Commissioner: Timothy C. Ward

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

FORSYTH, Ga. – Special Agents with the Georgia Department of Corrections’ (GDC) Office of Professional Standards are investigating the death of an inmate at Baldwin State Prison in Hardwick, Ga., as a suspected homicide.

Agents have reason to believe offender Michael Dawson (GDC# 1098125) died as a result of injuries sustained during an altercation involving another inmate on December 25. He was pronounced deceased at approximately 9:20 a.m. GDC, in conjunction with GBI, is conducting an investigation into the death, as standard procedure.

Dawson was sentenced to 20 years in 2001, in Polk County for Rape and Aggravated Assault. He was also sentenced to Life in 2008, in Chatham County for Murder.

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.