Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

More than 8,800 items seized

FORSYTH, Ga. — As part of ongoing efforts to prevent contraband from entering our facilities, the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) seized a total of 7,763 contraband items during the fourth quarter of 2018. The agency continuously makes improvements to our systems and procedures in addition to utilizing full-facility shakedowns to fight this problem.  

“Keeping contraband out of our facilities is a constant battle, but we remain vigiliant in our efforts to eradicate it’s presence,” said Timothy C. Ward, the interim commissioner of GDC. “It is thanks to the tireless efforts of our staff  that we are able to remain steadfast in our efforts.”

Through the collaboration of our Office of Professional Standards, GDC Tactical Squads and K9 Units, the following items were confiscated between October and December 2018:

  • 1,525 cell phones
  • 771 cell phone chargers
  • 2,440 handmade weapons
  • 12,738.13 grams of marijuana (462 bags/balloons)
  • 73,382.97 grams of tobacco (1,434 bags/balloons)
  • 1,912.30 grams of methamphetamine (152 bags/balloons)
  • 6,079 ounces of alcohol (87 bottles)
  • 844 pills
  • 34 syringes
  • 14 SIM/SD cards  

The GDC also utilized shakedown operations to detect 1,107 items in the fourth quarter of 2018. A total of 19 shakedowns were completed at 14 of the 32 state prisons.

Fourth quarter shakedown seizures included:

  • 123 cell phones
  • 545 handmade weapons
  • 1844.3 grams of marijuana (29 occurrences)
  • 995.6 grams of tobacco (22 occurrences)
  • 109.9 grams of methamphetamine (9 occurrences)
  • 1715.2 ounces of homemade alcohol (5 occurrences)
  • 374 unidentified pills

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.