laundry facility, participate jointly with another institution, or use commercial laundry service. Special attention must be paid to "clean and sanitary items related to Food Service personnel and activities."

SOP 401.12 (Laundry Procedures) governs day-to-day laundering: **linen and towel exchange at least weekly; blanket exchange at least quarterly**. Dorm officers collect laundry using a Laundry Count Form and escort it to the laundry area. Laundry personnel count, verify, and document incoming and outgoing items in a logbook. Discrepancies are noted and reported. All laundry forms are retained for six months then destroyed.

SOP 507.04.71 adds infection-control detail: laundry of **blood-soaked or parasite-infested material** must be handled with gloves and gowns, double-bagged, labeled, and laundered separately. Bleach enhances effectiveness and is activated at 135–145°F.

---

## Water Supply

Board Rule 125-2-3-.02 (SOP 1282) requires institutions to "meet or exceed the water purity requirements dictated by law and regulation" and to maintain an adequate supply for consumption, laundry, bathing, firefighting, and other near-term forecast requirements.

SOP 507.04.71 further specifies that hand-washing sinks, drinking fountains, showers, and toilets must be "present in sufficient numbers, accessible with adequate water pressure, and kept clean and in good repair." Environmental surfaces must be cleaned regularly with a dilute bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 gallon water) or another EPA-approved disinfectant. Liquid soap dispensers should be used where feasible.

---

## Sewage and Waste Disposal

Board Rule 125-2-3-.03 (SOP 1283) requires that sewage collection and disposal facilities at each institution "meet all applicable state and local codes and regulations" and be adequate to accommodate the inmate population in accordance with standards set by the Department of Health or County Board of Health.

SOP 409.03.11 (Animal Waste Systems) governs manure and wastewater at GDC farms with confined livestock or poultry operations. Each confined animal feeding operation must maintain waste storage (earthen lagoons and/or slurry tanks), land application systems, a designated land application site, a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP), and flow meters. Waste lagoon liquid levels must be pumped down weekly to maintain a minimum 24-inch freeboard. At least one staff member per contained animal feeding operation must hold Animal Waste System Operators Certification.

---

## Food Service Sanitation

SOP 409.04.10 (Sanitation) is the primary food service sanitation policy, applicable to all GDC facilities operating kitchens. It requires the Food Service Director to instruct and train all personnel on sanitation rules. No person with open lesions, infected wounds, or a transmissible communicable disease may work in food service; the Food Service Director must visually check offenders and staff for obvious signs of disease when they report for work.

A housekeeping schedule must address: clean and well-lighted work and storage areas; covered overhead pipes; sneeze guards on open serving lines; regular cleaning of walls, floors, ceilings, and ventilation hoods; washing, rinsing, and sanitizing of kitchenware and food-contact surfaces after each use.

SOP 507.04.72 (Food Service Workers) from the Health Services Division duplicates and expands on the food service hygiene requirements: workers must bathe daily before each shift, wash hands and exposed arms before starting and as often as necessary during work, keep fingernails clean and trimmed, wear hair restraints, and eat only in designated areas. The Food Service Director must inspect all workers each shift and refer anyone with symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, pustular acne, or infected cuts/boils on the hands, arms, face, or neck to the Responsible Health Authority. Offenders with chronic shigella or salmonella infection or active hepatitis A must be excluded until cleared by a Physician, PA, or NP.

SOP 409.04.18 (Inspection and Storage) requires all storage areas to be "well ventilated, and kept clean and free from dirt, dust, and grease," with all items stored at least 6 inches above the floor, 6 inches from the wall, and 18 inches below the ceiling. Temperatures in nonperishable storerooms must be maintained above 45°F and below 85°F, checked and documented three times daily.

---

## Barber and Cosmetology Shops

SOP 228.02 (Facility/Center Barber/Cosmetology Shops) requires that barber and cosmetology shops be operated "in a safe and sanitary manner" in compliance with Georgia State Board of Barbers (Rule 70-5) and Georgia State Board of Cosmetology (Rule 130-5) sanitation standards. Specific requirements include:

- Barbers must **thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water before rendering service to each person**.
- Scissors, clippers, combs, and all implements must be "thoroughly cleaned, and disinfected in accordance with labeled directions on the disinfectant after final use on each person."
- Hair and nail clippings must be swept between cuttings and deposited in an approved waste container.
- Floors must be cleaned daily with a disinfectant-based solution.
- Implements with broken guards or sharp edges that could contact skin must not be used.
- All tools must be inventoried at the close of business each day; nail clippers must be numbered, shadow-boarded, tethered, and chained.

---

## Infection Control and Environmental Health

SOP 507.04.71 (Environmental Health and Safety) establishes a comprehensive eight-component environmental health program—offender housing, laundry services, food services, general sanitation, climate control, infection control, fire safety, and equipment/utility inspections—developed by the Facilities Division in consultation with the Office of Health Services and monitored by the Warden in conjunction with the responsible health authority.

SOP 507.04.70 (Infection Control Program) requires each facility to implement a surveillance system to identify and report notifiable diseases and clusters of infection, maintain an Infection Control Committee, and follow CDC, OSHA, and APIC guidelines. The Infection Control Coordinator monitors trends and reports to the Statewide Medical Director, the Office of Health Services, the CQI Committee, and the Georgia Department of Public Health.

---

## Clothing and Bedding Issuance

SOP 401.01 (Offender Clothing Management and Standard Issue) requires GDC to provide all offenders with state-issued clothing, bedding, linens, and personal hygiene items "in suitable condition." Bedding is defined as at minimum one mattress and one pillow; linens include at minimum two sheets, one pillowcase, and sufficient blankets. Inventory is tracked in the SCRIBE Care and Custody Module. Unserviceable items must be documented at time of destruction and cut or shredded.

SOP 507.04.71 independently confirms that each offender will be furnished "a clean mattress, pillow and case, sheets, blanket and a locker or cabinet for the safe and orderly storage of personal property," and that each offender will receive "at least three (3) clean changes of clothing and one (1) clean change of bed linen and personal towels per week."

For inmates transferring to Transitional Centers, SOP 215.16 requires the sending facility to provide a minimum package of civilian clothing and personal hygiene items (including towels, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb/brush, razor, shaving cream, and deodorant; for females, at least 12 sanitary napkins/tampons) if the inmate does not already possess them.

--- TOPIC 19 of 24 ---

TITLE: Searches and Contraband Control
SLUG: searches-and-contraband
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/searches-and-contraband/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:21:05
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes multi-layered rules governing what constitutes contraband, how searches are conducted across different facility types, and how seized items are logged, stored, and disposed of. Several overlapping SOPs define contraband consistently but apply distinct procedural requirements depending on facility type (prisons, detention centers, transitional centers, boot camps). Health care personnel operate under a separate, restrictive framework that largely prohibits their participation in search-related evidence collection.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 206.02 establishes the foundational rule that any item not acquired through one of six authorized methods is contraband and must be seized wherever found — in an offender's possession, living quarters, or facility common areas.
  - Three contraband tiers — general contraband, nuisance contraband, and illegal contraband — are defined consistently across at least five SOPs (206.01, 206.02, 226.04, 213.17, 227.06), but only general and illegal contraband must be recorded on the formal Weapons and Contraband Log under SOP 226.04; nuisance contraband is explicitly excluded from that log.
  - SOP 507.04.90 prohibits GDC health care personnel from conducting body cavity searches, collecting drug screen specimens, or performing psychological evaluations for adversarial proceedings; when a body cavity search is authorized by the Warden/Superintendent, it must be performed by a health care provider at an outside medical facility — not at the institution.
  - SOP 226.04 requires all facilities to submit monthly Weapons and Contraband Logs to their Regional Director by the 10th of each month, including negative-findings reports; Regional Directors then consolidate and forward to the Field Operations Director by the 20th — creating a statewide reporting chain with a defined paper trail, though records are destroyed after one year.
  - SOP 206.02 designates the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) as the sole authority over the Evidence Locker for illegal contraband, with keys restricted to OPS Investigators and Special Agents-In-Charge, providing a chain-of-custody structure distinct from general property storage.
  - SOP 204.11 mandates that body-worn cameras be activated during shakedowns and searches of offenders or locations, as well as when moving offenders into segregation — directly linking search documentation to video evidence requirements.
  - SOP 204.09 requires all staff entering facilities to disclose wireless communication devices at security checkpoints and complete a Wireless Device Tracking Sheet; non-state-issued devices are prohibited without prior written Appointing Authority approval, and unauthorized devices found inside constitute contraband subject to incident reporting and SOP 206.02 disposition.
  - SOP 507.04.45 requires correctional staff to check for contraband medications during periodic shakedowns and return confiscated medications to health care staff, unless the medications are needed for evidentiary purposes related to a disciplinary report, criminal charges, or adverse staff action.
  - SOP 210.04 (Boot Camp) restricts personal property to a narrow list and states explicitly that inmates and probationers 'shall be informed that their persons, quarters and work areas are subject to search at any time,' with unscheduled searches described as being 'in the best interest of good order and discipline.'
  - SOP 507.04.90 requires medical staff to cooperate with security by identifying prescribed medications that may explain false-positive drug test results, creating a specific obligation for inter-departmental cooperation that runs in the offender's favor.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 226.04 explicitly excludes nuisance contraband from the Weapons and Contraband Log, but no SOP in the provided corpus specifies a separate tracking or reporting mechanism for nuisance contraband — leaving its documentation requirements ambiguous.
  - SOP 226.01 (Searches, Security Inspections, and Use of Permanent Logs) is the primary governing authority for searches and is cited by at least eight other SOPs, but its full text is not included in the provided corpus, creating a significant gap in understanding the complete search authorization framework and procedures.
  - SOP 507.04.90 requires that authorized body cavity searches be performed at an 'Outside Medical Facility,' but no SOP specifies what happens if the offender refuses transport, refuses the search at the outside facility, or if no outside facility is available — the policy is silent on these contingencies.
  - The evidentiary exception in SOP 507.04.45 — allowing confiscated medications to be retained for disciplinary, criminal, or staff-adverse-action proceedings — is not cross-referenced with chain-of-custody requirements in SOP 206.02 or the OPS Evidence Locker procedures in SOP 206.02, leaving the handling standard for such medications ambiguous.
  - SOP 204.09 (Wireless Communications Devices) has a 2025 effective date while SOP 206.02 has a 2019 effective date; where the newer SOP's definitions of wireless device contraband interact with SOP 206.02's broader contraband disposition framework, the relationship is not explicitly addressed in either document.
  - SOP 220.09 cross-references SOP 226.01 for search procedures involving transgender and intersex offenders, but the provided corpus does not include SOP 226.01's specific provisions on who may conduct pat-down or strip searches of transgender offenders — a PREA-sensitive gap that readers would need to resolve by reviewing SOP 226.01 directly.
  - SOP 226.04 requires record retention of the Weapons and Contraband Log and Monthly Summary for only one year before destruction. For cases involving criminal prosecution or civil litigation, this one-year retention period may be insufficient, but no SOP in the corpus extends this period or cross-references litigation-hold requirements.
  - SOP 213.17 (Detention Centers) and SOP 215.12 (Transitional Centers) each contain facility-specific contraband and property procedures that largely parallel SOP 206.02, but neither explicitly addresses the relationship between their local procedures and the OPS Evidence Locker protocol in SOP 206.02 — it is unclear whether evidence-locker requirements apply to these facilities.
RELATED_TOPICS: offender-personal-property, use-of-force-and-restraints, visitation-of-offenders, offender-discipline, health-care-and-forensic-evidence, prea-sexually-abusive-behavior-prevention, entry-security-procedures, incident-reporting, offender-mail-and-correspondence, transitional-center-operations

FULL_CONTENT:
## Definitions of Contraband

GDC policy uses three distinct contraband categories, and the same definitions appear across multiple SOPs — a signal of their foundational importance.

**Contraband** is defined in SOP 206.02, SOP 206.01, SOP 226.04, SOP 213.17, and SOP 227.06 with consistent language: property items "which are not explicitly authorized for possession; which were acquired through unauthorized means; which exceed personal property limitations on value or amount; which cannot be maintained in a neat and safe manner; or which present a fire, sanitation, or security issue."

