Corrections in the future, 2016

GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
FACILITIES OPERATIONS DIVISION

CORRECTIONS IN THE FUTURE

Greg Dozier Commissioner

Timothy C. Ward Chief of Staff

Ricky Myrick Assistant Commissioner

Many states across the country, including Georgia, have passed or are in the process of passing criminal justice reform measures in an effort to restrain skyrocketing prison costs by providing sentencing courts with less expensive community based sentencing alternatives for low-level, non-violent drug and property offenders.

Effects of Criminal Justice Reform
Reduce number of offenders requiring incarceration Significantly increase the percentage of violent and dangerous
offenders
Changes in Prison Design and Operation
Due to a high percentage of violent and dangerous offenders, prison architectural firms have designed facilities that are intended to be safer to manage and cheaper to operate
NEW PRISONS Rely on smaller, self-contained living units or "pods" Each pod to house 100 or less offenders Discontinue use of large-scale cell blocks and yards to eliminate the congregation of large number of offenders Offender activities (i.e. eating, sleeping, visitation, showering, programming, education, medical and barbering) to be conducted within each individual pod
Benefits of New Design
Effective management of violent prison population Significant decrease in risk of officer safety by reducing staff
intensive large-scale offender movements Increase in flexibility in classification, offender housing and
staffing in each pod Increase in security by limiting an offender's ability to smug-
gle and distribute contraband as well as coordinate facility-wide disturbances
Technology in Security and Operations
Technological advances play an increasingly important role in maintaining prison security and operations. Shrinking state budgets and a nationwide prison population of approximately 2.3 million fueled a trend to find more efficient, cost effective and sophisticated means of maintaining control of facilities.

VIDEO CONFERENCING Delivers services to offenders within living units Used primarily for offender visitation Used in an increasing number of offender court appearances Helps enhance officer and public safety Reduces offender transportation costs
TRACKING OFFENDERS Future prisons will rely on technology driven counting and tracking systems Some jurisdictions are using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking systems to monitor offender populations Electronic bracelets worn by offenders track movements RFID is the wireless non-contact use of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer data, for the purposes of automatically identifying and tracking tags attached to objects RFID can be programmed to sound an alarm if an offender enters a prohibited area or if there is an unusual concentration of offenders in a ceratin area Other tracking technology exists, such as biometric entry point systems, but has yet to be deployed Prohibits an offender to enter an area through the scan of an offender's iris or fingerprint
RAPID ID Mobile 3G device that compares flat fingerprint of an individual to both state and federal criminal database Fingerprint will identify if person is on probation, parole, a sex offender or has an active warrant Located at all state prisons
THROUGH BODY SCANNER Low dosage x-ray detector Can detect metallic and non-mateallic contraband Currently used at three facilities

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE Increased role in facilities nationwide Assists with officer surveillance Cost effective High video quality Remotely controlled to zoom in and out as well as change point of view Newer cameras are more durable and increasingly resistant

VISITOR PHOTO ID Each facility uses a mobile device to take pictures of visitors who are approved contacts for offenders Photo will be uploaded to SCRIBE under an offender's visitor contact list.

TThheeGGeeoorrggiaiaDDepeapratrmtmenetnotf Coof rCroercrtieocntsiocnresaptreos taescatsfetrhGeepourgbilaicbbyyefofepcetrivaetliynmg asencaugrinegaonfdfensadfeersfaacnidlitpireosv,iwdihnigleorpepdourtcuinnigtireescfoidripvoissmitivtehrcohuangghe. effective programming, education and healthcare.

Deterrents

CONDUCTED ELECTRICAL WEAPONS (CEW)

Mission: To reduce injury to staff and offenders, to aide as a deterrent from having to use hands-on force, reduce cost of injuries to staff and offenders, and help operate safe and secure facilities.
Commonly known as "tasers" Tasers produce high frequency soundwaves' Proven to effective in disabling disruptive and combative of-
fenders Used at 24 facilities as well as Interdiction Response Teams
(IRT).
Hardening Project
Implemented in March 2013 Concept: to harden all Level V (close security) prisons through
the construction, renovation and retrofit operations in order to establish a tiered disciplinary segregation mechanism for problem inmates, as well as increase security throughout all close security facilities. In 2015, began to harden large, medium security facilities. Established Cell Phone Management System at three close security facilities in 2015.
MODIFICATIONS Installation of barrel bolts, tray/handcuff slots, stainless steel fixtures, wall mounted beds and updated lockers, light switches and shower doors Hardened light fixtures and heater vents Issuance of OC spray and stab resistant vests to all on-duty Correctional Officers
TIER SEGREGATION SYSTEM Implemented in August 2013 Divided into three tiers Tier I and II - locations at Hancock, Hays, Macon, Smith, Telfair, Valdosta and Ware State Prisons Tier III - Special Management Unit (SMU) located at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison (GDCP) Mental Health Tier at Augusta State Medical Prison and Georgia State Prison Purpose: to create a managed and measured stratification oriented pathway for offenders to successfully transition from Administrative Segregation to lower-security levels and it provides greater management of long-term Administrative Segregation offenders

Tier I : Disciplinary, Protective Custody and Transient

Housing Involuntary and voluntary placement and management of of-

fenders in short-term segregated housing

Formal hearing held 96 hours after placement in Tier I

30 days or less in Tier I

Assignment cannot exceed 30 days with the



exception of involuntary/voluntary protective



custody

30 day review conducted by Classification Committee

Offender appeal of placement must be submitted within

three business days of receipt of notice

Tier II : Administrative Segregation Long-term Administrative Segregation stratification plan that manages the institutional conduct and programmatic need of offenders assigned to the program Offenders eligible for placement in Tier II are General Population, Mental Health II and III Offenders placed in Tier II are a threat to safety of facility, leaders in a major disturbance or riot, failure in Tier I, leaders in major disturbance resulting in assault or homicide of other offender(s), possession of firearm, escaped or escape attempt from a secure facility, assaultive histories and/or attempting to introduce or trafficking of cellular devices, drugs, tobacco or illegal contraband Three phases Formal hearing held within 96 hours of placement 90 days per phase/per review 30 day contacts with Counselor Nine months minimum stay

Tier III - Special Management Program (SMU) Established to protect staff, offenders and the public from offenders who commit or lead others to commit violent, disruptive, predatory or riotous actions, or who otherwise pose a serious threat to the security of the institution 90 day review by SMU Review Committee Recommendation formulated by committee to transition offender to next phase, retain in current phase, reassign to previous phase, transfer to Level V (Tier II program) or assign to general population