Difference Between Georgia Prison and Federal Prison

What is the Difference Between Georgia Prison and Federal Prison?

In Georgia, offenders that break state criminal laws are sent to state prison, while offenders that violate federal criminal laws are held in federal prison. Inmates in state prisons are considered are usually those convicted of violent crimes within state limits such as rape, gun-related offenses, and murder. On the other hand, federal inmates are primarily drug lords, white-collar criminals, and people convicted of political crimes. Additionally, crimes like money laundering, racketeering, and fraud are federal offenses that can land an individual in federal prison.

Federal prisons are managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, while Georgia's prisons are operated by the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC). The prominent contrast between these two prisons is the length of incarceration. As parole is not offered to federal prisoners, the amount of time spent in a federal prison is more extensive than the average time served in a state prison.

The Georgia Prison System

The Georgia Department of Corrections manages the Georgia prison system. The DOC's workforce totals 10,500 people responsible for the smooth functioning of the male and female prison facilities. There are 29 state prisons, one medical facility, four treatment facilities, 12 transitional centers, and eight probation detention centers that hold male offenders. There are also four private prisons used to contain male offenders in the state. For female inmates, there are four state prisons, two treatment facilities, one medical facility (that houses pregnant female offenders), and one probation detention center for female inmates. These facilities house about 3,500 female offenders, who make up 9% of Georgia's total prison population. The state's incarceration rate is around 550 per 100,000 people. The daily arrival of inmates from jail to the state prison is usually about 100-125 per day.

How to Lookup an Inmate in Georgia

To look up any inmate in Georgia, a person can search an online database with the inmate's name or ID/case number. Alternatively, an individual can mail a request to the Department of Corrections or visit the office to request elaborate information such as Georgia inmate records. Any person looking to donate or contribute towards an inmate's welfare should visit the GDC payment portal.

To locate an inmate in federal prison, interested individuals can query the federal inmate locator by inputting the inmate's number or first and last name. An interested person can search the GDC offender locator with the inmate's name, age, race, or gender for state inmates. Inmates in state custody can also be found with their ID or case numbers.

Georgia Department of Corrections
Department Headquarters
7 M L K Jr Drive Suite 543
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-4661

Georgia County Jails

Georgia county jails are short-term correctional facilities where offenders awaiting trial are held. The county jails also hold misdemeanor offenders or persons who are yet to fulfill bail conditions. Out of the 159 counties in Georgia, 143 counties have jails. The state has 183 jails, able to hold 49,037 offenders. There are about 38,757 inmates in these jails: 63% are awaiting trial, 6% are from the state prisons, 14% are serving sentences, and 17% are other detainees. Fulton County jail has the most significant number of inmates: 2,749 offenders. Whereas Wilcox County jail has the lowest number of inmates, having just one offender, it can hold 16 offenders. The incarceration rate in Georgia is about 970 per 100,000 persons.

To search for an inmate in any county jail, an individual has to visit or mail the particular jail where the inmate is held. Alternatively, the requesting party can query the local sheriff's office about this information.

How Does the Federal Prison System Work?

Individuals are incarcerated in federal prisons for drug peddling, child pornography, tax fraud, money laundering, etc. The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages the federal prison system. The agency is responsible for the 122 prisons providing security, rehabilitation, and transition programs to federal inmates across the country. The federal prisons hold about 152,174 inmates, incarcerated in different facilities with different security levels, based on the offense committed. There are five security levels distinguished by their housing types, towers, security barriers, detection devices, staff to inmate ratio, etc. These security levels include:

1. Minimum-security institutions, also known as the Federal Prison Camps (FPCs)
2. Low-security facilities, also known as the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI)
3. Medium security FCIs
4. High-security institutions referred to as United States Penitentiary (USPs)
5. Administrative facilities: These are institutions charged with unique missions, including holding pretrial offenders, treating inmates with severe medical problems, and confining very dangerous inmates and absconders. Below are the administrative facilities:

• Metropolitan Correctional Centers (MCC)
• Metropolitan Detention Centers (MDC)
• Federal Detention Centers (FDC)
• Federal Medical Centers (FMC)
• Federal Transfer Center (FTC)
• The Medical Center for Federal Prisoners (MCFP)
• Administrative-Maximum Security Penitentiary (ADX)

In addition to the custody and care of federal inmates, the BOP also provides the following treatment, rehabilitation, and release programs to inmates:

• Education Programs
• Medical Care
• Mental Health
• Religious Programs
• Sexual Abuse Prevention
• Substance Abuse Treatment
• Reentry Programs
• Work Programs