**Nuisance Contraband** is defined in SOP 206.02, SOP 206.01, SOP 226.04, SOP 213.17, and SOP 215.12 as "any item or article which may be or may have been authorized for possession, but which is now prohibited because of excessive quantities or otherwise presents a fire, sanitation, security, or housekeeping problem."

**Illegal Contraband** is defined in SOP 206.02, SOP 226.04, and SOP 215.12 as "any item or article that is illegal in nature as defined by State or Federal Law; any item or article that poses a serious threat to the security of the institution and is ordinarily not approved for possession or admission into the institution; any item (weapon) which could be used to cause injury to an individual."

The practical significance of these distinctions is procedural: SOP 226.04 explicitly states that "Nuisance Contraband shall not be recorded on" the Weapons and Contraband Log — meaning only standard and illegal contraband trigger the formal logging and reporting chain described below.

## Authorization to Possess Property

SOP 206.02 establishes the baseline rule for all state, private, and county facilities: offenders "may possess only the property that is acquired by" one of six authorized methods — items issued upon or during admission, commissary purchases, approved vendor purchases, certain mail items, certain transitional center items, or property present upon arrival that meets authorization criteria. "Any item or article that is not acquired through authorized methods shall be considered contraband and shall be seized when found, whether it is in physical possession of an offender, in an offender's living quarters, or in common areas of the facility."

SOP 206.01 (Offender Personal Property Standards) supplements SOP 206.02 by specifying authorized quantities and types, including limits tied to locker storage capacity and fire, sanitation, security, and housekeeping concerns.

For **probation detention centers**, SOP 213.17 mirrors the same framework and requires detainees to be advised of authorized items during pre-admission orientation. Staff are specifically held responsible for "properly following established procedures in confiscating Contraband."

For **transitional centers**, SOP 215.12 imposes additional limits — for example, a resident may not possess more than one radio/cassette or MP3 player, and jewelry is capped at a combined value of $100. SOP 215.11 (Resident Rules and Regulations) requires each transitional center's resident handbook to include "definition of contraband and unauthorized items, and right of staff to search and inspect residents, rooms, and property."

For **boot camps**, SOP 210.04 restricts personal property to a narrow state-issued clothing list plus a limited set of personal items (stamps up to one book, legal materials, one religious text, prescription eyeglasses, limited correspondence and photographs). Commissary is limited to personal hygiene items not exceeding $12.00 in value. SOP 210.04 defines contraband simply as "any article not authorized to be in possession of an inmate/probationer," cross-referencing SOP 206.02.

## Searches: Authority and Scope

**General authority.** SOP 226.01 (Searches, Security Inspections, and Use of Permanent Logs) is cited as the governing authority for searches across numerous other SOPs, including SOP 227.05 (Visitation), SOP 220.09 (Transgender/Intersex Management), and SOP 209.11 (Juvenile Offender Administrative Segregation). While SOP 226.01 itself is not reproduced in the provided corpus, its centrality is confirmed by its repeated citation.

**Offender persons, quarters, and work areas.** SOP 210.04 states directly that "inmates/probationers shall be informed that their persons, quarters and work areas are subject to search at any time. Unscheduled searches of inmates/probationers, bedding, lockers, work areas, dayrooms, study areas and latrine areas are in the best interest of good order and discipline."

**Video recording during searches.** SOP 204.11 requires body-worn cameras (BWCs) to be activated "during shakedowns, search of an offender or location, movement of an offender into segregation or isolation, or as otherwise directed by the Warden, Superintendent or designee." The policy also notes that video documentation may be useful "in documenting crime and accident scenes or other events, including confiscation and documentation of evidence or contraband."

**Tactical Squads and Interdiction Response Teams.** SOP 205.13 establishes that Tactical Squads and Interdiction Response Teams (IRTs) exist specifically to assist "with shakedowns, special details, and emergency situations." IRT members are assigned regionally and must meet heightened physical fitness standards. This SOP makes clear that large-scale search operations have dedicated, specially trained personnel.

**Native American religious items.** SOP 106.13 notes that approved religious paraphernalia (medicine bags, feathers, shells, sacred stones) "are subject to routine searches" and that inmates "will make these items available as in the case with all other personal property." Any Native American items not specifically approved "will be considered contraband and handled accordingly."

## Body Cavity Searches

SOP 507.04.90 (Forensic Information) governs the intersection of health care and search authority. Health care personnel are explicitly prohibited from "conducting body cavity searches for contraband." Instead:

1. When an offender is suspected of harboring contraband in a body cavity, "the use of a Dry Cell [a cell without running water] as an initial measure will be encouraged to avoid the need for a body cavity search."
2. Body cavity searches "conducted for security reasons will be conducted only when there is reason to do so and when authorized by the Warden/Superintendent."
3. When ordered by the Warden/Superintendent, body cavity searches "will be conducted by a health care provider at an Outside Medical Facility" — not at the GDC institution.
4. "Invasive procedures (i.e., endoscopic) may be done with the written informed consent of the offender."

This framework means that GDC medical staff on-site are not the mechanism for body cavity searches; the Responsible Health Authority must arrange an outside facility.

## Drug Screens

SOP 507.04.90 also addresses drug testing in the search context: "Urine samples for drug screens will be collected and labeled by security personnel. Health care personnel will not collect body fluid specimens for drug screens." Blood specimens for drug screening, if required, must be collected at an outside medical facility. Notably, SOP 507.04.90 requires medical staff to cooperate with security when a positive test may be explained by a prescribed medication — medical staff must identify potentially interfering medications, not to aid prosecution, but to potentially "exonerate the offender from false positive test results."

SOP 507.04.45 adds that correctional staff "will check for contraband medications during periodic shakedowns and report findings to the medical staff. All medications that are confiscated will be returned to the health care staff unless needed for evidentiary purposes related to a disciplinary report, criminal charges, or an adverse action against a staff member."

## Visitor Searches and Contraband Prevention

SOP 227.05 (Visitation of Offenders) references SOP 226.01 as the controlling authority for searches conducted during visitation. Visitation is described as "a privilege for offenders and should not be considered a right," and visits "are to be scheduled and supervised, in strict accordance with the following procedures, which are designed to contribute to good public relations and provide a comfortable and secure visitation environment."

SOP 204.09 (Wireless Communications Devices) addresses a specific category of contraband control at entry: all staff entering facilities must disclose wireless communication devices at the first security checkpoint, where a Wireless Device Tracking Sheet is completed. Non-state-issued devices are prohibited without prior written approval from the Appointing Authority. An exception allows physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and Health Service Administrators to bring personal cell phones in with prior written approval. Any unauthorized device discovered constitutes contraband subject to incident reporting and disposition per SOP 206.02.

## Logging and Reporting Requirements

SOP 226.04 establishes the Weapons and Contraband Log (Attachment 1) and the Monthly Summary of Weapons and Contraband (Attachment 2). Required log entries include:

1. Date the weapon or contraband was found
2. Brief description of the item
3. Location where found
4. Employee who found the item
5. Offender's name and GDC ID number, if found in an offender's possession
6. Disciplinary actions taken
7. Whether a warrant was sworn in local court

**Nuisance contraband is explicitly excluded** from this log. The Warden or Superintendent "shall review all Weapons and Contraband Logs." Completed logs must be submitted to the respective Regional Director no later than the 10th day of the following month, even when findings are negative ("Reports with negative findings are to be submitted to ensure that all facilities are accounted for"). Each Regional Director consolidates reports using Attachment 2 and forwards everything to the Field Operations Director's office by the 20th of the month. Both attachments are retained for one year and then destroyed.

## Seizure, Storage, and Disposition of Contraband

SOP 226.04 states that disposition of any contraband recorded on the log "shall be done in accordance with SOP 206.02." All contraband "will be stored in the secure area designated by the Warden/Superintendent." For facilities with designated evidence lockers in outside mailrooms, the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) procedure applies.

SOP 206.02 defines the **Evidence Locker** as "a secure storage locker for illegal contraband maintained by the Georgia Department of Corrections, Office of Professional Standards (OPS). Removal of illegal contraband from the Evidence Locker will be restricted to the Investigator or Special Agent-In-Charge from OPS. OPS will maintain absolute control of the keys and locks to the Evidence Locker." Keys are issued to the Institutional Investigator and Special Agent-In-Charge, with additional copies at OPS Central Office and regional offices.

SOP 206.02 governs full disposition procedures for seized items, cross-referencing SOP 206.03 (Disposition of Abandoned, Tangible Inmate Property) for items no longer associated with a specific offender.

For **transitional centers**, SOP 215.12 includes specific attachments for property disposal, including a Resident Property Disposal Agreement, a Surrender of Property in Event of Escape form, Evidence Tags, and a Property Control Log.

## Health Care Personnel: Prohibition on Forensic Participation

SOP 507.04.90 states categorically that "health care personnel will not participate in the collection of Forensic Information or evidence to be used against offenders." This prohibition covers body cavity searches, drug screens, psychological evaluations "for use in adversarial proceedings including disciplinary, court, and probation or parole hearings," and DNA collection other than for the state DNA database or court-ordered paternity testing. This SOP applies to all GDC facilities, including private and county prisons.

## Contraband in Mail

SOP 227.06 defines contraband consistently with SOP 206.02 and establishes that incoming mail is subject to inspection. Mail room procedures are designed to detect contraband introduced through correspondence. "Privileged mail" (attorney mail, court correspondence, elected officials, GDC Commissioner, etc.) is subject to special handling protections but contraband within any mail category remains subject to seizure.

## Transgender and Intersex Offenders: Strip Search Considerations

SOP 220.09 cross-references SOP 226.01 for search procedures applicable to transgender and intersex offenders. This SOP also governs housing placement decisions that may affect search protocols, particularly with respect to which staff conduct pat-down or strip searches — an area where PREA compliance is a stated objective.

