Georgia Spent $700 Million More on Prisons—Deaths Tripled, Staffing Collapsed

FACILITY BREAKDOWN

What GPS Documented (Original Findings)

• Georgia allocates approximately $1.77-$2.20 per prisoner per day for food — Source: GPS investigation Starved and Silenced
• Three inmates (Jimmy Trammell, Ahmod Hatcher, Teddy Jackson) were killed at Washington State Prison on January 11, 2026 — Source: WJCL and Georgia Public Broadcasting reports
• Per-prisoner spending jumped from roughly $23,000 annually in FY 2022 to $36,400 in FY 2026 — Source: GDC Cost Per Day Consolidated Summary FY 2024

Data source: GPS analysis of GDC Monthly Reports and family interviews

What DOJ Already Confirmed

• Prison homicides rose from 8-9 annually in 2017-2018 to 37 in 2023, then to 100 in 2024 — Pages DOJ Investigation Report
• Georgia's prison medical care violates the Eighth Amendment — Pages DOJ Investigation Report
• Georgia prisons violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment — Pages DOJ Investigation Report
• 333 total deaths in 2024, with 100 homicides — Pages DOJ Investigation Report

Source: DOJ Investigation of Georgia's State Prisons
https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1371406/dl

RECORDS JOURNALISTS SHOULD REQUEST

Georgia Open Records Act:

1. "All incident reports, use of force reports, and investigative files related to the January 11, 2026 disturbance at Washington State Prison resulting in three deaths"
   Detailed documentation of the riot that killed Jimmy Trammell, Ahmod Hatcher, and Teddy Jackson
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: January 11-15, 2026
   Expected response: 3-5 business days; fee quote likely for large requests
2. "All incident reports related to the January 12, 2026 attacks at Hancock State Prison resulting in five injuries"
   Documentation of stabbing incidents following Washington State Prison riot
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: January 12-15, 2026
   Expected response: 3-5 business days; fee quote likely for large requests
3. "Complete $2.4 billion Centurion Health contract executed in 2024, all emergency procurement justification documents, and any legal challenges or complaints filed regarding the no-bid award process"
   Full contract terms and justification for no-bid emergency award
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: 2024-2026
   Expected response: 5-10 business days; significant fees likely
4. "All contract termination documents, financial settlement agreements, and performance reports related to Wellpath's exit from Georgia prison healthcare services in June 2024"
   Documentation of $40 million loss and 40% staff turnover
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: 2023-2024
   Expected response: 5-10 business days; moderate fees likely
5. "GDC Cost Per Day Consolidated Summary reports"
   Per-prisoner cost calculations showing spending increase from $23,000 to $36,400
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: FY 2022-2026
   Expected response: 3-5 business days; minimal fees
6. "Facility-by-facility staffing reports and vacancy data"
   Documentation of 50-76% vacancy rates across the system
   Agency: Georgia Department of Corrections
   Date range: 2022-2026
   Expected response: 5-10 business days; moderate fees likely

Federal FOIA:

1. "All correspondence between DOJ Civil Rights Division and Georgia Department of Corrections regarding constitutional violations"
   Agency: DOJ Civil Rights Division

SOURCES AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Families (contact via media@gps.press):

• Family of Jimmy Trammell (aunt quoted) — Washington State Prison (January 11, 2026)
• Family of Ahmod Hatcher (mother quoted) — Washington State Prison (January 11, 2026)

Incarcerated Witnesses:

• Incarcerated witnesses to Washington State Prison riot, anonymous, background only
  "Available through GPS investigation"
  GPS can facilitate secure communication.

Experts:

• Criminologist (need to verify with Times Union source), Academic institution (to be confirmed) — Prison security failures and systemic breakdown analysis

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. How the $700 million spending increase was allocated across specific programs and initiatives
2. Specific staffing numbers and vacancy rates by facility
3. Details about the emergency Centurion Health contract award process
4. Response to DOJ findings and timeline for addressing constitutional violations

GPS submitted these questions via Open Records Request on Unknown . Status: No response

STORY ANGLES

Local:

County families affected by prison deaths; local taxpayer cost of failed system ($700M could fund schools, infrastructure)

Policy:

How $700M spending increase bought worse outcomes; comparison to states achieving better results with similar budgets

Accountability:

Officials who ignored DOJ warnings while increasing spending; no-bid contracts and emergency procurements

Data:

Request facility-by-facility death rates, staffing data, and budget allocations to map spending vs. outcomes

QUOTABLES

"I'm on my way home. I can't wait to see y'all."

— Jimmy Trammell (via his aunt), three days before his death

"They were the cause of my son getting killed because they weren't doing their job."

— Ahmod Hatcher's mother

"There's usually protections in place that failed or broke down and led to this kind of incident."

— Criminologist (unnamed in article)

SOURCE DOCUMENTS

• DOJ Investigation of Georgia's State Prisons October 2024 (PDF)
  https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1371406/dl
• Georgia Budget and Policy Institute FY 2026 corrections budget overview (PDF)
  http://Available%20from%20GBPI
• GDC Cost Per Day Consolidated Summary FY 2024 (PDF)
  http://Available%20via%20Open%20Records%20Request

GPS Full Investigation:
https://gps.press/700-million-more-and-nothing-to-show-for-it/