Justice Department Finds Georgia Officials Have ‘Lost Control’ of State Prisons

Officers with the Georgia Department of Corrections check a vehicle at the entrance to the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga., on Sept. 20, 2011. Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Oct. 1 released a 90-plus page comprehensive findings report revealing systemic, unconstitutional conditions in Georgia’s state prisons that create unsafe conditions for inmates, staff, and the public.

After a statewide investigation, the DOJ concluded that the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) had failed to protect incarcerated individuals from severe violence and sexual abuse, fostering an environment of chaos and danger that violates the Eighth Amendment.

“Our findings reveal that the leadership of the Georgia Department of Corrections has lost control of its facilities,” U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Ryan Buchanan said at a press conference announcing the findings in Atlanta.

Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, also spoke about the report’s findings, noting that the DOJ found that “People are assaulted, stabbed, raped, and killed or left to languish inside facilities that are woefully understaffed.”

She emphasized that the report unveils long-standing, systemic violations stemming from a “culture of indifference.”

“Georgia fails to protect incarcerated people from extreme violence inside the 34 state prisons and four private prisons,” Clarke said.

In response to the report, the GDC said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times that they were “extremely disappointed” with the DOJ’s decision to issue the report and that the DOJ ignored “extraordinary efforts” by staff and recent initiatives aimed at improving prison conditions.

The GDC argued that their system operates above constitutional standards, asserting that the DOJ’s report fails to account for challenges common to all prison systems, including “correctional staffing, violence perpetuated by inmates, and unlawful gang activity.”

“These issues also plague the Federal Bureau of Prisons—DOJ’s own prison system. Hence, DOJ’s findings today reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the current challenges of operating any prison system,” the GDC said.

The agency said it had cooperated with the DOJ and will continue to do so as discussions move forward.

“As history demonstrates, DOJ’s track record in prison oversight is poor—often entangling systems in years of expensive and unproductive court monitoring. As merely one example, court monitoring instigated by DOJ at Rikers Island remains ongoing after eight years, despite the fact that New York City employs one jail officer for every inmate at Rikers Island.”

Findings Breakdown

The DOJ report detailed severe deficiencies in GDC facilities, including failure to supervise inmates, control contraband, or conduct proper investigations.

Gangs, some of which are controlling entire housing units, contribute to an environment rife with violence and sexual exploitation, particularly against LGBT individuals, according to the DOJ report.

The report claims that gangs, not the prison authorities, control day-to-day life in many prisons, overseeing essential activities such as access to food, showers, and phones. They also engage in extortion and coerced sex acts, further eroding safety in the prisons, the DOJ claimed.

The DOJ also claimed there were racial disparities, noting that 59 percent of Georgia’s incarcerated population is Black, compared to 31 percent of the state’s population.

Buchanan also pointed out an alarming rise in violence, with 142 homicides in GDC facilities from 2018 to 2023.

The homicide rate in Georgia’s prisons is nearly three times the national average, with 35 deaths reported in 2023 alone and 18 in the first five months of 2024, the agency said. The DOJ said GDC has failed to accurately track homicides, further complicating the crisis.

Clarke emphasized the role of severe understaffing, which has left large sections of prisons unsupervised, allowing violence and contraband to flourish. Some facilities face job vacancy rates for correctional officers exceeding 70 percent.

U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia Peter Leary described Georgia’s prisons as “out of control,” warning that the lack of adequate staffing, physical security, and oversight has endangered inmates, staff, and surrounding communities. He stressed the need for immediate action to remedy these systemic failures.

Jill Steinberg, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, highlighted several tragic incidents, including the murder of a correctional officer and a food service worker. The latter was killed with a contraband firearm.

Steinberg also raised concerns about the use of contraband cellphones, which allow inmates to continue criminal activities outside the prison walls, often extorting family members and directing illegal drug operations.

In response to questions from the press, Clarke acknowledged that federal consent decrees may be necessary to enforce reforms. While she expressed hope for cooperation from Georgia officials, the DOJ will continue monitoring the situation to ensure compliance with constitutional standards.

The DOJ’s investigation into Georgia’s prison system comes as part of a broader effort to address similar conditions in other states, including Alabama, Tennessee, California, and Mississippi.

While Georgia has initiated some reforms, the DOJ said they are considered insufficient and that it will continue monitoring the state’s efforts.