Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
STATE OF GEORGIA
For Immediate Release
Bostick State Prison in Milledgeville Slated for Closure
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Corrections announced today the closure of the 700-bed Bostick State Prison in Milledgeville effective May 1, 2010. The Department anticipates a savings of approximately $6.7 million annually in direct operational cost.
Bostick State Prison is an old 1950’s dorm that was converted to a prison in 1987. The facility is considered a “non-enduring” infrastructure because it lacks the safety features of other state prisons and requires more staff to secure. The facility houses medium security inmates, as well as those with special needs.
“While budget cuts are the result of this closure, the first priority for the Department is to maintain safe and secure prisons,” said Commissioner Brian Owens. “We will continue to be good stewards of public funds without jeopardizing public safety.”
Bostick State Prison’s 131 staff members will be offered positions at other GDC facilities. Most positions will be within a 50 mile radius. All inmates will be transferred by April 30, 2010. Work details currently provided by inmates at Bostick will be picked up by Baldwin State Prison in Hardwick. Future plans for the state-owned facility have not been determined.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 13,000 employees.
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