--- TOPIC 20 of 24 ---

TITLE: Staff Conduct and Professional Standards
SLUG: staff-conduct-and-professional-standards
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/staff-conduct-and-professional-standards/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:46:14
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes comprehensive standards governing how staff must conduct themselves, what relationships with offenders are prohibited, how misconduct must be reported and investigated, and what disciplinary consequences follow violations. The core framework is set out in SOP 104.47 (Employee Standards of Conduct), which explicitly holds GDC employees to "higher standards of conduct than normally found in the general community" because of the Department's security mission. Multiple overlapping SOPs — spanning human resources, PREA compliance, use-of-force, and health services — create a layered system of obligations and accountability mechanisms.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 104.47 explicitly requires all GDC employees to meet 'higher standards of conduct than normally found in the general community' and mandates annual signed acknowledgement of the Standards of Conduct and the Governor's Code of Ethics.
  - SOP 508.22 defines Sexual Misconduct to include staff conduct that 'aids in sexual contact between an offender and third person' and states that 'sexual contact with an offender is not necessary to find that a staff member has violated this provision.'
  - SOP 208.06 establishes GDC's zero-tolerance policy on all forms of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and sexual activity, covering both offender-on-offender and staff-on-offender scenarios, and requires both disciplinary and potential criminal consequences for perpetrators.
  - SOP 104.27 authorizes the Appointing Authority to suspend an employee with pay immediately upon written notice for investigation of alleged misconduct, and expressly states that 'there is no review process for a suspension with pay,' with suspensions not to exceed 30 calendar days without Director of Human Resources approval.
  - SOP 203.03 classifies allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment involving offenders and staff as Major Incidents, triggering immediate notification to the Regional Director, GDC Communications Center, Office of Professional Standards, and Division Director.
  - SOP 209.04 prohibits use of force as punishment in any form and requires a written report by the end of the shift in which any force is used, placing a reporting obligation on staff as an element of the conduct standard itself.
  - SOP 210.01 prohibits physical abuse, cursing, derogatory terms, verbal harassment as punishment, and humiliating task assignments in boot camp settings, even while authorizing an 'intense, confrontational style' of communication.
  - SOP 508.22 imposes a 'must tell' confidentiality policy on mental health staff, meaning that disclosures of sexual abuse made to mental health professionals must be reported and are not protected by therapeutic confidentiality.
  - SOP 104.55 requires employees who are dismissed, retire, resign, or lose P.O.S.T. certification to immediately surrender their Police Powers Identification Card, with CHRM destroying it; a lost or stolen card must be reported to both OPS and local law enforcement.
  - SOP 507.03.02 requires all health care personnel to be identified by nametags or badges while on duty and prohibits them from transporting offenders off-site except when medically necessary, with EMS as the preferred option for emergent transport.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 104.47 cross-references SOP 205.02 (Contact or Business Dealings with Offenders) as governing staff-offender relationship prohibitions, but SOP 205.02 is not included in the reviewed corpus, leaving the specific prohibited-contact rules unverifiable from this document set alone.
  - SOP 104.47 cross-references SOP 104.64 (Adverse Actions — Classified Employees) and SOP 104.65 (Adverse Actions — Unclassified Employees) as the formal disciplinary mechanisms, but neither SOP is included in the reviewed corpus, so the full range of available sanctions and procedural protections for employees facing discipline is not visible here.
  - SOP 227.02 prohibits retaliation against offenders who file grievances about staff misconduct, but the reviewed SOP corpus contains no policy explicitly protecting staff whistleblowers or witnesses who report colleague misconduct from retaliation, leaving that protection unaddressed in accessible policy.
  - SOP 104.27 states suspensions with pay 'should not exceed thirty (30) calendar days,' but this is precatory ('should'), not mandatory ('shall'), creating ambiguity about whether extended paid suspensions during slow investigations are a policy violation or a permissible deviation.
  - The definitions of Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Abuse appear in both SOP 508.22 (Health Services Division) and SOP 208.06 (Office of Professional Standards), but are not identically worded across all documents, potentially creating minor interpretive inconsistencies when applied by different divisions.
  - SOP 209.04 authorizes use of force without prior approval in genuine emergencies and then requires after-the-fact justification, but the SOP corpus does not specify what standard of review applies to that justification or who makes the determination of adequacy, leaving the accountability mechanism unclear.
  - SOP 210.01 (Boot Camp) prohibits 'cursing or derogatory terms' absolutely, while SOP 104.47 (general standards) and SOP 508.22 define 'Sexual Harassment' to include 'repeated profane or obscene language,' creating an apparent difference in threshold — Boot Camp applies a zero-occurrence standard while the general harassment definition requires repetition.
RELATED_TOPICS: prea-sexual-abuse-prevention-and-response, use-of-force-and-restraints, offender-grievance-procedures, suspension-and-adverse-actions, incident-reporting, health-care-staff-professional-standards, office-of-professional-standards-investigations

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Foundational Standard

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) holds all employees to an elevated behavioral standard. SOP 104.47 (Employee Standards of Conduct, effective 01/17/2024) states plainly: "Employees of the Georgia Department of Corrections are required to adhere to higher standards of conduct than normally found in the general community due to the important security mission of the Department and its inherent responsibility to provide an appropriate model of public safety to the citizens of Georgia."

Every current and new employee must annually read and sign two acknowledgement forms: (1) the Employee Standards of Conduct and Governor's Code of Ethics Acknowledgement Statement, and (2) the Employee Communications Device Acknowledgement and Agreement Statement. Appointing Authorities are responsible for ensuring this annual sign-off occurs. SOP 104.47 cross-references the Governor's Executive Order of 01-14-19 establishing the Code of Ethics for Executive Branch Officers and Employees as binding on all GDC staff.

## Prohibited Conduct: General Work Rules

SOP 104.47 is the primary policy enumerating prohibited conduct. It defines several key terms relevant to disciplinary exposure:

- **Close Personal Relationship** — includes any familial relationship (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, sibling, niece/nephew, aunt/uncle, guardian/ward, and those related by marriage in the same classes), as well as "any relationship that involves cohabitation, dating, or consensual sexual contact of any kind."
- **Communications Device** — defined as any mobile or cellular phone, smart phone, electronic reader, or device that allows transfer of information.

SOP 104.47 is cross-referenced by SOP 507.03.02 (Professional Conduct), which applies specifically to health care personnel and requires that they "act in accordance with the highest standards of professional conduct" and "function in accordance with their licensure/certification." SOP 507.03.02 also specifies that the "primary role of Health Care Personnel is to provide offender health care" — not a security role — and restricts off-site transport of offenders to medical necessities only.

## Prohibited Relationships and Contact with Offenders

SOP 205.02 (Contact or Business Dealings with Offenders) is cited as a related directive within SOP 104.47, governing the specific boundary rules around staff-offender interactions. While the full text of SOP 205.02 is not included in the corpus reviewed here, its existence as a standalone policy — cross-referenced in the core conduct SOP — signals that GDC treats this as a discrete and significant obligation.

Sexual contact between staff and offenders is addressed most extensively in the PREA framework. SOP 208.06 (Prison Rape Elimination Act — Sexually Abusive Behavior Prevention and Intervention Program, effective 06/23/2022) establishes a "zero-tolerance policy toward all forms of Sexual Abuse, Sexual Harassment, and sexual activity among offenders" and explicitly covers "Staff perpetrator against offender victim" scenarios. SOP 208.06 is originating from the Executive Division (Office of Professional Standards), signaling that it carries the Commissioner's direct authority.

SOP 508.22 (Mental Health Management of Suspected Sexual Abuse or Sexual Harassment) defines the prohibited conduct categories in precise terms:

- **Sexual Misconduct** — "Any behavior by staff related to a sexual act with an offender, except sexual assault," including exposure of intimate body parts, threats or requests for sexual acts, demeaning references to intimate body parts or sexual orientation, and acts that aid sexual contact between an offender and a third person. Notably: "Sexual contact with an offender is not necessary to find that a staff member has violated this provision."
- **Sexual Harassment** — "Deliberate or repeated statements or comments of a sexual nature directed to any offender, including demeaning references to gender and/or gender identity or derogatory comments about body or clothing, or repeated profane or obscene language or gestures."
- **Sexual Abuse** — Subjecting another person to sexual contact by persuasion, inducement, enticement, or forcible compulsion, or "subjecting to sexual contact another person who is incapable of giving consent due to their custodial status."

These definitions appear in both SOP 508.22 and SOP 208.06, giving advocates and attorneys redundant citation options. The same definitions are also incorporated by reference in SOP 227.02 (Statewide Grievance Procedure), which routes Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment complaints through the grievance system by reference to SOP 208.06.

## Prohibited Conduct in Boot Camp Settings

SOP 210.01 (Inmate/Probation Boot Camp — General Policy) contains explicit prohibitions that apply specifically in boot camp facilities, where staff are authorized to use an "intense, confrontational style" of communication. Even within that context, the following are absolutely prohibited:

1. "There shall be no physical abuse of any inmate/probationer."
2. "No cursing or derogatory terms will be used."
3. "Inmates/probationers will not be assigned humiliating or pointless job assignments or tasks."
4. "Verbal harassment and interrogation as punishment is prohibited."
5. Staff may only lay hands on an offender to correct drill position or clothing, conduct inspections, give authorized training demonstrations, attend to injury, or apply restraints.

These prohibitions in SOP 210.01 mirror the broader anti-corporal-punishment rule in SOP 209.01 (Offender Discipline), which states: "Prison, TC, PDC, RSAT, and ITF staff may not impose (or allow to be imposed) any type of corporal punishment," and that "disciplinary action shall not be used to abuse an offender, as a means for injury or to harass an offender."

## Use of Force Limitations as a Conduct Standard

SOP 209.04 (Use of Force and Restraint for Offender Control) functions as a conduct standard by specifying what staff may and may not do in coercive situations. The policy states: "Force, security equipment, and restraint equipment are intended to be used only as control measures when necessary. They are not intended and shall never be used as a means of punishment." Authorization for force rests with the Warden, Superintendent, Deputy Warden, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Correctional Supervisor, or Administrative Duty Officer. When force is used without prior authorization (in a genuine emergency), the employee "shall be required to justify use-of-force without prior authorization."

SOP 209.04 requires immediate notification to the Warden/Superintendent "when any type of force is used" and a written report "no later than the conclusion of that shift." This reporting obligation is itself a conduct requirement — failure to report constitutes a separate policy violation.

## Reporting Obligations

Multiple SOPs impose affirmative reporting obligations on staff who witness or learn of misconduct:

**SOP 208.06** requires staff to detect, document, report, and respond to sexual abuse and harassment, and establishes the PREA Coordinator and PREA Compliance Manager as institutional oversight roles.

**SOP 508.22** establishes a "must tell" confidentiality policy for mental health staff: sexual abuse disclosures made to mental health professionals are not held in confidence and must be reported. Mental health staff must conduct a clinical evaluation of alleged victims within one business day and must maintain separation from investigative processes.

**SOP 203.03** (Incident Reporting) classifies "allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment concerning Offenders and staff" as Major Incidents, requiring immediate notification up the chain: facility staff → Regional Director → Director of Field Operations → GDC Communications Center in Forsyth → Division Director, Office of Communications, Office of Professional Standards, and Director of Special Operations.

**SOP 209.04** requires a written use-of-force report by the end of the shift in which force was used.

**SOP 223.03** (Property/Cash Found by Staff or Offenders) requires staff who find property or cash to complete an Incident Report Form and forward the item to the Warden/Superintendent — found items "shall not become the property of the staff."

## Disciplinary Process for Staff

**Suspension with Pay (SOP 104.27):** The Appointing Authority may suspend an employee with pay for: investigation of alleged misconduct when the employee cannot be reassigned; during a notice period for proposed adverse action; pending lab results after a positive drug test; during criminal charges or indictment of a classified employee (mandatory for classified employees); or for alleged unfitness to perform duties. Suspensions should not exceed 30 calendar days, and extensions require written justification to the Director of Human Resources. Notably, "there is no review process for a suspension with pay." Suspensions may be made effective immediately upon written notice in person or by certified mail.

**Adverse Actions:** SOP 104.47 cross-references SOP 104.64 (Adverse Actions — Classified Employees) and SOP 104.65 (Adverse Actions — Unclassified Employees) as the mechanisms for formal disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. The full text of those SOPs is not included in the corpus reviewed here.

**PREA-Specific Discipline:** SOP 208.06 requires that staff perpetrators of sexual abuse be disciplined or prosecuted. The policy is explicit that zero-tolerance means both administrative and potential criminal consequences.

## Professional Standards Specific to Health Care Staff

SOP 507.03.02 (Professional Conduct) imposes additional obligations on health care workers: uniforms or appropriate attire must be worn; all staff including physicians and dentists must be identified by nametags or badges while on duty; healthcare personnel who witness infractions "may be called as witnesses in a prosecution of a criminal or civil case"; and witness statements for disciplinary reports must be submitted to the Responsible Healthcare Authority before being sent to GDC.

SOP 507.01.11 (Standards and Accreditation) requires all state and private prisons to be accredited by both the Medical Association of Georgia (for NCCHC compliance) and the American Correctional Association (ACA). This accreditation requirement functions as an external check on professional standards across the institution.

## Identification and Police Powers

SOP 104.55 (Issuance of Police Powers Identification Cards) establishes that only P.O.S.T.-certified employees in the Office of Professional Standards, or those specifically approved in writing by the Commissioner, may hold Police Powers Identification Cards. Employees who lose P.O.S.T. certification, resign, retire, or are dismissed must "immediately surrender" the card to CHRM, which destroys it. An employee transferred to a non-approved job must also surrender the card unless the Commissioner provides written authorization to retain it. Loss or theft of the card must be reported immediately to both the Director of OPS and the Department Human Resources Director, and to local law enforcement.

## Key Institutional Oversight Role: Office of Professional Standards

The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) appears throughout the SOP corpus as the central investigative and enforcement body for staff misconduct. SOP 203.03 requires the GDC Communications Center to notify OPS of all Major Incidents. SOP 206.02 designates OPS as the keeper of the Evidence Locker, with exclusive key control. SOP 558 (223.03) allows referral of found property to OPS for final disposition. SOP 507.03.16 (Health Services Vendor Communications) identifies investigation information gathered by OPS as "Confidential State Secrets." SOP 104.55 routes Police Powers ID Card matters through the Director of OPS.

