GDC Facilities Lockdown Update

GDC Facilities Lockdown Update

Majority of affected facilities now on restricted movement

FORSYTH, Ga. – The Georgia Department of Corrections experienced numerous incidents in the month of June at several facilities across the state. Between June 19-24, a total of eight facilities were placed on lockdown to ensure the safety of the inmates, staff, and overall prison operations due to rising tensions among gangs.

Safety concerns have been addressed resulting in lockdown being partially lifted, on July 7, at three prisons allowing for the reinstatement of visitation and restricted movement for programming and other activities within the dorms. Those facilities were: Autry, Calhoun, and Ware State Prisons. An additional three prisons will be placed on restricted movement beginning July 12. Those facilities are: Hancock, Macon, and Valdosta State Prisons.

Until further notice, Smith and Telfair State Prisons, will remain on lockdown to ensure overall safety and security for staff and inmates at these facilities.

To further ensure the well-being of our staff and inmates during the summer months, GDC has processes in place to address the excessive temperatures. These processes include allowing offenders to wear t-shirts instead of state-issued button-up uniforms, utilizing larger box fans in addition to wall mounted fans already in place, ice delivery with each meal, and during extreme heat, two additional ice deliveries to dorms. There are 16 facilities that are fully air-conditioned and six facilities with some air-conditioned living units, to include medical, geriatric and the majority of mental health units.

The GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.

For more information on the GDC call 478-992-5247 or visit http://www.gdc.ga.gov