The U.S. Justice Department has announced Tuesday, Sept. 13, a statewide civil investigation of Georgia’s close and medium security prisons.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Civil Rights Division said, “This investigation will be comprehensive but will focus on harm to prisoners resulting from prisoner-on-prisoner violence. We are also investigating sexual abuse of gay, lesbian and transgender prisoners by prisoners and staff.”
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The investigation is being conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. CRIPA was signed into law in 1980 by then president Jimmy Carter. It allows the Justice Department to investigate state prisons, looking into whether prisoners are subjected to a pattern of constitutional violations.
Clarke said the investigation will also look at staff shortages in Georgia prisons that she said can lead to inadequate supervision, violence and prevent inmates access to medical and mental health services.
She said 26 inmates died by confirmed homicide or suspected homicide in 2020. There have been 18 so far this year.
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“Reports of countless other violent assaults, including stabbing and beatings, also have emerged from Georgia prisons,” she added. “Concerned citizens, family members and civil rights organizations, as well as photographs and videos leaked to social media and other channels have highlighted widespread contraband weapons and open gang activities in the prisons.”
Clark was joined by Acting U.S. Attorney Peter Leary for the Middle District of Georgia, Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt Erskine for the Northern District of Georgia and Acting U.S. Attorney David Estes for the Southern District of Georgia.
“The GDC is committed to the safety of all of the offenders in its custody and denies that it has engaged in a pattern or practice of violating their civil rights or failing to protect them from harm due to violence,” said Lori Benoit from the GDC Office of Public Affairs. “This commitment includes the protection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) prisoners from sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and sexual assault. We cooperated fully with the USDOJ’s initial investigation in 2016 and are proud of the service and dedication of our team since then to perform during unprecedented challenges.
Of the prisons being investigated, 15 are in the 43 counties that make up the Southern District of Georgia.
“This investigation is an example of our office’s commitment to stamping out violence in our district, no matter where it is found, no matter who the victim is,” said Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes for the Southern District of Georgia.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Justice Department via phone at (844) 401-3736 or by email at Community.GeorgiaDOC@usdoj.gov.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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