Georgia Prisons Are Unacceptable: Feds
The State Prison Near Reidsville is one of the correctional facilities in the Georgia state prison system. Photo credit: Judson McCranie.
The DOJ published a 94-page report on Oct. 1 with detailed findings after its investigation.
Understaffing and Deficient Facilities Contribute to Violence, Poor Contraband Control
The DOJ’s report addresses dire conditions and patterns in Georgia prisons. One of the main problems is the inability to protect individuals from widespread violence and sexual abuse. The report cites horrific conditions of inmates being tortured– even maimed– and negected.
These prisons also have a major problem with understaffing and deficiencies in physical plant, housing, classification and contraband control.
Another issue Georgia jails fail to address adequately is the effect local gangs have on prison life, running schemes that are described as unlawful and dangerous in and out of prison, causing harm both to prisoners and the public.
The report cited poor staffing levels as being partially responsible for the rampant crimes in the Georgia state prison system, suggesting that if staffing levels were higher, gang activity could be better controlled.
But the report doesn’t stop at poor staffing levels. It also accuses state authorities of failing “to take reasonable steps to address these unconstitutional conditions.”
Sobering Statistics
According to statistics published by the Associated Press, since 2021 a total of 981 people died in Georgia prisons, while the Atlanta Journal-Constitution shared that in the first six months of 2024, 156 people lost their lives in these facilities.
Comments by Officials
Prosecutorial officials involved in the case pulled no punches when discussing the dismal state of Georgia’s prisons.
“Our findings report lays bare the horrific and inhumane conditions that people are confined to inside Georgia’s state prison system,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in a public statement.
“Our statewide investigation exposes long-standing, systemic violations stemming from complete indifference and disregard to the safety and security of people Georgia holds in its prisons. People are assaulted, stabbed, raped, and killed or left to languish inside facilities that are woefully understaffed,” Clarke said.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan suggested that the conditions inside Georgia prisons contributed to higher death rates among male and female inmates.
“The findings… reveal grave and diffuse failures to safeguard the men and women housed in its facilities, including disturbing and increasing frequencies of deaths among incarcerated people,” Buchanan said. “We expect the State of Georgia to share our sense of urgency about the seriousness of the violations described in this report and to work cooperatively with the Justice Department, our office, and our U.S. Attorney partners.”
Another U. S. Attorney, Peter Leary, was even more direct.
“We hope these findings are a wake-up call. Incarcerated people and staff in the Georgia Department of Corrections face unacceptable, systemic risks, and the impact affects all of our communities,” Leary said.
More From This Author
Six Defendants Charged in Bid-Rigging Schemes, Face Decades Behind Bars
Report Strahinja Nikolić | Nov 19, 2024
The U.S. Strikes Back Against Chinese Companies Involved in Fentanyl Distribution
Report Strahinja Nikolić | Nov 19, 2024
Weekly Muck
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.
Weekly
Muck
Join the mission and subscribe to our newsletter. In exchange, we promise to fight for justice.
