Georgia Prison Had Five Officers for 69 Posts When Four Inmates Died

FACILITY BREAKDOWN

What GPS Documented (Original Findings)

• Washington State Prison had 69 designated security posts but only 5-6 correctional officers assigned on January 9-10, 2026 — Source: GPS analysis of FAIR Georgia Open Records Response, Reference # R026183-011226
• GDC possessed no incident reports for January 7-12, 2026 as of January 15, 2026—four days after the riot — Source: GPS analysis of FAIR Georgia Open Records Response
• All housing units at Washington State Prison were unstaffed on January 9-10, 2026, including E-1 Dorm (Administrative Segregation) — Source: GPS analysis of shift rosters obtained by FAIR Georgia
• Washington County Deputy Coroner Mark Hodges confirmed Dajhmere Hall's death to media on January 9, but county attorney later said coroner has 'no knowledge' of Hall — Source: GPS analysis of 13WMAZ report and Washington County Attorney correspondence

Data source: GPS analysis of GDC shift rosters obtained through FAIR Georgia open records requests and family interviews

What DOJ Already Confirmed

• Georgia's prisons violate the Eighth Amendment due to deliberate indifference to violence — Pages DOJ Findings Report
• Georgia's classification system is broken - GDC does not enforce housing assignments, enabling gangs to dictate placement — Pages DOJ Findings Report
• Georgia prisons have non-working alarms, broken locks, and severe staff shortages — Pages DOJ Findings Report

Source: DOJ Findings Report, October 1, 2024
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-georgia-s-state-prisons-violate-constitution

RECORDS JOURNALISTS SHOULD REQUEST

Georgia Open Records Act:

1. "Shift rosters for January 11-12, 2026"
   Officer assignments and post coverage during and after the riot
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: January 11-12, 2026
   Expected response: 3-5 business days; may be partially redacted
2. "All incident reports for Washington State Prison"
   Documentation of violence, injuries, and security incidents
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: January 1-31, 2026
   Expected response: 5-10 business days; fee quote likely
3. "Death investigation records for Dajhmere Hall, Jimmy Trammell, Ahmod Hatcher, Teddy Jackson"
   Investigative files concerning deaths at Washington State Prison
   Agency: Washington County Coroner
   Date range: January 9-11, 2026
   Expected response: Varies; may claim no records exist
4. "Emergency response logs and communications"
   Radio logs, emergency notifications, and response protocols activated during riot
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: January 9-12, 2026
   Expected response: 10+ business days; likely heavily redacted

Federal FOIA:

1. "DOJ Civil Rights Division correspondence with Georgia regarding prison conditions"
   Agency: DOJ Civil Rights Division

SOURCES AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Families (contact via media@gps.press):

• Deamonte, mother of Ahmod Hatcher — Washington State Prison (January 11, 2026)
• Michelle Lett, aunt of Jimmy Trammell — Washington State Prison (January 11, 2026)

Incarcerated Witnesses:

• Jennifer Fender, visitor who witnessed riot from visitation room
  "Described chaos and lack of officer response during riot"
  GPS can facilitate secure communication.
• Incarcerated witnesses via Telegram communications
  "Messages showing conflict was brewing since before Christmas"
  GPS can facilitate secure communication.

Experts:

• Allen Wigington, FAIR Georgia — Prison conditions advocacy and open records requests

OFFICIALS WHO SHOULD BE ASKED FOR COMMENT

* None have been asked for on-record comment by major media outlets.

QUESTIONS GDC HAS NOT ANSWERED

1. Why were only 5-6 officers assigned to cover 69 security posts at Washington State Prison?
2. Why were no incident reports filed for four days after a mass-casualty event?
3. Why were shift rosters for January 11 (riot day) and January 12 not provided in response to records request?
4. How can the GDC claim professional response when visitation was unstaffed during the riot?

GPS submitted these questions via Not asked on Not asked . Status: Not asked

STORY ANGLES

Local:

Washington County families affected by prison deaths and coroner's contradictory statements about death investigations

Policy:

$600 million prison budget increase vs. documented understaffing crisis that led to preventable deaths

Accountability:

Officials who ignored DOJ warnings about violence while operating prisons with skeleton crews

Data:

Comparative analysis of staffing levels across Georgia prison system and national standards

QUOTABLES

"My son was supposed to be safe. These people in prison are humans. They're not animals."

— Deamonte, mother of Ahmod Hatcher

"It's like they're just letting them run around, do whatever. They weren't trying to stop nothing."

— Michelle Lett, aunt of Jimmy Trammell

"The GDC possesses no documents responsive to the request for incident reports between 1/7/2026 and 1/12/2026. Any incident reports have not been completed as of this time."

— GDC response to FAIR Georgia open records request

"He also added that he has no knowledge of an individual by the name of Dajhmere Hall."

— Washington County Attorney Joseph C. Sumner, Jr., relaying coroner's statement

SOURCE DOCUMENTS

• FAIR Georgia Open Records Response R026183-011226 (PDF)
  http://Available%20through%20GPS
• DOJ Findings Report on Georgia Prisons (PDF)
  https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-georgia-s-state-prisons-violate-constitution
• GDC Press Release January 12, 2026 (Webpage)
  http://GDC%20website%20archives

GPS Full Investigation:
https://gps.press/they-knew-empty-posts-broken-locks-and-georgias-deadliest-prison-week/