Georgia’s state prisons are becoming more deadly for its employees and inmates. Contraband including knives, drugs and guns contribute to the increased violence and deaths in the prisons.
In 2023, there were 35 killings in Georgia prisons. A year later in 2024, at least 44 people were killed. These incidents are the result of the increasing problems of dishonest police guards, kingpins, contraband, violence and the shortage of staff.
At the annual Georgia Bar and Media Conference in February, Michael Shapiro, a professor at Georgia State University and former criminal defense attorney, said the lack of staffing within the Georgia prisons impacts safety.
“Staffing in prisons are so short that they are afraid to send two officers to escort a prisoner to a facility,” Shapiro said.
With the shortage of guards, it could be an ordeal when two guards are needed to transfer a prisoner within a facility. If one of the security guards are harmed or killed, then staffing is immediately affected.
Contraband is a growing problem. On June 16, 2024, inmate Jaydrekus Hart snuck in a gun in the prison to shoot food service worker Aureon Shavea Grace according to The Associated Press. Grace worked for Aramark; a Philadelphia based food services company contracted to with Georgia prisons.
“In reference to the incident that occurred June 16 at Smith State Prison during the investigation it was discovered that a personal relationship existed between Aramark employee Grace and Offender Hart,” said Lori Benoit, manager of communications at Georgia Department of Corrections.
Hart was the second staff member who died in 2024 in Smith State Prison. Robert Clark, a correctional officer, was killed in October 2024. He escorted two prisoners to the dining hall when one of them stabbed him with a homemade weapon.
Prison authorities worry contraband is delivered from a drone or through unlocked access doors.
“In order to sufficiently interdict all contraband at all facilities and grounds, routine shakedowns are conducted inside, outside and in parking lots,” Benoit said.
Another ongoing safety issue is broken cell locks.
Rep. Scott Holcomb D-Dekalb said malfunctioning cell locks is not an easy fix.
“It will take five years from now to make all prison cell locks work in all prisons,” Holcomb said.
Holcomb said broken cell locks means beds go unoccupied. Prisoners need to sleep where they can be secured leading to overcrowded cells.
Low salaries and the lack of safety within prisons has created a shortage of prison staff. Security guards and office personnel often earn less than a public-school teacher. The General Assembly is trying to remedy this situation with Gov. Brian Kemp’s recommended spending increases in the current 2025 and future 2026 budgets. This includes higher salaries for prison employees.
For the fiscal year 2025 – 2026, Gov. Brian Kemp recommended more spending for the Georgia Corrections Department (GDC) after an assessment which showed a necessary $372 million of the overall $600 million in investments. This money is for enhancing staff, emergency repairs, and infrastructure improvements.
Under the increased spending, the ‘Tiger Team’, a five-person team, would be created to address the needed security repairs including fixing prison and facility locks, locking control mechanisms and security electronics.
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