VALDOSTA — Prison officials maintain that conditions are safe for employees and inmates at Valdosta State Prison, despite recent reports of violent attacks.
The Times recently met with Valdosta State Prison Warden William Danforth and other officials from the Georgia Department of Corrections and Valdosta State Prison to discuss various violent incidents against correctional officers and inmates. Georgia Senator Tim Golden, D-Valdosta, and Representatives Jay Shaw, D-Lakeland, Ellis Black, D-Valdosta, and Amy Carter, D-Valdosta also attended.
During the meeting, prison officials asserted that the recent attack on Officer Zebedee Hankerson was not a common occurrence at the prison.
“The incidents that have happened to staff are unfortunate, but it is an inherit risk you take with this job,” said Department of Corrections Assistant Commissioner Derrick Schofield. “And sometimes we are
cautious to release everything to the public about inmate or officer attacks to ensure the safety of the inmate inside the prison, as well as outside family members.”
Danforth added that VSP has the hardest working staff and the majority of the officers are from the local community. He said that the officers seem to be happy with the working conditions and the turnover rate has actually dropped in the last year.
The prison currently has 315 correctional officers, 34 supervisors and four administrators.
Excluding those at the Valdosta Annex and Transition Center, there are 972 inmates at VSP. Of those inmates, 245 are serving life sentences and 50 are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Although there is a full page of identified gangs at VSP, the facility has a stratification plan overseen by a security threat group (STG) coordinator. The STG coordinator looks for indicators that a person may be in gang, and after validating a gang member, strives to separate that inmate from potential rivals.
There are 10 major housing units, with three buildings for the mental health population.
“We actually have one of the largest mental health services in the state,” Danforth said. “There are approximately 280 Level 3 mental health inmates and they are placed in supportive living units.”
Officials admitted that these factors can contribute to more violence at the prison. Nonetheless, they affirmed that officer presence has been a successful method of deterring such incidents.
After a tour of the prison, attendees at the meeting discussed ways to improve the lines of communication between the Department of Corrections and the media.
Rep. Ellis Black also emphasized the toll that the state’s across-the-board budget cuts have taken on the prisons, as well as other state departments.
Outrage about violence at the prison stems from the Oct. 25 attack of 19-year-old officer Zebedee Hankerson, who was beaten by at least three inmates while on duty at the prison. Hankerson’s brutal attack left him in need of surgery on his face and one of his eyes.
Since the report about Hankerson surfaced, The Times has received reports from past and present correctional officers about conditions at the prison. Reported issues range from shortage of manpower to lack of disciplinary action for aggressive inmates.
Former officers William Bond and William Lewis also came forward to discuss attacks that left them unable to work due to injuries.
Despite previous issues regarding the release of information about these incidents, the Department of Corrections and Valdosta State Prison have agreed to be more forthcoming with details about violent occurrences at the prison in the future.
Local News
Officials: Prison is safe
Warden, others discuss recent violent acts at Valdosta State Prison
- Local News
-
-
Tropical storm brings much needed rain to drought-stricken region
Lowndes County is in for a soaking today as Tropical Storm Beryl passes through the area, according to the National Weather Service.
-
Wild Adventures unveils revamped animal show
A Chilean Rose tarantula, an albino Burmese python and American alligators headline Wild Adventures’ revamped “Creature Feature Extreme” show, as the exhibit kicked off its summer schedule last week in a newly constructed amphitheater.
Previously titled “Creature Feature,” the new variant of the show features some of the most popular animals from the previous exhibit. -
Pausing to honor those who gave all
Two Memorial Day ceremonies will be held at Sunset Hill Cemetery Monday to honor the fallen veterans of our country’s past and current wars.
-
Fallen hero memorialized
Amid cries of jubilation from the mother of a fallen local veteran, a new memorial was unveiled Saturday afternoon, at the intersection of North Valdosta Road and Inner Perimeter, in honor of the late Petty Officer First Class Joseph Adam McSween.
-
VHS Class of 2012 graduates
Valdosta High School’s Class of 2012 gathered Friday night at the Valdosta State University PE Complex to celebrate the graduation of roughly 350 seniors.
-
Qualifying ends
Citizens engaged in their local political landscape will have plenty of options this July and November as dozens of candidates qualified on Friday.
-
Resident escapes from blaze
A citizen escaped an aggressive fire with only minor cuts and bruises Friday afternoon, as wind amplified the flames from the blaze that started inside of his St. Augustine Road residence.
-
Weekend preview with Brittany McClure
Find out what's going on this weekend with Brittany McClure.
-
Popular vendor taken out of the ballparks
With a wagon-load of fresh cakes, hot boiled peanuts and ice-cold bottled water she has witnessed generations of children, or as she refers to them, her angels, grow into adults with children of their own.
-
Three candidates file for election
Qualifications for Lowndes County general primaries continue with the addition of a couple new candidates interested in running for elected office.
- More Local News Headlines
-
