By Rhonda Cook
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ATLANTA, Ga. — At least four Georgia prisons were locked down Monday for the fifth day as inmates continued a work stoppage they organized using cell phones bought from guards, an inmate advocate said.
Department of Corrections spokeswoman Peggy Chapman said there had been no “major incidents or issues” reported at the four prisons on lockdown or at any of the state’s other 26 facilities.
But advocates and inmates’ relatives said heat and hot water were turned off at some prisons and there had been some physical confrontations between prisoners and guards.
Corrections officials said the prisons on lockdown are Hays State Prison in Trion, Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Telfair State Prison in Helena and Smith State Prison in Glennville. Advocates said inmates had also shut down all activity, at times, at Augusta, Baldwin, Calhoun, Hancock, Hays, Macon, Rogers, Smith, Telfair, Valdosta and Ware state prisons. The 30 prisons statewide house almost 53,000 men and women.
The protest, which started Thursday, was organized by inmates using contraband cell phones they bought from guards, according to Elaine Brown, a prisoner advocate who has been in contact with some inmates.
Brown said they are protesting the lack of fruits and vegetables in their meals, no pay for their work, poor living conditions and parole decisions.
The protest and the role cell phones and text messaging have had in its organization have drawn national and international media attention.
Although the use of the technology to organize inmates is rare, it is not uncommon for phones to be smuggled into prisons.
California prison officials confiscated a cell phone from convicted mass murderer Charles Mason earlier this month. In November, an inmate used a cell phone to call Maryland state Sen. Ed DeGrange. Also last month, the mother of an inmate called a Texas prison warden to complain that her son was getting poor cell phone reception inside the institution.
In August, President Barack Obama signed legislation making it illegal for federal inmates to have cell phones. It is a felony offense in Georgia for an inmate to have a cell phone. Officials fear inmates could use them to plan escapes, organize drug deals or harass victims or trial witnesses.
Brown, a former Black Panther whose son is in Macon State Prison in central Georgia, said black, white, Hispanic, Christian and Muslim inmates and prisoners from otherwise opposing gangs had formed unlikely unions after months of organizing via text messaging and word of mouth.
During the lockdown, inmates are confined to their cells.
“The Department’s mission of maintaining safe and secure facilities is non-negotiable and will not be jeopardized,” Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens said in a written statement. “The Department will ensure appropriate safety measures are in place before the lockdown is lifted.”
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution