Uncovering the Crisis: How Georgia Prisons are Failing and What Can be Done

Georgia prisons are facing a crisis of severe understaffing, deteriorating buildings, and an increase in violent attacks among inmates, correctional officers, and other prison staff. The Department of Corrections Facilities Study Committee held its first hearing this month, where state officials discussed the challenges of running a large prison system and the urgent need for upgrades to aging prisons. Commissioner Tyrone Oliver emphasized the need for more one-bed cells to reduce violent conflicts and the spread of violent street gangs across the state. However, the cost of building new, state-of-the-art facilities can be high, and criminal justice reform advocates have criticized lawmakers for supporting increased bail bond restrictions and stiffer mandatory criminal penalties.Despite these challenges, high-ranking Republican state lawmakers have taken an interest in improving the state prisons system and local jails, with GOP Gov. Brian Kemp announcing a year-long probe of the Georgia corrections department and Republican House Speaker Jon Burns announcing a House budget subcommittee to evaluate the financial commitment needed to make Georgia’s correctional facilities safer.