DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS RESPONDS TO OUR INVESTIGATION

In preparing this story, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution obtained data, records and reports from the Georgia Department of Corrections. The AJC also sought the agency’s perspective on chronic understaffing and the rising number of homicides and suicides inside the state’s prisons. The agency didn’t respond to all of the AJC’s questions, including how facilities can be safely operated with so few staff. The GDC also didn’t answer the AJC’s question about whether the agency is concerned about the rise in homicides and suicides.

Here are excerpts from spokesperson Joan Heath’s response to the AJC’s request for comments for this story. Other responses are included in today’s article.

Staffing problems

“Correctional staffing challenges, and law enforcement staffing in general, is an issue not only in Georgia but across the country. While challenging, however, we are always actively recruiting internally, via social media and our website, along with conducting job fairs and hiring events, with an average of 160 job fairs conducted each month.”The GDC said it is now hiring an average of 125 correctional officers each month and is hiring more staff members than it’s losing. The agency said turnover rates are trending in the right direction, declining from 47.8% in FY2022 to a projected 35.7% for FY2024.

Violence

“It is important to note that our population consists of 74% violent offense convictions, with almost 30% who are gang affiliated.” The agency said it is prepared to handle an increasing number of gang-affiliated offenders through technology, innovative systems, commitment from staff and a variety of programs to help reduce recidivism.

Current conditions and successes

Commissioner Tyrone Oliver believes things are going well within the state’s prison system“when you consider that our staff work in the most dangerous ‘communities’ in Georgia.” The GDC said it is providing opportunities for success upon release, including high numbers of GEDs, completions of career, technical and higher education programs and behavioral/cognitive programming. “While we remain committed to running safe and secure facilities, the small percentage of the population on which you are focusing does not represent the agency as a whole, whether referencing staff or offenders, and this successful majority should be commended for their efforts.”