The Department Justice announced in September that it had formally launched an investigation of the Georgia prison system focusing on inmate-on-inmate violence. The back and forth between lawyers for the DOJ and the GDC offers a first glimpse at how the investigation, now six months old, is unfolding, at least at the outset, as a contentious battle over records. “In the interim, GDC cannot and will not forfeit the safety and security of our staff and offenders.”
“GDC will provide DOJ with the requested information once DOJ agrees to take the appropriate precautions with these documents,” Heath said in an email.
GDC spokesperson Joan Heath said the DOJ is seeking confidential material that could threaten the safety and wellbeing of prison staff and inmates.