Interview
Tyrone Oliver
Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections
conversation, Tyrone Oliver, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections, discusses the key findings that shaped this strategy.
JT: The Department has recently undergone a general assessment with the support of a consultancy partner to identify strengths, opportunities, and recommendations to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness within the prison system.
What were the most significant needs identified through these assessments?
TO: The assessment found three primary areas of need: staffing, aging infrastructure, and security technologies. Infrastructure is definitely a big focus. Our newest prison is already 30 to 40 years old, and many of our facilities were not designed to meet the demands of today’s correctional environment. Updating and renovating these buildings is essential to meet the needs of the population that we’re serving today, and in the future. This is reflected in this year’s budget, where infrastructure investment takes up a significant portion.
We are also focused on advancing security technologies to combat contraband like illegal cell phones and drone drops. In parallel, staffing remains a critical issue. Recruiting and retaining qualified personnel is an ongoing challenge, particularly given the complex demands of correctional work.
Correctional staff are the unsung heroes of public safety often working in the most dangerous environments. They’re the ones that are not seen on the front lines, but they are very much at the
forefront when it comes to keeping their community safe. We need to ensure that those who take on this demanding job receive the support and appreciation they deserve.
Our immediate priority is on securing and managing the budget through the General Assembly.
The assessment provided a clear roadmap, developed in collaboration with consultants and the Governor’s office, outlining the steps needed to implement these reforms effectively.
This roadmap extends beyond 2026, marking the beginning of a sustained effort to transform our corrections system.
The biggest challenge ahead is making sure we stay on track and keep the plan moving forward. Securing funding for this year is just the first step, but real progress depends on keeping that support in place. It’s going to take major investments in the department over multiple fiscal years to get us where we need to be.
What do you see as the key advantages of partnering with private sector experts in this reform process, and how has it shaped the department’s approach?
TO: Working with Governor Kemp and bringing in consultants has definitely helped us in this process. It gives us an outside view and takes a deep dive into our system from a national perspective. They were able to assess how we operate, identify areas for improvement, and provide solid recommendations.
This work directly influenced this year’s budget. The recommendations from the assessment are reflected in the funding priorities, and having that outside analysis provides strong documentation to support these investments, when we take this to the General Assembly for the budget process.
JT: This follows an ongoing strategy to close older prisons in the state and replace them with new facilities.
What principles are guiding the design of these new facilities?
TO: What we are seeing in Georgia, is a shift in the makeup of the prison population. More individuals entering the system have histories of violent offenses. Currently, 96% of those inside of our 35 state prisons have been convicted of this type of crime. The average length of sentence is about 42 years. With a total population of 50,000, that presents unique challenges in how we need to manage facilities, and how they need to be structured to ensure safety and effective management.
Because of this, we are moving toward single-man cells in new facilities. The goal is to reduce violence and make it easier for staff to manage the population. Our newest prison will have 1,500 beds—still a relatively large facility, but nowhere as massive our initial design of 3,000 beds.
Smaller settings, single-man cells, and advanced security technology will all play a role in keeping our facilities safer and more efficient and aid in rehabilitation.
What other modernisation efforts and technology innovations do you see as important for the future of the Georgia Department of Corrections?
TO: One of the biggest challenges we’re facing is contraband, particularly illegal cell phones and contraband drone drops, which hinder our operations.
Right now, there’s a big push across the country for implementing better technology to give us the authority to block cell phone signals and intercept drones before they can drop contraband.
With this we can eliminate the ability to use these devices to continue criminal activity and orchestrate crimes beyond prison walls. If we can cut off those connections, it will make a huge difference — not just in keeping our facilities safe, but also in protecting the broader community in Georgia.
While recruitment continues to be a challenge, technology can help offset some of the strain by making facilities safer and more efficient. The goal is to give staff the tools they need to do their jobs effectively, which also helps with retention.
Looking ahead, infrastructure will remain a critical area. Here in Georgia we’ve done a 60-month projection of our prison population and found that in the next five years, we’ll have at least 1,300 new individuals coming into our system serving life without parole, bringing our number to approximately 3,500 total.
That means we have to think about what’s needed long-term — how we design facilities, what rehabilitation programmes we offer, and how we manage a population that isn’t going anywhere.
Corrections systems everywhere, both nationally and internationally, are evolving, and we have to move forward too. Technology is at the centre of that. Some of the old ways of doing things aren’t going to cut it anymore, and modernising our approach will be key to keeping staff and inmates safe and our facilities secure.
Tyrone Oliver
Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections
Tyrone Oliver was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections in 2022. He previously served as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. With an extensive career in law enforcement, he held various leadership positions, culminating in his role as Chief of Police for the City of Social Circle, Georgia. In November 2018, he was designated by the City of Social Circle as Deputy City Manager. He currently serves as President-Elect of the American Correctional Association and Vice President of the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators. He serves on numerous other boards for the State of Georgia.
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