## Retaliation Protection

SOP 227.02 (Statewide Grievance Procedure) prohibits retaliation against offenders who file grievances, including complaints about staff sexual abuse or harassment. This policy provides a procedural avenue for offenders to report staff misconduct without fear of institutional reprisal, though the policy does not address retaliation against staff witnesses or whistleblowers in the same document.

--- TOPIC 21 of 24 ---

TITLE: Telephone Access for Incarcerated People in GDC Facilities
SLUG: telephone-access
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/telephone-access/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:29:18
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
SOP 227.01 (effective March 27, 2023) is the primary policy governing offender telephone access in Georgia Department of Corrections facilities. It establishes how phones may be used, who may be called, how attorney and emergency calls are handled, and what accommodations exist for hearing-impaired and non-English-speaking individuals. Supporting telecommunications policies (SOP 105.04, SOP 105.10) govern the underlying infrastructure and monitoring obligations for staff, while segregation and restrictive-housing SOPs modify phone access for offenders in special management settings.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 227.01 requires every GDC facility to provide offenders with 'reasonable and equitable access to telephones,' with the Warden or Superintendent retaining authority over supervision of calls consistent with the facility's mission.
  - Offenders must submit a Diagnostic/Permanent Offender Call Allow List (Attachment 1) and a separate Attorney Telephone Request Form (Attachment 2) under SOP 227.01 before placing calls to approved contacts or legal counsel.
  - SOP 227.01 defines attorney calls narrowly as calls to the offender's attorney of record or a Public Defenders Council attorney, and routes such calls through the offender's counselor or chaplain for verification.
  - GDC's right to monitor, record, and investigate all voice communications is asserted in both SOP 105.04 and SOP 105.10 using identical language, and SOP 227.01 explicitly states the phone system 'may also be used by GDC for investigative purposes' — no SOP in the corpus exempts attorney-client calls from this monitoring authority.
  - Boot Camp offenders are restricted to telephone access only in emergency situations under SOP 227.01, representing a near-total suspension of general phone privileges for that population.
  - SOP 227.01 requires facilities to provide TTY phones for hearing-impaired offenders and Video Relay Service (VRS) for deaf offenders who use American Sign Language, as well as Interpreting Phone Service for limited-English-proficient offenders.
  - Emergency calls under SOP 227.01 are defined as calls involving death or critical illness of immediate family members, with the Warden retaining discretion to recognize other matters as emergencies.
  - SOPs 209.08 (Tier II), 209.09 (Tier III), and 209.11 (Juvenile Segregation) all cross-reference SOP 227.01, meaning the same telephone access policy framework applies in restrictive housing, though specific per-phase call allotments are not detailed in the SOP excerpts available.
  - SOP 105.10 requires managers to review monthly phone bills and check for 'unusual patterns or abuse,' establishing a staff-level monitoring obligation over state telephone infrastructure.
  - No SOP in the available corpus specifies per-minute call rates, connection fees, or rate caps for the offender phone system; those terms are set in the vendor contract rather than published GDC policy.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - No SOP in the corpus explicitly protects attorney-client telephone communications from recording or monitoring. SOP 227.01 creates a separate attorney call category but does not prohibit interception; SOPs 105.04 and 105.10 assert a blanket monitoring right over all voice communications without carving out privileged legal calls.
  - Call rates, connection fees, and rate caps for offender collect, debit, and pre-paid calls are not addressed in any SOP; this information is embedded in the vendor contract, making it inaccessible through policy review alone.
  - SOP 227.01's general mandate of 'reasonable and equitable access' is internally undercut by the same SOP's blanket restriction of Boot Camp offenders to emergency calls only, creating a population-specific carve-out that is not reconciled with the general access standard.
  - The Warden's or Superintendent's discretion over 'appropriate supervision' of calls and over the definition of emergencies is broad and unchecked by any minimum access floor stated in SOP 227.01.
  - SOPs 209.08, 209.09, and 209.11 all cross-reference SOP 227.01 for restrictive-housing phone access but do not specify in the available excerpts the number of calls permitted per phase, leaving the actual access level for segregated offenders unclear from policy text alone.
  - SOP 227.01 does not specify maximum call duration, time-of-day restrictions, or limits on the number of approved contacts, all of which are operationally significant but left unaddressed in the policy.
  - SOP 227.01's definition of 'Attorney' excludes law school clinicians, legal aid attorneys who are not Public Defenders Council employees, paralegals, and other legal workers, potentially limiting recognized legal calls.
RELATED_TOPICS: attorney-access-and-legal-mail, offender-visitation, restrictive-housing-tier-ii-tier-iii, offender-grievance-procedures, consular-notification-foreign-nationals, offender-mail, boot-camp-programs, americans-with-disabilities-act-accommodations

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Governing Policy

The primary policy for offender telephone access is **SOP 227.01 – Offender Access to Telephones** (Facilities Division, effective 03/27/2023). The opening statement of policy is unambiguous: "Each facility shall provide offenders with reasonable and equitable access to telephones and this policy and procedure governs offender use of telephones." The Warden or Superintendent retains authority to "determine the appropriate supervision of offender telephone calls in a manner consistent with the mission of the facility."

Two additional telecommunications policies — **SOP 105.04 – Telecommunications Policy Statement** and **SOP 105.10 – Long Distance Calling** — address the infrastructure side of GDC phone services, including staff obligations and GDC's reserved right to monitor all voice communications.

---

## The Offender Phone System

SOP 227.01 defines the **Offender Telephone (Phone) System** as "telephones and related equipment that are installed in GDC facilities to enable offenders to complete local, long distance and/or international collect, pre-paid, debit and free calls, and which may also be used by GDC for investigative purposes." A private **Service Provider** (a vendor under contract with GDC) operates this system. Certain large facilities have **On-Site Offender Telephone System Staff** employed by the Service Provider, while other facilities rely on a designated **Offender Telephone System Facility Point of Contact** — a GDC staff member — to address system matters. Statewide compliance with the vendor contract is overseen by an **Offender Telephone System Compliance Monitor** employed by GDC.

SOP 227.01 does not publish specific per-minute call rates, and the SOPs in this corpus do not contain rate schedules. Rate information would be embedded in the vendor contract, which is not an SOP.

---

## Call Allow Lists and Approved Contacts

SOP 227.01 requires each offender to "submit a phone list, or Diagnostic/Permanent Offender Call Allow List ('Call Allow List') (Attachment 1), and Attorney Telephone Request Form (Attachment 2)." This is the mechanism by which contacts are added to an approved list before calls can be placed. The policy identifies two forms:

- **Attachment 1** – Diagnostic/Permanent Offender Call Allow List (general contacts)
- **Attachment 2** – Attorney Telephone Request Form (legal contacts)

The policy does not specify in the excerpted content how many numbers may be on the list, how long approval takes, or the process for challenging a denied contact.

---

## Attorney Calls

SOP 227.01 defines **Attorney** narrowly as "the offender's Attorney of record or an Attorney employed by the Public Defenders Council." Calls from attorneys are treated as a distinct category. The policy states that "Emergency Telephone Calls from family and friends of offenders and calls from Attorneys will be directed to the offender's assigned counselor or the chaplain for verification and further action if needed." Offenders must submit a separate **Attorney Telephone Request Form** (Attachment 2 to SOP 227.01).

Critically, SOP 227.01 is the only policy in this corpus that addresses attorney call procedures. The policy does not explicitly state whether attorney calls are recorded or monitored, a significant gap discussed further below.

---

## Emergency Calls

SOP 227.01 defines **Emergency Telephone Calls** as "calls involving death or critical illness of Immediate Family members or other matters as determined by the Warden or Superintendent." **Immediate Family** is defined as "parents, siblings, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren, or children."

Emergency calls from family and friends are handled through the offender's assigned counselor or chaplain for verification. The Warden or Superintendent has discretion to expand the definition of "emergency" beyond death or critical illness of immediate family.

SOP 227.01 also states: "No long-distance telephone calls for offenders will be made at the facility's expense without authorization from the Warden or designee." This provision is relevant to emergency calls placed by or for the facility on the offender's behalf.

---

## Recording and Monitoring

GDC's right to monitor offender calls is established across multiple SOPs, signaling that this is a high-priority institutional prerogative.

**SOP 227.01** defines the Offender Phone System as equipment that "may also be used by GDC for investigative purposes," establishing that the system is built with monitoring in mind.

**SOP 105.04 – Telecommunications Policy Statement** states explicitly: "The Georgia Department of Corrections reserves the right to investigate, retrieve and read any communication or data composed, transmitted or received through voice services, online connections and/or stored on their respective servers."

**SOP 105.10 – Long Distance Calling** repeats the same language verbatim: "The Georgia Department of Corrections reserves the right to investigate, retrieve and read any communication or data composed, transmitted or received through voice services, online connections and/or stored on their respective servers." The identical statement appearing in two separate SOPs (105.04 and 105.10) underscores that GDC treats this as a foundational, department-wide right.

SOP 105.10 further requires that managers "review monthly phone bills" and that "call detail should be reviewed to check for any unusual patterns or abuse" — a staff-level monitoring obligation.

**None of the SOPs in this corpus expressly exclude attorney calls from recording or monitoring.** This is a significant gap: the policy corpus does not contain a provision protecting attorney-client communications from interception on the offender phone system, as is required under professional ethics rules and often under court orders in other jurisdictions.

---

## Call Types and Payment Methods

SOP 227.01 identifies that the phone system supports "local, long distance and/or international collect, pre-paid, debit and free calls." No SOP in this corpus specifies the rates charged to offenders or their families for collect or debit calls, the terms under which free calls are provided, or caps on call duration.

---

## Special Populations

### Hearing-Impaired Offenders
SOP 227.01 provides for two accommodation types:
- **TTY Phones** – "Telephones with equipment (Teletypewriter) for offenders with hearing impairments."
- **Video Relay Service (VRS)** – "A telephone service using interpreters connected to callers by video hook-up that is designed to provide persons who are deaf and use American Sign Language with telephone services that are functionally equivalent to those provided to users who are hearing."

### Foreign Nationals / Limited English Proficiency
SOP 227.01 defines **Interpreting Phone Service** as "telephone services using professional interpreters to communicate with the limited English proficient offender in his/her language." The policy also cross-references SOP 222.06, Consular Notification, for foreign nationals requiring consular contact. Consular calls appear to be treated as a distinct category with their own procedure.

### Boot Camp Offenders
SOP 227.01 states plainly: "Boot Camp Offenders will only have access to phones in emergency situations." This is a near-total restriction on telephone privileges for this population, limited to the emergency call framework described above. SOP 210.04 (Boot Camp – Rights and Standards) does not address telephone access in the excerpted content, but SOP 227.01 governs.

---

## Telephone Access in Restrictive Housing

Multiple restrictive-housing SOPs cross-reference SOP 227.01, signaling that telephone access in special management settings is governed by the same underlying policy framework, but privileges may be reduced based on phase or housing tier.

- **SOP 209.08 – Administrative Segregation (Tier II)** lists SOP 227.01 as a related directive, indicating the phone access SOP applies to Tier II segregation with such modifications as that program imposes.
- **SOP 209.09 – Special Management Unit (Tier III Program)** similarly lists SOP 227.01 as a governing authority. The Tier III program uses a five-phase incentive system where privileges are progressively expanded; phone access is likely among those privileges, but the specific phone allotments per phase are not detailed in the excerpted content.
- **SOP 209.11 – Restrictive Housing Assignment – Juvenile Offender Administrative Segregation (RHA-JOAS)** also cross-references SOP 227.01 (cited as IIB01-0007) as a governing directive.

None of the restrictive-housing SOPs in this corpus specify the exact number of calls permitted per week for each phase or housing level. Readers seeking that detail should request the full text of SOP 209.09 and related phone access provisions.

---

## Staff Telephone Conduct and Oversight

For staff, **SOP 105.10** governs long-distance calling on state lines. It prohibits personal long-distance calls except in emergencies, requires employees who make personal calls to reimburse the state, and permits "appropriate disciplinary action." Calls to directory assistance are to be prohibited unless a number cannot be obtained by other means (internet directories). Managers must review monthly GTA phone bills for "unusual patterns or abuse."

