Governor Brian Kemp is pushing for major upgrades to Georgia’s prison system. He’s proposing more than $372 million in funding over the next two years. The plan comes after a detailed study of the state’s correctional facilities found them lacking.
What’s Happening: Governor Kemp and the Georgia Department of Corrections announced the proposal following a review by consulting firm Guidehouse, Inc. The study looked at ways to improve safety, staffing, and infrastructure.
The proposal includes higher salaries for prison staff and funding for new facilities. If approved, it would mark one of the largest investments in public safety since Kemp took office.
Who Made it Happen: The new assessment involved visits to prisons, interviews with staff and inmates, and research into best practices.
Why It Matters: Staffing shortages and aging facilities have challenged Georgia’s prison system. The recommendations aim to make prisons safer for officers, inmates, and the public.
Key Budget Proposals:
- A 4 percent pay raise for correctional officers to match pay in neighboring states.
- An 8 percent raise for behavioral health counselors.
- Additional funds for food service, maintenance, and chaplain positions.
- Hiring 330 new officers to improve staff-to-inmate ratios.
- $40 million for planning and designing a new prison.
- Construction of modular units to house inmates during renovations.
- 446 private prison beds added to contracts.
What’s Next: Lawmakers will review the proposals during the 2025 legislative session. Governor Kemp and lawmakers expect bipartisan support for the plan, which they say prioritizes safety and reform.
The Department of Corrections will continue working with Guidehouse to implement changes.
About Georgia Corrections: The state supervises about 47,000 inmates and employs 9,000 staff. For more information, visit the Department of Corrections website at gdc.georgia.gov.

B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.