Georgia gained national attention while Republican Nathan Deal was governor for his criminal justice initiatives. Those efforts, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, steered more nonviolent criminals away from prison and toward accountability courts and other programs. Under Deal’s guidance, more state funding and resources poured into rehabilitation programs, and judges were given new flexibility for sentencing for some crimes.
The last criminal justice bill that Deal signed into law in 2018 required judges to consider a defendant’s financial status when setting bail, and it allowed law enforcement officers to issue citations instead of filing criminal charges. The efforts under Deal helped cut Georgia’s prison admissions by 18.6% between 2009 and 2017. The incarceration of black inmates fell by 30%.
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A change in administrations could mean a step back for some of the initiatives that passed under Deal.
Brian Kemp succeeded Deal after campaigning to get tough on violent crime. He signed several measures this year that aim to curb sex trafficking and poured more resources into programs targeting street gangs. He’s also ordered state agencies to cut spending by $200 million during this fiscal year and $300 million next year.
The state Department of Corrections may take the biggest hit under Kemp’s order. Hundreds of positions in the department have been identified for RIFs, or reductions in force, in areas such as construction, food services, administration and education. Some could result in layoffs, and others would be transferred to new jobs. Also marked for big pay cuts are some teachers who help inmates transition back into society.
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