Inmate’s Murder, ‘Rising Tensions’ Lock Down Two Ga. Prisons
An advocate says “gang violence” is a symptom of poor prison management.
Two Georgia prisons are on lockdown.
One, Telfair State Prison, is locked down because of “rising inmate tensions” after weapons and cellphones were founds in the prison. At Macon State Prison, Georgia’s Department of Correction said inmate Kendrick Hicks was killed on Monday, and another inmate was injured in a separate violent incident.
In each case, corrections officials say gangs are responsible.
“It’s easy to blame gangs. The issue is though that gangs fill a security vacuum. And the Department of Corrections needs to come up with some new strategies,” Sarah Geraghty, an attorney with the Southern Center for Human Rights, told WABE last month.
At that time, another inmate had just been killed at Calhoun State Prison. Three prisoners and a guard were charged with his murder. The Department of Corrections blamed gang violence for lockdowns at eight of its prisons around that time.
The Southern Center has provided detailed recommendations for how to try to stem the state’s prison violence. That includes Georgia Corrections requesting a state audit – reaching out for help. But the Georgia Department of Audits said that it’s received no such request.
At least 34 Georgia inmates have been have been killed by other prisoners since 2010.
Corrections says it’s still investigating the most recent incidents.
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