GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FACILITIES DIVISION 2016 FACILITIES FACT SHEET Homer Bryson Commissioner Greg Dozier Chief of Staff Timothy C. Ward Assistant Commissioner The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) creates a safer Georgia by effectively managing offenders and providing opportunities for positive change. GDC has one of the largest prison systems in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners within 33 state prisons, 23 county prisons, and 4 private prisons. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. Regional Offices Physical Utilization Rates FY2014 Allocation of Cost to Inmate (State Only) State Prisons $52.81 Transitional Centers $42.24 Private Prisons $50.67 County Institutes* $20.00/$22.00 *$20 per day/per inmate assigned & $22 per day/per sentenced inmate awaiting pick-up in county jails Inmate Breakdown Inmate Population & Effects of Criminal Justice Reform HB 1176 HB 349 HB 1176- Weight Based Drug Sentencing Phase I - July 2013 Phase II - July 2014 SB 365 67% Violent Crime or Sex Offenders, 3% increase from 2011 Inmate Population Gender Breakdown Males 50,253 incarcerated 92% medium or higher security 2,357 are veterans 44% have prior incarcerations in GA 40% have HS/GED education or higher Females 3,617 incarcerated 60% medium or higher security 47 are veterans 28% have prior incarcerations in GA 55% have HS/GED education or higher The Georgia Department of Corrections creates a safer Georgia by effectively managing offenders and providing opportunities for positive change. Initiatives Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) - GDC complies with federal standards through the investigation of all PREA allegations. There are 57 federal audits required. In Fiscal Year 2015, 39 audits have been conducted and have been certified as compliant. The additional 18 audits have been scheduled. Hardening - due to the more violent prison population & aging facilities, enhancements that would better withstand destruction by inmates (for the purposes of making weapons) were made to physical infrastructures. Challenges Security Staff Turnover The GDC mission has been made significantly more difficult due to the doubling of the turnover rate within the Correctional Officer ranks over the past 5 years. Forty-six percent of the existing Security posi- tions have been hired since 2009. Reducing turnover will help offset expenses, reduce legal liability, & will increase experience, competen- cy & professionalism of Officers. The long term effect of more experienced & better trained Officers will be an agency better equipped to support the Governor's Criminal Justice Reform efforts and to fulfill its stated mission. Began in March 2013 at all close security prisons Modifications: Heavy gauge steel fixtures Wall mounted beds Updated lockers, light fixtures, heater vents, & shower doors Tier Segregation system implemented August 2013 Stratification oriented pathway for offenders to successfully transition from Administrative Segregation to lower-security levels In 2015, began to harden large, medium security facilities (Autry, Washington, Calhoun, Dooly, Wilcox, & Johnson State Prisons) Cell Phone Interdiction To fight the growing problem of the introduction of cell phones into our facilities, GDC has implemented the following: Front line Efforts Training - additional training on contraband detection Improved Package Screening of items coming in Enhanced Staff Screening during shift changes Assignment of K-9 to Investigations Unit to improve communication and coordination Establishment of clear Chain-of-Command Secure Evidence Storage Procedures Technological Efforts CellSense: portable, full-body scanner to detect cell phones. Infrared cameras: detects heat signatures from objects, animals, & people 24/7. Through Body Scanners - low dosage x-ray scanner used to scan staff and visitors upon entry into a facility for the detection of contraband. Perimeter Netting - expansion of netting to stop contraband throw overs Body Orifice Security Scanner (BOSS) - detects hidden contraband Contraband Contraband is a national issue within the Corrections system. *Throwovers: contraband thrown over perimeter fencing at state facilities Ware State Prison contraband intercepted December 2015. Walker State Prison - Faith & Character Based Program The only male facility exclusively dedicated to Faith & Character Based programming. Established in 2011, the program has graduated 244 participants. Of those, none have returned to prison. Lee Evidence-Based Prison Established in 2015, this two-year program utilizes evidence-based practices to determine training for staff & programming for offenders. Program is divided into four, 6-month, phases. Designed for offenders near release. A total of 328 offenders are currently enrolled. Fire Services -19 stations in state prisons -More than 220 inmates -Responds to 3,000 calls annually State Prison Locations: Lee Arrendale, GDCP, Dodge, Lee, Montgomery, Hays, Long, Walker, Telfair, Hancock, Ware, Johnson, Calhoun, Macon, Wilcox, Autry, Dooly, and Georgia State Prisons. Calhoun State Prison intercepts a drone in November 2013. Gordon County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched and found one laptop, three batteries for the helicopter, one control for the helicopter, nine cellphones and a large bundle of marijuana. Four civilians were arrested. -110 cell phones -110 phone chargers -45 lb. of tobacco -16 AA batteries -3 bottles of fragrance oil -2 ear phones -2 phone batteries -2 bottles of vodka -3 designer watches December 2015