After some years of concerns about safety both for inmates and staff, Gov. Brian Kemp has announced budget recommendations for a major investment in the state’s prison system. Consulting firm Guidehouse Inc. provided an in-depth and independent assessment, the recommendations would add $372 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) in the amended Fiscal Year 2025 budget and the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The additional investments would add up to more than $1.6 billion for public safety from Kemp since he took office in 2019.
“Public safety is the number one priority of state government, and that is why we have taken a comprehensive and deliberate approach to strengthening law enforcement and improving our corrections system,” said Kemp. “Today’s announcement is the latest step we’ve taken to ensure Georgia’s communities remain safe, but it will not be the last. I want to thank the teams at Guidehouse for their diligent and detailed work over the past several months, as well as the Department of Corrections personnel who have been helpful partners at every step of this process and who face incredible challenges each day to keep violent criminals behind bars. Along with our legislative partners in the General Assembly, I look forward to delivering on these historic improvements.”
The recommendations were based on nearly a year of study from the Guidehouse teams, after visits to multiple state prison facilities, interviews with staff, inmates and other stakeholders. The recommendations were presented by GDC Commissioner Tyrone Oliver at a joint meeting of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The funding would address challenges like staffing shortages and improving facility infrastructure.
“On behalf the entire GDC team, I want to express our gratitude to Governor 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.
Among many specific recommendations, the funding would provide a four percent salary increase for all correctional officer staff, bringing pay more in line with other states. It would also increase funds for an eight percent salary increase for behavioral health counselor positions. The GDC would also be authorized to hire an additional 330 correctional and close security officer positions, improving staff-to-offender ratios.
“In recent months, we have heard from various stakeholders on what needs to be done to address the challenges currently facing Georgia’s prisons,” said House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett. “These exceptional recommendations address pressing issues by dedicating the funding and resources needed to ensure the safety of our communities, inmates and those who work in our prisons. This session, the Georgia House will promote solutions to the problems facing our facilities, which all states are currently having, as we have learned throughout this review.”
