Ministry of Justice believes that Georgia is violating the rights of prisoners

Through Kandis Edwards

October 3, 2024

Georgia’s prisons are once again showing a lack of concern for inmate safety.

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The Justice Department has concluded a years-long investigation into Georgia prisons. The DOJ found that 17 institutions are actively violating the rights of Georgian prisoners. The DOJ report, released on October 1, found that the state of Georgia in particular violated the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.

In a 93-page report, the department found the following violations in state-run and private prisons in Georgia:

• Failing to protect individuals housed in medium- and high-security facilities from widespread physical violence and subjecting incarcerated individuals to an unreasonable risk of harm from sexual abuse in the facilities.
• Critical understaffing and systemic deficiencies in physical facilities, housing and classification, contraband control, incident reporting and investigations all contribute to the widespread violence.
• Georgia allows gangs to exert undue influence on prison life, including controlling entire housing units and executing unlawful and dangerous schemes in and out of prisons, harming both inmates and the public.

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section conducted the investigation and no criminal charges were filed against the state.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, “Our Constitution requires humane prison conditions that, at a minimum, ensure that people in custody are safe. The findings of the Georgia Department of Corrections’ Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act investigation reveal serious and diffuse failures to protect the men and women housed in the facilities, including disturbing and increasing deaths of incarcerated people.”

Department of Justice finds unconstitutional conditions in Georgia prisons

🔗: https://t.co/9mP6oKaQx9 pic.twitter.com/884DUYTEgI

— DOJ Division of Civil Rights (@CivilRights) October 1, 2024

The story seems minimal, as the DOJ press release does not mention any tangible steps to correct and improve the conditions of the detainees. Instead, it provided a warning, admonition, and hope for future improvements.

“We hope to work with the State of Georgia to improve these deadly conditions; indeed, the Constitution requires it,” said U.S. Attorney Peter Leary.

This is not the first time that a Georgian institution has been criticized for its practices. In August, the Fulton County Jail completed an investigation into four female security officers. The women were charged with inappropriate sexual contact with an inmate and smuggling contraband Law and crime.

The investigation into the women initially began as an investigation into prison security following the death of an inmate. The prisoner was found dead and covered in insects.

Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat said, “The Fulton County Jail is structurally unsafe, widespread violence has resulted in serious injuries and homicides, and officers are being prosecuted for using excessive force.”

Both state and local facilities are under scrutiny for inhumane practices. Only time will tell if the DOJ is serious about protecting prisoners.

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