**SOP 104.47 – Employee Standards of Conduct** establishes a broader framework requiring all employees to annually sign a "Communications Device Acknowledgement and Agreement Statement" (Attachment 2), which governs employee use of any device "that allows for the transfer of information." This applies to personal cell phones brought into facilities, a security concern related to contraband phone smuggling, though that specific subject is not the primary focus of SOP 104.47.

---

## Gaps and Conflicts

1. **No explicit attorney-client call privilege protection.** No SOP in this corpus states that attorney calls are exempt from recording or monitoring. SOP 227.01 creates a separate attorney call category and request form, but does not prohibit monitoring of those calls.

2. **Call rates not addressed.** No SOP specifies per-minute rates, connection fees, or rate caps for collect, debit, or pre-paid calls. This information resides in the vendor contract.

3. **Warden discretion is broad but undefined.** SOP 227.01 gives the Warden/Superintendent authority over "appropriate supervision" and over expanding the definition of emergencies, without specifying minimum access floors that cannot be reduced.

4. **Restrictive housing phone allotments not specified.** SOPs 209.08, 209.09, and 209.11 cross-reference SOP 227.01 but do not specify in the excerpted content the number of calls permitted per phase.

5. **Boot Camp phone restriction vs. "reasonable and equitable access."** SOP 227.01's general mandate of "reasonable and equitable access" is in tension with the same SOP's blanket restriction for Boot Camp offenders to emergency calls only. The SOP resolves this internally, but the result is a population-specific carve-out from the general access standard.

6. **No call duration limits stated.** The SOPs do not specify maximum call lengths, though these are typically set by the vendor contract.

--- TOPIC 22 of 24 ---

TITLE: Transportation and Inmate Movement
SLUG: transportation-and-inmate-movement
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/transportation-and-inmate-movement/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:43:22
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy governs inmate and offender transportation through a network of overlapping SOPs covering security procedures during transport, restraint requirements, medical transport protocols, infectious disease precautions, escape reporting, and special movement categories such as compassionate visits and work-release travel. Core security transport standards are set out in SOP 222.10 (referenced throughout the corpus but not reproduced here in full) and are cross-referenced by numerous other policies. Key subsidiary policies address medical transport (SOP 507.04.52), infectious disease precautions during transport (SOPs 507.04.53 and 222.11), health screening before transfer (SOP 507.04.25), and specialized movement for transitional center residents (SOP 215.14) and detainees in secure alternative centers (SOP 211.03).
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 222.10 (Security Procedures During Transport of Offenders) is the controlling policy for restraint standards, staffing levels, and en-route radio contacts during inmate transport, and is cross-referenced by at least six other SOPs, but its full text is not among the SOPs reproduced in this corpus.
  - SOP 507.04.52 requires that for urgent/emergent off-site medical transport, an Intrasystem Transfer Health Screening form — not the full health record — be sealed in an envelope and sent with the offender, and that the mode of transport be determined based on the offender's medical needs.
  - SOP 507.04.25 mandates that offenders with physical disabilities who have been assigned wheelchairs or other mobility devices must be transferred using accessible vehicles, and that a Licensed Health Care Provider must complete an Intra-System Transfer Form at least 24 hours before any intra-system move when possible.
  - SOP 507.04.53 requires every GDC transport vehicle to carry a standard kit of infection-control supplies including N-95 masks, gloves, a CPR Microshield, and a Spill Kit, and mandates that all offenders be treated as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis.
  - SOP 222.11 requires inter-agency notification of infectious disease status using only the offender's state ID number (not name or specific disease), but explicitly states that intra-agency notification between GDC facilities is not required under that policy.
  - SOP 507.03.02 prohibits health care personnel from transporting offenders off-site unless their presence is medically necessary, and designates EMS as the priority for emergent medical transport.
  - SOP 215.14 prohibits transitional center residents from hitchhiking, riding motorcycles, operating company vehicles on pass or to/from the center, and subjects residents with driving privileges to increased substance abuse testing.
  - SOP 504.03 requires all Inmate Transport Buses to display GDC badge decals on the front and rear, 'Georgia Department of Corrections' lettering on each side, and 'State Inmate Transport' decals on the sides, while covert vehicles may carry confidential tags approved by the Commissioner.
  - SOP 203.03 classifies escapes as Major Incidents requiring immediate notification to the Regional Director and GDC Communications Center, and SOP 203.02 requires completion of a Report of Escape, Report of Recapture, and After-Action Report routed through the Regional Director to Offender Administration.
  - SOP 104.59 subjects all GDC employees required to hold a commercial driver's license — including transport officers operating buses of 16 or more passengers — to federal drug and alcohol testing requirements under the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - SOP 222.10 (Security Procedures During Transport of Offenders) is the single most-cited policy for restraint standards, staffing ratios, and radio contact requirements during transport, but its full text was not available in this corpus. This means the specific restraint types required, officer-to-inmate ratios, and communication protocols cannot be directly quoted or verified from the materials provided.
  - SOP 507.04.53 (2022) and SOP 222.11 (2005) both address infectious disease precautions during transport but with different scopes and procedures. SOP 507.04.53 requires Standard Precautions for all transport regardless of known infection status and applies to private/county prisons; SOP 222.11 only requires inter-agency notification and does not mandate the same supply kit. The older SOP 222.11 does not appear to have been formally superseded, creating potential uncertainty about which procedural steps apply when both could be triggered.
  - SOP 222.11 expressly excludes intra-agency (GDC-to-GDC) transfers from its infectious disease notification requirement, while SOP 507.04.53 applies to all transport. This means a GDC transport officer moving an infectious offender between two GDC prisons receives Standard Precautions training under SOP 507.04.53 but no formal written notification of infectious status under SOP 222.11 — a gap that could affect officer safety.
  - SOP 507.04.52 states that for facilities without 24-hour nursing coverage, the Intrasystem Transfer Health Screening form process does not apply for 911 emergency calls, but the policy does not specify what documentation, if any, should accompany the offender in those circumstances.
  - The corpus contains no SOP setting out specific procedures for escape pursuit, recapture operations, or use of force during an active escape in the field. SOP 203.03 covers incident reporting after an escape, and SOP 209.04 authorizes force to prevent escape, but no SOP in this corpus details tactical recapture protocols or what authority a transport officer has if an escape occurs mid-route.
  - SOP 215.14 governs transportation for transitional center work-release residents but does not address what happens if a resident is involved in a vehicle accident while operating an employer's vehicle, beyond requiring the employer to sign a Waiver of Liability. There is no GDC protocol specified for post-accident response in the work-release transportation context.
  - SOP 208.02 (Telemedicine, effective 2015) excludes privatized facilities and women's facilities from its telemedicine transportation routing system, but provides no alternative transport guidance for those excluded populations seeking equivalent medical consultation services.
  - No SOP in this corpus specifies maximum transport duration, required rest stops, water/food access, or temperature standards for offenders in transit — conditions that are frequently the subject of litigation and oversight inquiries.
RELATED_TOPICS: health-services-and-medical-care, escape-prevention-and-response, use-of-force-and-restraints, infectious-disease-management, inter-institutional-transfers, transitional-center-operations, vehicle-fleet-management, incident-reporting

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview

Inmate and offender movement is one of the highest-risk activities in any correctional system, and GDC policy addresses it through a layered set of Standard Operating Procedures. The central security transport policy, **SOP 222.10 (Security Procedures During Transport of Offenders)**, is cross-referenced by at least six other SOPs in this corpus but is not reproduced in full here. That means this synthesis draws on what those dependent SOPs say *about* SOP 222.10, as well as the full text of the other relevant policies. Where SOP 222.10 itself is silent or unavailable, that gap is noted explicitly below.

---

## Security Requirements During Transport

SOP 222.10 is cited as the controlling authority for restraint use, staffing levels, and en-route radio contacts during virtually all inmate transport. **SOP 208.02 (Telemedicine)** states directly: "Transport vehicles will meet all requirements mandated in the applicable SOP. Staffing levels for transport purposes will comply with the applicable SOP. All inmates/residents being transported will be restrained in accord with the applicable SOP. In-route radio contacts will be initiated as mandated by the applicable SOP." This language — repeated verbatim — signals that SOP 222.10 is the single source of truth for restraint and staffing standards during movement.

**SOP 211.03 (Housing and Transfer of Detainees)** similarly lists SOP 222.10 as a governing authority whenever detainees housed in Secure Alternative Centers must be moved to state prisons for medical, mental health, or security reasons.

**SOP 209.09 (Special Management Unit — Tier III Program)** cross-references SOP 222.10 for the transport of Tier III offenders, who are the highest-management population in the system.

**Board Rule 125-3-1-.05 (Institutional Procedures)** provides foundational movement controls: all vehicular and foot traffic near the institution must be controlled and supervised by a Correctional Officer; vehicle ignition keys must be removed and kept by a Correctional Officer when vehicles are brought into a compound; and no inmate may keep a vehicle in their possession.

**SOP 504.03 (Vehicle Markings and Colors)** requires that all GDC vehicles be marked with state license plates, approved GDC decals, and unique vehicle identification numbers, except those specifically exempted by the Commissioner. Inmate Transport Buses receive GDC badge decals on front and rear, "Georgia Department of Corrections" lettering on each side, and "State Inmate Transport" decals on the sides. Vehicles driven by POST-Certified Transport Officers receive both GDC badge decals and "State Officer" fender decals. Vehicles approved for covert operations may carry confidential tags under O.C.G.A. §§ 50-19-2 and 40-2-37.

---

## Medical Transport

**SOP 507.04.52 (Patient Transport)** governs transport for health services, both on-site and off-site, at all GDC facilities including private and county prisons. Key requirements:

- For **routine health services** transported in a state vehicle, transporting personnel must receive instructions regarding any special precautions (including masks for contagious diseases) and any medication or treatment needed en route.
- **Special needs or non-ambulatory offenders** "will be transported in a manner deemed to be medically appropriate by medical personnel."
- For **urgent health services**, the mode of transportation is to be determined per SOP 507.04.37 (Urgent and Emergent Care Services) based on the medical needs of the offender.
- **Health record confidentiality during transport**: For routine consultations, only a completed consultation form travels with the offender — "the health record will not be sent with the offender for outside services." For urgent/emergent needs, an Intrasystem Transfer Health Screening form is completed, placed in a sealed envelope, and sent with the offender. The form includes a summary of the current condition, pertinent health information (allergies, medications, chronic problems), and a summary of treatments already initiated.
- At facilities **without 24-hour nursing coverage**, non-medical personnel make 911 calls for emergency care, and the Intrasystem Transfer form procedure does not apply.

**SOP 507.03.02 (Professional Conduct)** adds a clear constraint: "No Health Care Personnel will transport offenders off-site unless their presence is required as a medical necessity. If an off-site transfer is needed EMS services should be priority for emergent medical transport situations." This means health care staff are not to function as routine transport officers.

**SOP 507.04.25 (Health Screening — Offender Transfers)** requires that before any intra-system transfer, a Licensed Health Care Provider review the offender's health record and complete an Intra-System Transfer Form. Facility authorities must give medical staff at least 24 hours' notice when possible. The review must cover acute and chronic illnesses, current medications, therapeutic diet, pending appointments, disabilities, mental health history, and allergies. Critically: "Offenders with physical disabilities who have been assigned wheelchairs or other devices for mobility impairment will be transferred using accessible vehicles."

For **suspected or active tuberculosis**, SOP 507.04.54 (Management of Offenders with Active or Suspected Tuberculosis) mandates immediate isolation and transport to Augusta State Medical Prison (ASMP). The offender must be given an N-95 mask, separated from the general population, and transported immediately. If an Airborne Infection Isolation Room is not available at ASMP, the offender is to be transported to a local hospital with appropriate treatment capabilities.

---

## Infectious Disease Precautions During Transport

Two SOPs address this topic with different scopes and dates, creating some redundancy and a potential gap.

**SOP 507.04.53 (Transporting Offenders with Infectious Diseases)**, effective January 2022, requires *all* GDC transport personnel to use Standard Precautions when transporting any offender — regardless of known infection status — treating "all blood and other potentially infectious body fluids as if infectious." Non-GDC transport personnel must be notified of precautions to use. Required supplies in every GDC transport vehicle include: disposable latex or vinyl gloves, durable rubber household gloves, Hibiclens or liquid soap, disposable paper towels, CPR Microshield, plastic trash can liners, tissues, 3–5 disposable N-95 surgical masks, and a Spill Kit. GDC officers learn Standard Precautions at BCOT, Pre-Service Orientation, and Annual Infectious Disease training, and must sign form P-36-0002.02.

