While former corrections officers, current corrections officers, and officers’ families have recently spoken up concerning violent attacks by inmates in Valdosta State Prison, the state Department of Corrections has kept a guarded silence.
The Valdosta Daily Times has sought comments from Valdosta State Prison and the DOC in the wake of reports of inmate-on-inmate violence and inmates attacking corrections officers. So far, there has been either a lack of response or no comment.
The DOC has released statements regarding inmates injured recently within Valdosta State Prison.
Still, earlier this week, The Valdosta Daily Times filed open-records requests for official reports and information concerning the attacks on two former corrections officers. As of Thursday afternoon, the DOC had not responded to the open records requests.
The Department of Corrections and the administration of Valdosta State Prison have tough jobs. We understand this. They are responsible for housing violent offenders. They are responsible for keeping these offenders confined within the cells, bars, gates and concertina wire of the corrections facility.
By asking what is happening at Valdosta State Prison, this newspaper is not trying to jeopardize the facility’s primary mission. But when corrections officers and their families come forward, on the record, sharing stories of attacks and showing scars from those attacks, this newspaper and the community should expect some answers.
Valdosta State Prison is a part of the South Georgia community. Many of its corrections officers come from Valdosta-Lowndes County and surrounding communities.
When men from our community are being injured, when men who have been there claim the inmates are out of control, it raises questions not only regarding the safety of the corrections officers but the safety of the general public.
If the DOC doesn’t want to answer our questions, it should at least make an effort to address its neighbors — the residents of Valdosta-Lowndes County. It should at least let residents know how such matters are being addressed within the walls so those of us living outside of those walls can rest a little easier.
