More Updated: Oct 5, 2021

OCTOBER 1st- The Justice Department has announced an investigation into the conditions of Georgia prisons. The investigation focuses on whether Georgia provides reasonable protection from physical harm from other imprisoned persons. This investigation is being conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). Officials say that shortage of staff is leading to an increase of violence and sexual abuse. Incarcerated persons are also reporting that some cells are unsanitary and often not monitored. The Justice Department is continuing their existing investigation into whether LGBTQ+ persons are provided reasonable protection from sexual abuse by other prisoners and by staff. More than 30 people died in Georgia prisons last year by homicide. That rate is three times the national average at state prisons. There have already been 18 reported homicides so far this year. In addition to the violence, the conditions of confinement have been challenged. Incarcerated persons are being denied proper care due to shortages in staff. Self-harm has also increased inside these facilities. The Georgia Department of Corrections should be ensuring the safety of all people within their custody. The GDC has long been accused of violating incarcerated person’s rights and needs to be held accountable. The duty to keep incarcerated people safe includes the protection of LGBTQ+ individuals, especially as they are a vulnerable population within our jails and prisons. LGBTQ+ people experience some of the highest rates of violence, from sexual harassment to sexual abuse and assault. These scenarios are reminiscent of the treatment of a trans woman prisoner named Ashley Diamond. Ashley Diamond is a Black trans activist who has been incarcerated in Georgia multiple times. During her bouts of incarceration, she has been placed in male prisons, sexually assaulted repeatedly, sexually harassed, and has been denied necessary treatment which has contributed to her gender dysphoria. We wrote a statement on Ashley Diamond back in 2020. READ OUR STATEMENT ON ASHLEY DIAMOND CASE

At SisterLove we believe that incarcerated persons are still people and should be free from violence inside of our jails and prisons. As a reproductive justice organization, this issue pertains to us because reproductive justice addresses the needs of incarcerated folks as well. Just because a person is incarcerated does not mean they should be denied the necessary health care services they need or be subject to sexual abuse. Some people inside of these prisons are already imprisoned in inhumane conditions, victims of trauma and other kinds of abuse and should not have to worry about being further victimized inside of Georgia jails and prisons. There must be changes to the already inadequate policies and lack of accountability and it is the hope of our organization that this investigation will address those needs.

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