The Georgia Department of Corrections web site and noticed that they've added something new -- a searchable database of inmate contacts. They list the name of the inmate, the person contacting them, and the method of contact. The database contains information back to October, 2002.

I searched under several generic names and found that they listed the names of people who wrote, visited, or phoned inmates, as well as their relationship to the inmate. As someone who has a pen pal in Georgia, I find this development very troubling. It is an invasion of not only the inmate's privacy, but mine.

This is just another effort to punish and harass innocent friends and family members of people who have friends and loved ones in prison. It will have a chilling effect on people looking for pen pals. I cannot think of a good thing to say about it, nor can I see any public interest being served by making this information available.

I probably shouldn't be but I am shocked. How can they do that? I have always said that the DOC takes pride in punishing the family and friends for their loved one's crime. This not only proves it but puts the icing on the cake.

It is pretty damned disgusting.

I forgot to mention that you can see how this works for yourself by visiting http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/GDC/OffenderContacts/jsp/OffContQueryForm.jsp

I submitted the last name of Jones, just to see what sort of information they listed. I found the names of people who called, wrote, faxed or phoned inmates in the system, the date they made contact, and their relationship to the inmate.

Wow~!...I to don't understand why I am shocked at this....What is the point in notifying the public who contacts the inmates? I'm sure their reasoning for this would be interesting to hear...NOT~!!!!

I understand their (bad!) intentions, but this seems to violate a whole bunch of rights. This is just down right WRONG!!!!

Ok well this is definitly wrong iin everyway, the only good i can get out of this is if i wanted to see soemone else writign my man or seomthing, but honestly that is wrong

I may have misspoken. Someone on another forum pointed out that they thought that they were only posting the names of people who contacted the Georgia DOC in regards to an inmate. For instance, if a family member contacted the DOC to request that their inmate be transfered to a different facility.

Even if that is the case, I still don't see why this sort of information needs to be put on the internet. Still, it is a lot less nasty than what I thought they were doing. I guess that is what I get for jumping to conclussions.

if soemone fids out the reason for this i would liek to know as well

Maybe contacting ACLU would be a good idea. I don't think they've got any business putting that information on the internet at all. It does nothing to keep the security of the prisons there or anything else, and it's just not right.

Maybe these people have to sign something when they visit or contact these inmates, have you found someone on the Georgia forum that might know?

I just checked this out. If you look to the left of the offender's name in the contact list, there is a link marked "More". If you click that, There will be a field marked "Request Description". When I looked through these, most of them said "transfer" in that area. However one did say "Status and Assignment". Just by looking at that, I would say this is not a list of every person that the offender has contact with, but of ever loved one or friend who has called to make a request on behalf of their loved one.

Amy, I think that you are correct. I sort of jumped the gun when I saw this thing for the first time. It just seems like such an odd thing to have. While I am all for transparency in government, I still do not think that it is a good idea to publish on the internet the names of those who intervene on behalf of their loved ones and friends. What purpose does it serve?

If someone is interested in finding this sort of information out, it should be done through a telephone call or email. Make it public, just not that public.

I'm still not happy about this because I'm a social worker with a hospice in Georgia. I write the DOJ all the time trying to get inmates out for a visit or to get them transferred closer to a sick parent/spouse. That makes me nervous that my name may be in the database.

I thought that the contact registry was for if the lawyers contacted the inmate. I have written to my son almost everyday since he has been there and all of my family has sent him cards and letters. I went to that site and typed in my sons # and it doesn't even come up. Am I looking in the wrong place?

Barbara, I was mistaken when I thought that the site was reporting contacts with the inmate. Instead, they are reporting contacts made with the Georgia DOC about the inmate -- big difference.

The purpose of this feature is to allow people to check on the progress of requests to the department. For example, if you requested that a loved on be transfered to a particular institution that contact would be noted on the web site. That way the department is at least acknowledging that they have a record of your request. Similarly, if an inmate's attorney contacts the DOC on behalf of an inmate you can at least know that the lawyer is doing their job.

When I first saw the web site I thought that they were posting records of letters to inmates. I was wrong about that, and apologize for any confussion that I may have caused.

Wow...that sucks

I guess that helps the GA DOC manage their phone call follow-ups regarding request from family and friends, but I can't believe that information is not confidential. Maybe the inmate or family member has to give a signed consent or verbal approval for them to post this information, so they can follow-up on the status of the request. However, it only shows that the GA DOC is acknowledging they received the request but no indication of the status of the request is shown. I can't believe this is legal without the inmate or requestee's consent.

This is from the NYS Docs website. Check out the PRIVACY POLICY on your states website.

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