**SOP 222.11 (Transporting of Inmates with Infectious Diseases)**, effective March 2005, governs inter-agency notification specifically when inmates with infectious diseases are transferred to another law enforcement agency or health facility. Key procedural elements:
- Health care staff review the medical record and complete a Notification of Infectious Disease Form (Attachment 1) using only the state ID number — not the inmate's name — and without identifying the specific disease.
- If medical records accompany the offender, they must be sealed in a manila envelope with the notification form attached to the outside.
- The transporting officer reads and signs the notification form at the time of custody transfer.
- "Notification that an inmate/probationer has an infectious disease shall not take place in the presence of other inmates/probationers."
- Medical information is "privileged and confidential and shall only be released or obtained by the facilities or agencies who are parties to the transportation."
- Notably, SOP 222.11 states that intra-agency notification (between GDC facilities) is *not* required — only inter-agency notification is mandated under that policy.

---

## Telemedicine Transportation Routing

**SOP 208.02 (Telemedicine)** establishes a regionalized transport plan for moving inmates to remote telemedicine sites, reducing the volume of transports to Augusta State Medical Prison. The Facilities Division Director develops and distributes the transportation routing plan. Each GDC region must have at least one remote telemedicine site. The policy applies to state prisons, transition centers, and probation detention centers; privatized facilities and women's facilities are excluded. The highest level of inmate security among those being transported governs security protocols for the entire transport run.

---

## Compassionate Visits and Special Movement

**SOP 222.09 (Compassionate Visit)** governs temporary release for funerals of immediate family members or visits to critically ill family. The offender is released into the temporary custody of a sheriff or deputy sheriff, who accepts responsibility for custody, control, and return. Eligibility requirements include security clearance and the Warden's or Superintendent's determination of the offender's reliability. Offenders with sexual offense convictions face additional restrictions on visiting minors. Sex offenders, murderers, and out-of-state reprieves require State Board of Pardons and Paroles approval.

---

## Transitional Center Resident Transportation

**SOP 215.14 (Transitional Center Resident Transportation)** applies specifically to work release and maintenance residents at transitional centers:
- Residents may operate an employer's company vehicle **only** with written employer request and Superintendent approval, only during regularly scheduled working hours for employment duties, and not to/from the transitional center.
- "NO Resident may operate a company vehicle while on pass."
- "NO Resident may operate or ride a motorcycle."
- "NO Resident may hitchhike to or from his/her place of employment."
- Residents approved to drive are "subject to increased testing for substance abuse."
- Employers must sign a Waiver of Liability (Attachment 1) and submit an Authorization for Use of Company Vehicle form (Attachment 2) specifying justification, vehicle type, frequency, and insurance coverage.
- Driving privileges "may be suspended or revoked for violation of these guidelines or for other misconduct resulting in disciplinary action."

---

## Detainee Transfers in Secure Alternative Centers

**SOP 211.03 (Housing and Transfer of Detainees)** governs movement of probationers and parolees in Secure Alternative Centers to state prisons when their medical, mental health, or security needs exceed what the center can provide. The Secure Alternative Center transports the detainee to the designated prison for assessment. Transportation logistics "will be indicated on the email authorizing the transfer." Assignment to a state prison does not change the detainee's legal status.

---

## Escape Protocols and Incident Reporting

**SOP 203.03 (Incident Reporting)** classifies escapes as Major Incidents requiring immediate reporting to the Regional Director, followed by notification to the GDC Communications Center in Forsyth, Georgia at (478) 992-5111. Escapes trigger additional reporting under SOP 203.04 (Notification/Clearance of Escapes), including a Report of Escape, a Report of Recapture, and an After-Action Report. **SOP 203.02 (Document Flow)** specifies that the Report of Escape and Report of Recapture go to Offender Administration; the After-Action Report goes to the Regional Director, who forwards it to the Director of Field Operations. Transitional Centers and Probation Centers have separate applicable policies for escapes.

**SOP 209.04 (Use of Force and Restraint for Offender Control)** authorizes staff to use appropriate force when "an escape is in progress, when it is evident that an escape may ensue."

---

## Employee Alcohol and Drug Testing for Transport-Related Positions

**SOP 104.59 (Alcohol and Drug Testing Program — Safety Sensitive Positions)** implements the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 for GDC employees required to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL). Employees in safety-sensitive positions — which include transport officers operating commercial motor vehicles — are subject to pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty testing for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and PCP, as well as alcohol misuse testing. The policy applies to any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver, or carrying hazardous materials.

---

## Packout Meals During Transport Between Facilities

**SOP 409.04.06 (Field Packout Lunches)** addresses an often-overlooked aspect of transport: feeding offenders in transit. "The cost of meals for offenders in transit between facilities will be charged to the facility where the offender was housed." Packout lunches must be stored refrigerated and sent on details in coolers with ice to prevent spoilage.

--- TOPIC 23 of 24 ---

TITLE: Use of Force and De-escalation in Georgia Department of Corrections Facilities
SLUG: use-of-force
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/use-of-force/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:16:01
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy governs when and how staff may use physical force, restraints, and security equipment against offenders, establishing authorization requirements, a force continuum, absolute prohibitions (force is never permitted as punishment), and mandatory post-incident medical examination and written reporting. The framework spans multiple SOPs — most centrally SOP 209.04 — and is reinforced by Health Services policy (SOP 507.04.35), incident reporting requirements (SOP 203.03), video documentation mandates (SOP 204.11), and the statewide grievance procedure (SOP 227.02). Significant gaps exist in the corpus regarding explicit de-escalation step requirements and post-incident supervisory review timelines beyond the shift-end reporting deadline.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - SOP 209.04 authorizes force only to the extent necessary to maintain positive control of an offender and explicitly prohibits its use as punishment under any circumstances.
  - Authorization for force rests with the Warden, Deputy Warden, Chief Correctional Supervisor, or Administrative Duty Officer; in emergencies, staff may act without prior authorization but must immediately notify command and justify the action in writing by shift's end.
  - SOP 507.04.35 mandates a licensed health care provider examine every offender immediately following any use of force (except routine handcuffing during transport), with a complete head-to-toe exam and vital signs, and requires screening for mental health disorders and suicidality.
  - SOP 203.03 classifies use of force, offenders remaining in restraints at shift end, firearms discharge, and chemical agent use as Major Incidents requiring immediate escalation through the Regional Director to the GDC Communications Center.
  - SOP 204.11 requires officers — primarily CERT Team personnel — to activate body-worn cameras and camcorders during every use of force, and those recordings may be subject to Georgia's Open Records Act.
  - When an offender carries a Mental Health designation, SOP 508.27 (not SOP 209.04) becomes the controlling procedure for restraint use, though security staff retain full authority to protect safety and security.
  - Georgia Board Rule 125-3-2-.12 specifically authorizes handcuffs, leg chains, waist chains, and waist belts for transferring or securing violent or potentially dangerous inmates within facilities and in off-site locations such as hospitals.
  - SOP 507.04.69 requires that medical conditions and physical limitations be considered before applying restraints to any offender, with specific restrictions on restraints applied to medically identified pregnant offenders.
  - SOP 227.02 gives offenders a formal grievance pathway to contest force, distinguishing between force that complies with GDC policy and force that does not, with retaliation against grievance filers expressly prohibited.
  - SOP 508.11 requires each mental health facility to audit restraint use and self-injurious and assaultive behavior quarterly as mandatory CQI topics, creating a systemic review mechanism independent of individual incident reporting.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - De-escalation: SOP 209.04 does not contain explicit step-by-step de-escalation requirements or mandate that staff attempt verbal intervention before applying physical force. The policy requires only that force be 'necessary' and 'to the extent necessary,' but does not enumerate required pre-force steps.
  - Post-incident supervisory review timeline: SOP 209.04 requires a written report 'no later than the conclusion of that shift,' but neither SOP 209.04 nor SOP 203.03 specifies a deadline for supervisory or administrative review of completed use-of-force reports beyond immediate notification.
  - Video recording coverage gap: SOP 204.11 states that camcorders and BWCs are 'issued primarily to CERT Team Officers,' leaving open whether non-CERT staff who use force are required to activate recording equipment or whether equipment is even available to them. The SOP does not resolve this ambiguity.
  - Mental health/security authority conflict: SOP 209.04 states SOP 508.27 'becomes the controlling procedure' for restraints when a Mental Health offender is involved, yet simultaneously states this 'does not nullify' security staff authority. The SOPs do not specify which takes precedence in a direct conflict between a clinical decision to remove restraints and a security decision to maintain them.
  - Deadly force procedures: SOP 209.04 and SOP 204.11 acknowledge that deadly force may only be used as a last resort and cross-reference internal sections of SOP 209.04, but the full deadly force procedures are not reproduced in the available excerpts, leaving the specific conditions and decision criteria for deadly force unverifiable from this corpus.
  - Training specifics: SOP 506.08 mandates use-of-force training consistent with POST and ACA standards but does not, in the excerpted content, specify required annual use-of-force training hours, recertification intervals, or scenario-based requirements. These details may exist in SOP 506.03 (Basic Correctional Officer Training), which was not provided.
  - Private and county prison force reporting: SOP 507.04.35 explicitly extends the post-force medical examination requirement to private and county prisons housing GDC offenders, but SOP 203.03's Major Incident reporting chain appears structured for state facilities. It is unclear from the available SOPs whether private and county facility use-of-force incidents flow through the same GDC Communications Center reporting chain.
  - Force for DNA collection: SOP 208.04 authorizes force for offender refusal to submit DNA samples by cross-referencing SOP 209.04, but does not specify what level of force is permissible for a non-violent administrative refusal, potentially conflicting with the 'only to the extent necessary' standard.
RELATED_TOPICS: restrictive-housing-and-segregation, mental-health-services-and-crisis-intervention, medical-care-and-health-services, grievance-procedures, incident-reporting-and-documentation, video-surveillance-and-body-worn-cameras, restraints-and-physical-control, staff-training-and-certification

FULL_CONTENT:
## Overview and Governing Authority

The primary policy governing use of force in Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) facilities is **SOP 209.04: Use of Force and Restraint for Offender Control** (effective 2/18/2021). It applies to all facility and center staff system-wide and establishes when force is authorized, what types of force are permitted, how force must be reported, and the absolute limits on its use. Multiple other SOPs reinforce and extend these requirements, including SOP 507.04.35 (medical examination after force), SOP 203.03 (incident reporting), SOP 204.11 (video recording), and SOP 227.02 (grievance procedure).

---

## When Force Is Authorized

SOP 209.04 states that force "may be used to accomplish legitimate and necessary functions of Facility/Center operations, and to prevent injury to persons or substantial damage to property." The use of force "is authorized only to the extent necessary to maintain positive control of the offender."

Staff are specifically authorized — and **required** — to use appropriate force when:
- An escape is in progress;
- It is evident that an escape may ensue; or
- It is evident that danger to persons or damage to property may ensue.

SOP 204.11 defines use of force more expansively as "physical force used to compel an offender to take action against his or her will, or to prevent an offender from taking action that would be damaging to themselves, other persons, or property," and specifies it "may include the use of hands, batons, chemical agents, water pressure, firearms, or other instruments."

---

## Authorization Requirements: Spontaneous vs. Anticipated Force

SOP 209.04 draws a critical distinction between planned and emergency force:

- **Anticipated (planned) force**: If "time and circumstances permit, employees shall obtain authorization from the Warden, Superintendent, or designee before using force." Authorization authority rests specifically with the Warden, Superintendent, Deputy Warden, Assistant Superintendent, Chief Correctional Supervisor, or Administrative Duty Officer.
- **Spontaneous (emergency) force**: "In an emergency where it is not possible or practical to seek prior authorization, an employee shall use appropriate force, and then notify the Warden, Superintendent, or designee as soon as possible." The employee "shall be required to justify use-of-force without prior authorization."

SOP 204.11 echoes these same two categories ("Anticipated Use of Force" and "Spontaneous Use of Force") in the context of video recording obligations.

