The U.S. Justice Department has accused Georgia prison officials of being "deliberately indifferent" to severe abuses within state prisons, threatening legal action if conditions aren't improved. The Department's 93-page report highlights unchecked violence, drug use, extortion, and sexual abuse, all of which violate prisoners' Eighth Amendment rights. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized, "In America, time in prison should not be a sentence to death, torture or rape."
Prison officials countered these allegations, asserting that the prison system "operates in a manner exceeding the requirements of the United States Constitution" and expressed disappointment at the prospect of federal oversight.
The report paints a grim picture of Georgia's prison system, where gangs control black markets for drugs and weapons, and prison officials have seemingly lost control of daily operations. U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan noted, "The leadership of the Georgia Department of Corrections has lost control of its facilities." Despite efforts to control the flow of contraband through arrests and searches, the Justice Department found these efforts insufficient.
Homicides within Georgia prisons have significantly increased, with the number rising from seven in 2018 to 35 in 2023. The report further criticized the accuracy of the Georgia Department of Corrections' (GDC) data on deaths, suggesting that many homicides go unreported or are miscategorized.
Sexual abuse is another major concern, especially for LGBTQ inmates. The report detailed numerous incidents, including a transgender woman being sexually assaulted at knifepoint and another inmate being sexually abused and extorted. Despite physical evidence, investigations into these incidents were often flawed, with Clarke expressing that victims are hesitant to report abuse due to fears of retaliation.
Clarke also noted the racial disparities in Georgia's prison population, where 59% of incarcerated individuals are Black, despite Black people making up only 31% of the state's population. The Justice Department's report includes 13 pages of recommended measures to address these systemic issues and suggests legal action could follow within 49 days if improvements aren't made. Clarke concluded, "We can't turn a blind eye to the wretched conditions and wanton violence unfolding in these institutions."
Link: AP News