Ryan K. Buchanan U.S. Attorney | US Attorney's office Northern District of Georgia
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has released findings from a multi-year investigation, concluding that the Georgia Department of Corrections is violating the constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals by failing to protect them from widespread physical violence and harm. The 94-page report indicates that violence in Georgia prisons has worsened over recent years.
“Individuals incarcerated by the Georgia Department of Corrections should not be subjected to life-threatening violence and other forms of severe deprivation while serving their prison terms,” stated U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Our constitution requires humane conditions in prisons, that, at a minimum, ensure that people in custody are safe. The findings of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act investigation of the Georgia Department of Corrections 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. 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 Department of Justice, our office, and our U.S. Attorney partners in the Middle and Southern Districts to remedy these systemic deficiencies in Georgia prisons.”
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke commented on the report's revelations: “Our findings report lays bare the horrific and inhumane conditions that people are confined to inside Georgia’s state prison system. 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. Inmates are maimed and tortured, relegated to an existence of fear, filth and not so benign neglect. These dangerous conditions not only harm the people Georgia incarcerates — it places prison employees and the broader community at risk. The Justice Department is committed to using its authority to bring about humane conditions of confinement that are consistent with contemporary standards of decency and respect for basic human dignity.”
According to today's report, Georgia has nearly 50,000 inmates across 34 state-operated prisons and four private prisons, making it one of the states with the highest prison populations. Since 2016, federal authorities have been investigating these facilities with a focus on medium- and close-security levels.
The investigation identified critical understaffing issues along with systemic deficiencies related to physical infrastructure, housing classification processes, contraband control measures, incident reporting procedures, and investigations—all contributing factors to widespread violence within these institutions.
The report also highlights improper gang influence within prison environments where gangs reportedly control entire housing units and operate illegal schemes affecting both inmates' safety inside prisons as well as public safety outside.
Additionally, federal investigators concluded that Georgia fails unconstitutionally subjects inmates—especially those who identify as lesbian gay bisexual transgender or intersex (LGBTI)—to unreasonable risks from sexual abuse due inadequate screening classification practices problematic housing assignments other systemic issues.
The investigation initially focused on whether LGBTI individuals were adequately protected from sexual abuse but expanded scope 2021 include protection all inmates medium- close-security levels collaboration Northern Middle Southern Districts' U.S Attorneys’ Offices Civil Rights Division Special Litigation Section conducted comprehensive inquiry
Deputy Chief Public Integrity & Civil Rights Section Aileen Bell Hughes handling case
For more information contact U.S Attorney’s Public Affairs Office USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov (404) 581-6016 Visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga
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