---

## The Absolute Prohibition: Force Is Never Punishment

SOP 209.04 is unambiguous: "Force, security equipment, and restraint equipment are intended to be used only as control measures when necessary. They are not intended and **shall never be used as a means of punishment**."

SOP 209.06 (Administrative Segregation) reinforces this by stating that administrative segregation itself "is not intended for a means of abuse, any form of corporal punishment, or harassment of an offender."

SOP 210.01 (Boot Camp) extends the prohibition to that specialized context: "There shall be no physical abuse of any inmate/probationer" and staff "shall not strike or lay hands upon an inmate/probationer except in self-defense, to prevent serious injury to another person or property, to quell a disturbance, or for the purpose of inspecting or searching."

---

## Deadly Force

SOP 204.11 specifies that "deadly force will only be utilized as the last resort," and cross-references internal policy sections governing its use. SOP 209.04 cites O.C.G.A. §17-4-20 and Executive Order 13929 (Safe Policing for Safe Communities) as controlling legal authorities. The SOPs in this corpus do not reproduce the full deadly force procedures — those are contained in referenced sub-sections of SOP 209.04 not fully excerpted here.

---

## Restraints

**Georgia Board Rule 125-3-2-.12** permits handcuffs, leg chains, waist chains, and waist belts for "transferring violent or potentially dangerous inmates within a prison or between facilities" and for "securing violent or potentially dangerous inmates in public and private areas such as hospitals and clinics."

SOP 209.04 authorizes the use of "special cells such as hardened cells or stripped cells" as security measures, subject to the same authorization chain.

**SOP 507.04.48** (Physical Restraints, Health Services Division) narrows the clinical frame: "Mechanical restraints will be used to control an offender's self-destructive or violent behavior **only in emergency situations** to prevent injury to self or others. Mechanical restraints will be used with clinical justification and in accordance with state law and professional standards." That SOP defers to **SOP 508.27** (Time Out and Physical Restraints) for mental health-driven use of restraints.

**SOP 209.04** itself acknowledges the mental health carve-out: "When the offender involved is Mental Health (MH) as defined in Section III.D. below, SOP 508.27 … becomes the controlling procedure for use of restraints. At no time does this transfer of control nullify the responsibility and authority of security staff to protect the safety and security."

**Pregnant offenders**: SOP 507.04.69 (Women's Health Services) requires that "medical conditions and physical limitations will be considered when using restraints on ANY offender" and that "restraints utilized on medically infirmed or pregnant female offenders shall be in accordance with the issued 'medical restriction – no [restraints]'" profile — deferring specific conditions to the medical classification system.

**Offenders remaining in restraints at shift end** are classified as a **Major Incident** requiring immediate reporting under SOP 203.03.

---

## Mandatory Notification and Reporting

SOP 209.04 requires immediate notification to the Warden or Superintendent "when any type of force is used." A written report "shall be submitted no later than the conclusion of that shift."

SOP 203.03 classifies the following as **Major Incidents** requiring immediate reporting up through the chain to the GDC Communications Center in Forsyth, GA:
- Use of force
- Offenders remaining in restraints at the end of a shift
- Discharge of a firearm or other weapon
- Use of chemical agents to control offenders
- Death, serious injuries, escapes, disturbances, riots, sexual assault allegations

The notification chain under SOP 203.03: Warden/Superintendent → Regional Director → Director of Field Operations → GDC Communications Center → Division Director, Office of Communications, Office of Professional Standards, Director of Special Operations.

---

## Video Documentation Requirements

**SOP 204.11** requires officers to "activate a camcorder and BWC [body-worn camera] when such use is appropriate to the performance of his or her official duties, **including during a use of force**." BWCs must also be activated during:
- Shakedowns and searches of an offender or location
- Movement of an offender into segregation or isolation
- As otherwise directed by the Warden or designee

Camcorders and BWC equipment are "issued primarily to CERT Team Officers." The policy explicitly states that "video recordings may be subject to the Open Records Act" — a significant access note for advocates and attorneys.

The policy prohibits editing, copying, or distributing recorded materials without authorization.

---

## Medical Examination After Use of Force

**SOP 507.04.35** (Examination Following Use of Force, Health Services Division, effective 2/2/2022) mandates that "a physical evaluation of the offender will be performed and documented following any Use of Force, **except the routine use of handcuffs during transport**." This applies at all GDC facilities including private and county prisons.

Key procedural requirements:
1. A **Licensed Health Care Provider** (MD, DO, NP, PA, RN, LPN) must be notified **immediately** and examine the offender after any use of force.
2. "If at all possible, the examination should be performed at the medical unit before the offender is placed in Restrictive Housing status."
3. In facilities with less than 24-hour medical coverage, the on-call provider is immediately notified and decides whether to send the offender to the ER or a catchment facility.
4. If the offender is violent or combative and in restrictive housing, a provider must go to the unit and at minimum perform a **visual inspection**.
5. The provider "will exercise utmost care … to rule out mental health disorders as the main reason for violent or combative behavior, and the possibility that the unruly offender may be suicidal."
6. The examination should be "a complete head to toe exam, including a complete set of vital signs."
7. Findings are documented on **Form P-30-0011-01 (Examination after Use of Force Form)**, filed in the offender's health record.

SOP 209.09 (Tier III Program) and SOP 209.08 (Administrative Segregation – Tier II) both cross-reference SOP 507.04.35 as a required procedure within those housing contexts.

---

## Special Populations: Mental Health Offenders

SOP 209.04 gives mental health offenders specific procedural protections: when an offender carries a Mental Health designation, SOP 508.27 governs restraint use. SOP 507.04.35 independently requires examining providers to "rule out mental health disorders as the main reason for violent or combative behavior" after any use of force.

SOP 508.31 (Mental Health Crisis Stabilization Unit) notes that wardens must be "informed of all incidents, measures of restraint, and movements associated with CSU at their respective facilities." CSU admission criteria include the "[n]eed for restraints as a last resort due to the imminent threat or self-harm or harm to others."

**SOP 508.11** (Mental Health CQI) requires each facility to conduct quarterly audits on "restraints" and "self-injurious and assaultive behavior" as mandatory CQI topics, building systemic accountability into the mental health oversight structure.

---

## Grievance Mechanism for Use of Force Complaints

**SOP 227.02** (Statewide Grievance Procedure) provides offenders a formal mechanism to contest force. It distinguishes between:
- **Physical Force Compliance** — "Allegation of staff use of force that is in alignment with the letter of, the intent of, and the purpose of GDC written policy and procedures."
- **Physical Force Non-Compliance** — "Allegation of staff use of force that is **NOT** in alignment with the letter of, the intent of, and the purpose of GDC written policy and procedures."

Retaliation against grievance filers is prohibited under SOP 227.02.

---

## Training

**SOP 506.08** (Correctional Training Requirements) establishes that all staff training, including use-of-force training, must comply with Georgia POST certification requirements and ACA standards. Lesson plans must cover practical exercises, drills, and examinations. The SOP does not, in the excerpted content, specify the number of required use-of-force training hours or a recertification interval specific to use-of-force techniques — those details are likely contained in SOP 506.03 (Basic Correctional Officer Training), which is referenced but not provided in this corpus.

---

## DNA Collection and Force

SOP 208.04 (DNA Collection) specifically addresses use of force in the narrow context of offender refusal to submit DNA samples, authorizing force consistent with SOP 209.04 in those circumstances and requiring disciplinary action for refusals.

---

## DNA of Use of Force Across Housing Programs

SOP 209.04 is cross-referenced as controlling authority in at least eight other SOPs reviewed here: SOP 203.03, SOP 204.11, SOP 208.04, SOP 209.06, SOP 209.08, SOP 209.09, SOP 209.11, SOP 209.55, SOP 210.01, SOP 508.31, and SOP 103.63 — signaling that the force framework in SOP 209.04 is intended to permeate all custody contexts system-wide.

--- TOPIC 24 of 24 ---

TITLE: Visitation Rules and Procedures
SLUG: visitation
URL: https://gps.press/GDC-Policy-Library/topics/visitation/
UPDATED: 2026-05-02 20:26:20
SOPS_CITED: 30
SUMMARY:
Georgia Department of Corrections policy establishes visitation as a privilege — not a right — for all offenders, governed primarily by SOP 227.05 and Board Rule 125-3-4-.01. The rules address who may visit, how visitors are approved and managed, scheduling requirements, attorney and clergy visits, contact conduct, special circumstances, and the circumstances under which visitation may be suspended or revoked.
KEY_FINDINGS:
  - Visitation is explicitly defined as a privilege, not a right, by both Board Rule 125-3-4-.01 and SOP 227.05, and may be revoked or suspended as a disciplinary measure, for rule violations, or on security grounds.
  - An offender's approved visitor list is capped at twelve (12) persons total across all categories, and Significant Relationship Visitors are further limited to only two (2) at any time under SOP 227.05.
  - Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 requires a minimum of four hours of visitation on Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays at correctional institutions, while SOP 215.06 sets a lower two-hour minimum for transitional centers.
  - Diagnostic inmates are prohibited from all visitation for the first six weeks of their assignment to a designated diagnostic program under Board Rule 125-3-4-.05.
  - Attorney-client visits receive explicit protections under Board Rule 125-3-4-.07, including reasonable flexibility for business-hours visits by appointment, a requirement for officer positioning that preserves attorney-client privilege, and an express exemption from disciplinary visitation suspension under Board Rule 125-3-4-.05.
  - Offenders with current or prior sexual offense convictions are prohibited from visiting with anyone under age 18 unless that minor is the offender's spouse, child, sibling, grandchild, and is not a victim of the offender's conviction — a rule repeated across at least five SOPs and Board Rules (SOP 227.05, Board Rule 125-3-4-.02, SOP 222.09, SOP 215.06, SOP 213.04).
  - When an inmate loses visitation privileges for more than two weeks, Board Rule 125-3-4-.03 requires the institution to provide the inmate with a form letter to notify potential visitors, and requires written notice to any visitor whose name is removed from the authorized visitor list.
  - All video visitation and electronic messaging through the JPay/GOAL system under SOP 204.10 is restricted to persons on the approved visitation list and is subject to inspection with no expectation of privacy.
  - SOP 220.06 establishes a specific process for validating common-law marriages (established before January 1, 1997) for visitation purposes, requiring notarized affidavits from both parties during the diagnostic phase.
  - Visitors may be barred from institutions during emergencies under Board Rule 125-3-4-.09, and the Warden may limit visitor volume if the institution cannot accommodate the quantity of visitors under Board Rule 125-3-4-.01.
GAPS_OR_CONFLICTS:
  - Minimum visiting hours conflict between facility types: Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 sets a four-hour minimum at correctional institutions, while SOP 215.06 sets a two-hour minimum (with four hours described as preferable) at transitional centers. Neither SOP 227.05 nor any cross-referencing SOP reconciles this disparity or addresses whether it is intentional.
  - The attorney visit rule (Board Rule 125-3-4-.07) states attorneys 'shall be permitted' to visit during prescribed periods and that 'reasonable flexibility shall be exercised' for business-hours appointments — but neither this rule nor SOP 227.05 defines what constitutes 'reasonable flexibility' or establishes an enforceable maximum wait time for attorney visit requests.
  - Board Rule 125-3-4-.01 allows the Warden to 'modify or limit visiting privileges if it appears that the institution cannot accommodate the quantity of visitors,' without specifying what procedural safeguards apply, how inmates or visitors are notified, or how long such limits may remain in place.
  - SOP 227.05 defines 'Immediate Family' to include 'other persons with the discretion of the Warden,' making the outer boundary of this category undefined and subject to unguided discretion at the facility level.
  - The SOPs do not address whether or how an offender may appeal or challenge a Warden's decision to deny or remove a proposed visitor from the approved list. Board Rule 125-3-4-.02 requires only that the inmate be notified — it does not provide a grievance or appeal pathway specific to visitor denials.
  - SOP 215.06 (Transitional Centers) restricts visitation between residents convicted of sexual offenses and minors 'unless they are direct family,' but uses slightly different language than Board Rule 125-3-4-.02 and SOP 227.05, which specify a more precise list (spouse, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandson, granddaughter). The term 'direct family' in SOP 215.06 may be broader or narrower in practice.
  - The SOPs do not specify whether non-contact or contact visitation is the default at any particular facility type, nor do they set any system-wide standards for when non-contact visits may be imposed on specific offenders.
  - Board Rule 125-3-4-.08 gives Wardens broad and unreviewable discretion to authorize or deny visits by civic groups, clergy committees, and students, with no minimum standards or notice requirements specified.
RELATED_TOPICS: offender-discipline, attorney-access-and-legal-mail, chaplaincy-and-religious-programming, compassionate-visits-and-special-leave, offender-mail-and-communications, goal-device-and-jpay-kiosk, segregation-and-restricted-housing, diagnostic-reception-and-orientation, volunteer-services, contraband-control

FULL_CONTENT:
## Visitation as a Privilege, Not a Right

GDC policy is unambiguous on the foundational question: visitation is a privilege, not a right. Board Rule 125-3-4-.01 states directly that "visiting is an inmate privilege not a right. As such, some or all of an inmate's visiting privileges may be suspended or revoked as a disciplinary measure; because the rules governing visiting are violated; or when the security of the institution so requires." SOP 227.05 echoes this framing in its introduction: "Visitation is a privilege for offenders and should not be considered a right."

