Repeat Violations Prompt Johnson State Prison to Fail Health Inspection

A number of repeat violations led to the failure of a Georgia Department of Corrections facility in its recent health inspection.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Public Health visited Johnson State Prison in Johnson County on December 11 to find that a number of recurring issues previously brought to the attention of GDC officials have yet to be addressed. The ongoing issues prompted DPH to give the facility a grade of ‘F’ on its most recent health inspection.

From rodents and roaches to a laundry list of broken equipment, the facility landed a grade of 64.

Highlights from the report include:

  • Observed multiple rats and roaches in the kitchen facility.
    • The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests should be controlled by internal controls but are not.
    • “This has been an ongoing problem with little to no change – cages that were being ordered last time still have not been put into place. An SOP needs to be discussed with the Prison Warden and corrective measures need to occur. Repeat violation.
  • Person in charge not performing duties
  • No paper towels or hand soap available at sinks.
    • When discussed with 1st shift manager he said he did not know where the key was to unlock the soap dispensers and add new soap.
  • Food sitting directly on the floor.
    • Several bulk items – oil, flour, rice bran flakes canned goods – all observed with holes in bags rat dropping and pee sprayed on bags in storage facility. Items need to be lifted off the floor, properly wrapped and area needs to be cleaned and repaired due to rats and roaches.
  • Multiple foods cold holding temped above 41 degrees. Discarded during inspection
  • Action items in need of repair or replacement: 5 cooking ovens, 1 tilting skillet, 1 cooking kettle, 1 griddle, 1 smaller freezer unit, 1 bulk ice machines
  • Multiple sinks out of order
  • Floors, walls, and ceiling have several holes, tiles broken that need to be fixed and repaired
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Jessica Szilagyi

Jessica Szilagyi is Publisher of TGV News. She focuses primarily on state and local politics as well as issues in law enforcement and corrections. She has a background in Political Science with a focus in local government and has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

Jessica is a "Like It Or Not" contributor for Fox5 in Atlanta and co-creator of the Peabody Award-nominated podcast 'Prison Town.'

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20 Comments

  1. Well my husband is there and they don’t give out blankets to the inmates in there. My husband has to use a broken bucket for a pillow. The prison industry in the state of Georgia is cruel to their inmates. I feel very bad for my husband. I know people do wrong but at least have the proper things in the prisons.

    • This is really sad i have a son there Georgia needs to get it together or think The Feds needs to come on down here and do some investigating and lock up all the corrupt staff.

  2. Here is absolutely no excuse for the violations. Everyone involved from the Warden down needs o be fired. Since they are repeat violations the ones in charge simply don’t care.

  3. I have a loved one there. He has been there about 7 months and has one lung due to cancer. He has copd and emphysema as well. He is TWO months into his third lung infection! Has been waiting over 6 weeks for a medical appointment!

  4. This is a 18th amendment violation. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution says criminal defendants have the right to be free from “cruel and unusual” punishment. The Constitution guarantees defendants’ fundamental rights and protections tied to their treatment by corrections personnel during their confinement.Punishment that is inhumane or violates basic human dignity may be deemed “cruel and unusual.” There is no one-size-fits-all definition of cruel and unusual. My son is there. What must be done to protect our family members.

  5. No matter what the Crime…These PPL are Still Humans…and should be Treated as Such..bc GOD IS THE ONE WHO GIVES VENGEANCE AT THE END…I PRAY A CHANGE WILL COME,… INMATE’S GET GOD N YOUR LIVES N REPENT OF YOUR WRONG ….HE WILL INTERVENE….PRAYERS

  6. A young man was murdered in his cell last year and the facility just moved inmates in that cell which still has the deceased blood and brain matter on the walls, doors, etc.

  7. Inmates have written several grievance my son has a grievance appeal # 360419 that we pray gets to the central office because he been sick from eating food from the cafeteria and salmonella can kill you…

  8. It’s so much wrong at that prison and no one wants to acknowledge it. It worse than you think. My husband calls me everyday and complains about the living quarters of the prison to the dining area and how the refuse to give any of the offenders the correct medical attention.

  9. My brother is there and he said that he can’t sleep at night for roaches crawling all over him in his bed at night. And he can’t get to medical for wound care because there is no officers there to open the door and gates on the east side the fed need to come on and take over the warden and staff don’t care they need to clean up this prison are shit it down

  10. My son got stabbed last night at Johnson state prison. He got stabbed in the back of his head and neck. He wasn’t seen by medical until this morning. They saw him gave him a tetanus shot and sent him back to his room. He can’t feel his legs and he can’t walk. I’ve called and got transferred around. I finally got the wardens admin assistant. She took my number and said she would have the warden call me. I’m still waiting to get a call and my son is laying in his cell paralyzed. I am in Arizona and feel completely helpless. I need someone to help me get my son medical care.

  11. This is crazy!! My son was placed on restriction for a DR for 6 months. No food other than the cafeteria and no phone contact. I call the prison every week or two make sure he’s okay. Most of the workers really do not care. These are inhumane conditions and I pray this facility is shut down because no one deserves to live like this. They won’t fix the facility or give the inmates proper medical assistance but our tax dollars support these prisons.

  12. This prison does not give raincoats or umbrellas. Yet they have to walk around getting soaked every time they want to eat and take their medicine.

    Summer is coming up. Where are the air conditioners?

    What’s the problem with doing the right thing?

  13. My son is there stabbed already and just got there a few days ago. He sleeps on floor with no Pillows or blankets.No soap no toilet paper etc…. This is insane. I am worried sick he will be killed. Calls me crying daily cause of the threats he receives. Everyone needs to meet at GDC in atlanta,ga and meet with Senator Jon Ossoff

  14. The conditions at Johnson State prison are inhumane.This place is run like a third world country. Constant threats from other inmates, inmates being hurt and unattended by guards, Horrible food and sanitary conditions. Only two guards there, and they don’t monitor the inmates or ensure that they’re medical needs are met. This place is a shame and should be shut down if they are unable to perform their duties. Everyone is entitled to basic human rights, and families should not have to worry if their loved ones will make it home alive once their sentence is complete. Shame on Georgia for allowing this to happen in America! Jon Ossof, are you aware of these problems??

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