Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, along with the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC), announced significant budget recommendations for the state’s prison system, totaling over $372 million. These recommendations follow an independent assessment by Guidehouse, Inc. and are part of ongoing efforts to enhance public safety in Georgia. This move aims to combat crime more effectively, improve support for law enforcement, and build on over $1. 6 billion invested in public safety since Governor Kemp took office.

Governor Kemp emphasized that public safety is the top priority for the state. He thanked Guidehouse for their thorough work and acknowledged the challenges faced by the Department of Corrections staff in keeping violent criminals imprisoned. He looks forward to working with legislators to implement these improvements.

In June 2024, Governor Kemp tasked the GDC and Guidehouse with evaluating strengths and areas for improvement in the prison system. The assessment involved site visits to various prisons and discussions with staff and inmates, utilizing research methods for a comprehensive review.

GDC Commissioner Oliver expressed gratitude to the Governor and the Guidehouse team for their commitment to evaluating the challenges faced by the agency and improving public safety. The recommendations presented by GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver at a legislative meeting focus on urgent issues, such as staffing vacancies and better alignment of facilities with security needs.

Senate Appropriations Chairman Sen. Blake Tillery noted that prisons should focus on rehabilitation and safety, advocating for measures to block cell signals within prisons. He commended the collaborative efforts of various officials to ensure the safety of employees, inmates, and the public.

House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett mentioned the importance of addressing the challenges faced by Georgia’s prisons and ensuring safety for communities and workers. He affirmed that the Georgia House would push for solutions based on recent evaluations of the system.

Majority Whip Sen. Randy Robertson highlighted his background in law enforcement and expressed appreciation for the work done by the study committee, emphasizing the need to improve conditions in the corrections system.

Key recommendations include:

– Increasing staffing levels with salary raises for correctional officers and other key positions.
– Adding more correctional officer positions to improve staff-to-offender ratios.
– Investing in new prison facilities and additional private prison beds.
– Improving training for correctional officers.
– Funding emergency repairs and maintenance for existing facilities.

The GDC remains committed to collaborating with Guidehouse to finalize their assessment and support implementation of these recommendations.