ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Gov. Brian Kemp announced budget recommendations for the Georgia Department of Corrections on Tuesday.
The recommendations come after Kemp commissioned a statewide assessment of the Georgia corrections system by the consulting firm Guidehouse Inc.
In a press release, his office indicates the investment would total $372 million over the next two years.
The recommendations suggest the money would be used to fund salary increases, hire 330 additional workers, invest in a new facility, add 446 prison beds, fund modular correctional units, launch a marketing initiative to recruit correctional officers, develop a new training curriculum and create a team to repair locks statewide.
Georgia’s prison system is one of the largest in the country. The Georgia Department of Corrections reports 47,000 inmates and 9,000 employees across the system. That comes to roughly one employee for every five inmates.
“On behalf of the entire GDC team, I want to express our gratitude to Gov. Kemp, the members of the study committees and the Guidehouse team for their collective commitment to ensuring a thorough evaluation of current challenges facing our agency as we continue to seek ways to improve public safety and better our effectiveness in delivering on the mission to keep Georgians safe,” said GDC Commissioner Oliver.
In October, the Department of Justice released a report calling the conditions in Georgia prisons horrific. The 93-page report details the dangers facing inmates.
For months, lawmakers were tasked to study the problems plaguing Georgia prisons. Members of the Public Safety Appropriations Committee met to discuss the Governor’s recommendations.
“This has been studied and studied and studied and now it’s time to get something done,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Matt Hatchett.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Blake Tillery said cell phones are a major driver of illegal activity and that cell phones need to get out of jails.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr called on the Federal Communications Commission to allow for the use of cell phone jamming devices within state prisons and local jails. They’re prohibited in most prisons.
“We want to make sure we’re making wise investments with taxpayer dollars. Prisons are for rehabilitation and corrections, not for social media stars,” Tillery said.
Lawmakers on the appropriations committee will get to decide how much funding the Department of Corrections should receive. The budget then needs to be signed by the governor.
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