Human Rights Group Alleges ‘Deplorable Conditions’ At Several Georgia Prisons Amid Pandemic

A local advocacy organization says the Georgia Department of Corrections could be doing more to keep those who are incarcerated safe during the pandemic.

David Goldman / Associated Press

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the nation’s prisons and correctional facilities particularly hard.

The Marshall Project has been tracking confirmed COVID-19 cases among people in prison. As of Oct. 6, they found at least 143,243 people in prison had tested positive for the illness.

Now, a local advocacy organization says the Georgia Department of Corrections could be doing more to keep those who are incarcerated safe.

The Southern Center For Human Rights is calling on the United States Department of Justice to intervene in “deplorable conditions” at several state prisons.

On Monday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Sara Totonchi, executive director of the Southern Center for Human Rights, and Sarah Geraghty, senior counsel at the Southern Center for Human Rights, joined host Rose Scott for a conversation about what’s unfolding.

Guests:

  • Sara Totonchi, the executive director for the Southern Center for Human Rights
  • Sarah Geraghty, the senior counsel at Southern Center for Human Rights

To hear the full conversation, click on the audio player above.