---

## Who May Visit: Visitor Categories

SOP 227.05 defines three categories of approved visitors:

- **Immediate Family** — parents, siblings, spouse, grandparents, grandchildren, children, "or other persons with the discretion of the Warden."
- **Extended Family** — step-parents, step-siblings, step-children, brothers- and sisters-in-law, uncles, aunts, cousins, half-siblings, nephews, and nieces.
- **Significant Relationship Visitors** — persons "having a meaningful relationship with the offender to provide support and encouragement in a rehabilitative capacity," including friends, employers, and pastors. The policy explicitly limits this category to **two (2) visitors at any given time** and states that "the term Significant Relationship does NOT imply automatic approval for visitation because of romantic involvement. Rehabilitative potential must still be established."

An offender's approved visitor list is capped at **twelve (12) total visitors** across all categories. SOP 204.10 (GOAL Device / JPay Kiosk) confirms this twelve-person cap and adds that electronic mail, video grams, and video visitation through the JPay system are also restricted to persons on the approved visitation list.

For transitional centers, SOP 215.06 (IID03-0003) sets the same twelve-person cap for the approved visitor list, while noting that residents with large families "will be considered on an individual basis."

---

## Visitor Approval Process

Board Rule 125-3-4-.02 requires that each new inmate be interviewed upon arrival at their first permanent assignment to identify proposed visitors by name, address, and relationship. The Warden may disapprove any proposed visitor if that person "would constitute a threat to the institutional security or would undermine the rehabilitation or discipline of the inmate." A copy of the approved list is provided to the inmate as soon as practicable.

SOP 227.05 references a Facility/Center Visitation List (Attachment 5), which must be completed for GOAL Device access as well (per SOP 204.10). Subsequent additions or deletions are requested through the offender's counselor, who forwards the request to the Warden or Superintendent for approval.

The Superintendent of a transitional center may, at their discretion, require prospective visitors to sign a **GCIC/NCIC Consent Form** (SOP 215.06, Attachment 3) authorizing a criminal and driver history background check before approval.

When an offender transfers to another facility, their previously approved visitation list transfers with them and "shall be honored unless extenuating circumstances come to light that would threaten the security and orderly operating of the receiving facility" (SOP 204.10; see also Board Rule 125-3-4-.02).

---

## Visitor Identification and Sign-In Requirements

Board Rule 125-3-4-.06 requires correctional officers to determine the identity of each visitor and verify identity by "examining his personal credentials" before confirming their name appears on the authorized visitor list (or that prior Warden approval exists for a special visit). All visitors must **sign in and out on a visitor's register**, which is dated, countersigned by the officer in charge, and retained on file. Each page of the register must carry a statutory warning that furnishing weapons, liquor, drugs, or contraband to an offender is a felony punishable by one to five years imprisonment.

Inmates must inform their visitors that giving a false name when signing the register is a criminal offense (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06).

All visitors must wear "appropriate attire to be determined by the Georgia Department of Corrections" (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06). SOP 229.01 separately prohibits all visitors from possessing or using tobacco products or tobacco-related items (including electronic cigarettes) anywhere on facility grounds.

---

## Visiting Hours and Schedule

Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 sets the minimum visiting schedule: **at least four hours of visitation on Saturdays, Sundays, and days proclaimed by the Governor as legal holidays**. The Commissioner may authorize the Warden/Superintendent to modify visiting days and hours at specific institutions based on special circumstances (e.g., small inmate population, high privilege usage, infirm inmates). Any changes to visiting schedules must be published to the inmate population.

By contrast, transitional centers operate under a lower minimum: SOP 215.06 requires "a minimum of two hours visiting time (preferably, four hours)" on Saturdays, Sundays, and observed state holidays. The Superintendent may expand hours if they do not interfere with center operations.

A visiting schedule must be "posted permanently and conspicuously" at transitional centers (SOP 215.06).

**Out-of-state or long-distance visitors** may be permitted by the Warden to visit at times outside normal visiting hours (Board Rule 125-3-4-.05). Special visiting privileges for such visits must be requested by the inmate prior to the expected visit date.

**Diagnostic inmates** face a stricter rule: Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 prohibits visitation privileges during the **first six weeks** of assignment to a designated diagnostic program. After six weeks, visitation may be permitted with Superintendent approval.

---

## Supervision of Visits and Conduct

Board Rule 125-3-4-.06 requires all visits to be supervised by correctional officers "who shall be held responsible for assuring the maintenance of good order." Officers in visiting areas must maintain "particular vigilance in preventing contraband from entering the institution."

An officer in charge of a visiting area **must exclude** any visitor who is under — or reasonably appears to be under — the influence of any intoxicant (alcohol or drug). Officers shall also exclude any visitor who "creates a disturbance whether by fighting, unruly behavior, behavior which seriously infringes on the rights of other visitors, or acts prejudicial to the operation of the institution" (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06).

Visitors may be searched prior to being permitted visiting privileges (Board Rule 125-3-4-.06).

In the event of an institutional emergency, Board Rule 125-3-4-.09 authorizes barring all visitors from the institution.

---

## Restrictions on Visitors with Sexual Offense Convictions

Multiple overlapping SOPs and rules address visitors where the **offender has a current or prior conviction for a sexual offense**: SOP 227.05, Board Rule 125-3-4-.02, SOP 222.09, SOP 215.06, and SOP 213.04 all carry substantially identical language.

The rule: an offender with a sexual offense conviction **shall not be allowed visitation** with any person under age 18 **unless** that person is the offender's spouse, son, daughter, brother, sister, grandson, or granddaughter — and that person is not the victim of a sexual offense for which the offender was convicted.

If visitation with a minor is restricted by court order, "permission for special visitation with the minor may be granted only by the court issuing such order" (Board Rule 125-3-4-.02; SOP 222.09; SOP 213.04).

---

## Attorney Visits

Board Rule 125-3-4-.07 provides distinct and stronger protections for attorney visits. Attorneys — defined to include "an inmate's attorney of record or another attorney licensed to practice in State or United States Courts, Court of Appeals, or the Supreme Courts with whom the inmate has or is attempting to establish an attorney-client relationship" — shall be permitted to visit during prescribed visiting periods. Beyond that, **"reasonable flexibility shall be exercised"** in permitting attorneys to visit during normal business hours by prior appointment, and in special circumstances during non-business hours. Appointments outside normal visiting hours require **24-hour advance notice** except in "bona fide emergencies."

Privacy is explicitly protected: the officer supervising an attorney visit "shall so position himself as to permit the attorney and his client to converse privately and maintain the privileged nature of their relationship."

Board Rule 125-3-4-.07 also permits para-legals, investigators, or law assistants to visit by prior arrangement with the Warden, provided the attorney contacts the Warden in advance and the visitor presents a letter signed by the attorney dated no more than one week prior to the visit.

Critically, Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 states that the general visitation privilege may be revoked or suspended as a disciplinary measure — but **expressly exempts attorney-client visits** from that suspension authority.

---

## Clergy and Volunteer Visits

Visiting clergy are governed by Board Rule 125-4-7-.03, which requires Warden/Superintendent concurrence and clearly defined parameters for the visit. Religious literature proposed for distribution must be submitted to the institution in advance. Visiting clergy are subject to all GDC rules and regulations.

SOP 106.01 (Chaplaincy Program) confirms that "offenders may have special visits with clergy per SOP 227.05." Clergy visits occur "through established visiting procedures."

Volunteer visitors are managed under SOP 109.01. Certified volunteers must complete background checks, PREA training, and certification before being approved. A "visiting volunteer" — a one-time, non-recurring visitor authorized by the Warden for a single day — must execute a Visiting Volunteer Waiver of Liability.

---

## Compassionate Visits

SOP 222.09 governs temporary release for funeral attendance or visits to critically ill immediate family members. Under Board Rule 125-2-4-.15, such programs exist at the Commissioner's discretion via SOP. The offender must be released into the custody of a sheriff, deputy sheriff, or designated correctional officer. Offenders under a **death sentence are excluded** from this program. Sex offenders convicted of qualifying offenses face the same minor-visitation restrictions described above. Visits for sex offenders, murderers, and out-of-state reprieves require approval from the State Board of Pardons and Parole.

---

## Common-Law Marriage and Visitation

SOP 220.06 establishes a specific process for offenders who claim a common-law marriage (which must have been established before January 1, 1997, under Georgia law). During the diagnostic phase, the offender and the claimed spouse each sign notarized affidavits. Once both notarized affidavits are received, the common-law spouse is added to the offender's visitation list per SOP 227.05. An offender cannot claim both a common-law marriage and a conventional marriage simultaneously.

---

## Removal of Visitors and Suspension of Privileges

Board Rule 125-3-4-.02 allows removal of an approved visitor for "creating a disturbance, fighting, unruly behavior, behavior which seriously infringes on the rights of other visitors, or acts prejudicial to the operation of the institution."

Board Rule 125-3-4-.03 requires institutions to **notify both the removed visitor and the inmate in writing** when a name is removed from the authorized visitor list, along with the reason. When an inmate loses visitation privileges for a period **exceeding two weeks**, the institution must provide the inmate with a form letter to notify potential visitors "so that potential visitors may avoid the inconvenience and frustrations associated with an unproductive trip."

Board Rule 125-3-4-.05 confirms that the visitation privilege may be revoked or suspended in whole or in part as a disciplinary measure, and points to Board Rule Chapter 125-3-2 for authorized disciplinary circumstances. Board Rule 125-3-4-.01 additionally gives Wardens authority to "modify or limit the visiting privileges if it appears that the institution cannot accommodate the quantity of visitors entering the institution."

---

## Visitation Area Requirements

Board Rule 125-3-4-.04 requires each correctional institution to maintain a visiting area for authorized visitors, with toilet facilities available for visitors.

---

## Video and Electronic Visitation

SOP 204.10 establishes video visitation through the JPay Kiosk system as a **30-minute** electronic interactive visit between an offender and a person on the offender's approved visitation list. Video grams are 30-second messages. Both are restricted to persons already on the approved twelve-person visitation list. All communications through GOAL Devices and Kiosks "are subject to inspection and review for security reasons, and neither the sender, nor receiver, has an expectation of privacy."

---

## Packages and Letters During Visits

Board Rule 125-3-4-.10 addresses items passed to visitors during visits: an inmate may pre-arrange with the mail room to have items or letters given to specific visitors during visits, provided those items would be acceptable for mailing. Privileged mail may only be given to the addressee or their official representative. Such packages must be processed through the mail room, inspected, and delivered by an institutional employee — they cannot return to the inmate's control.

---

## Other (Non-Family) Visitors and Groups

Board Rule 125-3-4-.08 gives Wardens discretionary authority to authorize individuals or groups — such as civic groups, church committees, and students — to visit the institution, establishing procedures as required. News media access is separately governed by Board Rule 125-1-2-.09(a) and is not covered by the general visitation rules.

SOP 205.17 governs public access for free-speech and organizational activities, requiring 24-hour written notice, Regional Director approval, and confining activity to areas outside the secured fence.