156 deaths in six months. $1.5 billion budget. Zero accountability. Georgia’s prison crisis won’t fix itself—and lawmakers won’t act without pressure. Black Georgians are incarcerated at five times the rate of white residents. Violence has reached record levels. Medical neglect kills. The DOJ has documented human rights violations. Your voice can change this. One email to the right legislator can start a chain reaction that saves lives. 1
The Crisis in Numbers
Georgia’s prison system is failing:
- 156 deaths in custody—first half of 2024, highest ever
- 24 homicides—in six months alone
- $1.5 billion budget—producing worsening conditions
- 49.3% staff vacancy—enabling violence
Nearly 50,000 people are incarcerated in Georgia’s 34 state-run and four privately operated prisons. Federal investigations have documented constitutional violations. Special legislative committees have formed—but action requires public pressure.
Why Your Voice Matters
Public advocacy drives reform:
- Legislators respond to constituents—your email creates pressure
- Stories expose reality—personal accounts reveal system failures
- Numbers force accountability—data demands response
- Collective action works—multiple voices amplify impact
“Individuals incarcerated by the Georgia Department of Corrections should not be subjected to life-threatening violence,” stated U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan. That statement exists because people demanded investigation. 2
How to Take Action
Use Impact Justice AI to send advocacy emails demanding prison reform in Georgia. The free tool crafts personalized messages to Georgia lawmakers—no experience required.
The platform helps you:
- Generate effective messages—AI creates persuasive advocacy emails
- Target the right officials—reach legislators and media contacts
- Focus on key issues—healthcare, violence, staffing, accountability
- Track your impact—follow up on your advocacy
Demand:
- Immediate safety improvements
- Independent oversight of prison conditions
- Adequate healthcare services
- Accountability for failures
Further Reading
- DOJ Uncovers ‘Horrific and Inhumane’ Conditions in Georgia Prisons
- When Did We Stop Caring About Right and Wrong?
- GPS Informational Resources
- Pathways to Success
About Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS)
Georgia Prisoners’ Speak (GPS) is a nonprofit investigative newsroom built in partnership with incarcerated reporters, families, advocates, and data analysts. Operating independently from the Georgia Department of Corrections, GPS documents the truth the state refuses to acknowledge: extreme violence, fatal medical neglect, gang-controlled dorms, collapsed staffing, fraudulent reporting practices, and unconstitutional conditions across Georgia’s prisons.
Through confidential reporting channels, secure communication, evidence verification, public-records requests, legislative research, and professional investigative standards, GPS provides the transparency the system lacks. Our mission is to expose abuses, protect incarcerated people, support families, and push Georgia toward meaningful reform based on human rights, evidence, and public accountability.
Every article is part of a larger fight — to end the silence, reveal the truth, and demand justice.
