GLENNVILLE, Ga. () — A recent report from the Justice Department calls the activity inside Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) facilities “unconstitutional”.

Just last month, a drone, carrying contraband, crashed into a home in Glennville. Officers believe it was heading to Smith State Prison.

has also reported on several violent deaths inside the prison, inmates and even staff members like Aureon Grace. An anonymous employee told us last June, “the inmates are running the prison. We’re just allowed to be there. We’re allowed to go home every day by the grace of the inmates.”

And in 2021, a cell phone was used inside the prison order a hit on a corrections officer (CO), but the murder for hire was botched. Instead of that prison guard, an innocent, 88-year-old man, Bobby Kicklighter, was shot and killed in his sleep.

Court documents show the case and the death of Jessica Gerling, a former GDC CO, in June 2021, is tied to the Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Squad. Investigators say this gang included prisoners, some employees and even the former warden, Brian Adams.

A report from the Justice Department shows there were 142 homicides in GDC facilities over a 6 year period – 35 of those in 2023 alone. The department stating the violence reached “crisis level”.

News 3 had the opportunity to ask Attorney General Chris Carr about these concerns and what his office is doing to fight gangs inside prison walls.

“If you are going to break the law, we’re coming after you. I don’t care who you are,” Carr said. “This is a public safety issue. People are dying. They’re losing their life savings in scams. And we’re going after them.”

Carr says his office now able to prosecute gangs no matter where they are.

“We take that very seriously. We’re working with GDC to make sure that anybody that’s helping an individual commit a crime, we’re going after them as well,” Carr said.

Carr told that he’s supporting legislation that would change a law preventing local and state law enforcement from tapping into cell phones.

As for the Kicklighter case, a hearing for the alleged leader of YSL Squad, Nathan Weekes, has been scheduled for May 22nd. A trial date is set for the fall.

has reached out to GDC Public Affairs for comment. We have not yet heard back.