Georgia corrections officials have placed 26 state prisons and correctional facilities on lockdown following a surge in security threat group activity. The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC) confirmed that the lockdown is a precautionary measure while officials conduct intermittent security threat assessments and continue ongoing investigations.
This sweeping security action affects a significant portion of the state’s carceral infrastructure, ranging from medical facilities to women’s prisons.
The Scope of the Lockdown
The list of affected facilities is extensive. The facilities currently under lockdown are:
- Hays State Prison
- Hancock State Prison
- The Special Management Unit
- Augusta State Medical Prison
- Johnson State Prison
- Rogers State Prison
- Smith State Prison
- Macon State Prison
- Telfair State Prison
- Valdosta State Prison
- GDCP
- Phillips State Prison
- Baldwin State Prison
- Washington State Prison
- Autry State Prison
- Dooly State Prison
- Wilcox State Prison
- Calhoun State Prison
- Coastal State Prison
- McRae Women’s Facility
- Pulaski State Prison
- Ware State Prison
- Riverbend Correctional Facility
- Wheeler Correctional Facility
- Coffee Correctional Facility
- Jenkins Correctional Facility
The inclusion of the Special Management Unit and the Augusta State Medical Prison among the affected facilities indicates that the threat is being monitored.
What Remains Unknown
Despite the breadth of the lockdown, the Georgia Department of Corrections has remained tight-lipped about the specifics. Lori Benoit, the GDOC Deputy Director of Communications, provided the confirmation of the lockdowns via email but did not elaborate on the catalyst for the surge in activity.
There are several critical questions that remain unanswered. Officials have not disclosed whether any injuries have occurred or if any specific violent acts triggered the lockdowns. There is no established timeline for when these facilities will return to normal operations; the state has simply stated that the lockdowns will remain in effect until further notice.
Security Threat Groups Trigger Lockdown at 26 State Facilities
Security threat groups have led the Georgia Department of Corrections to place 26 state facilities on lockdown.
