Darren Douglass-Griffin, Assaulting Inmates, Georgia 2023

A shocking case of brutality has shaken the Georgia prison system, as a former corrections officer pleaded guilty to conspiring with other officers to assault and injure inmates at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe, Ga.

Darren Douglass-Griffin, 35, a former member of the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) at Macon State Prison, pleaded guilty to a two-count bill of information charging him with conspiracy to violate the civil rights of inmates and falsification of records in a federal investigation, announced the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.

In connection with his guilty plea, Douglass-Griffin admitted that he and other correctional officers assaulted and injured inmates in a series of incidents at the prison in 2010. The severity of the beatings was staggering, with one inmate being beaten so severely that he had to be transported from the prison in an ambulance.

Douglass-Griffin further acknowledged that he and other correctional officers tried to cover up MSP officers’ involvement in beating and injuring inmates. He stated that other MSP officers told him to write false reports and to stick to their cover story when speaking with investigators.

The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute correctional officers who violate the constitutional rights of inmates, and use their official position to try to cover up their crimes, said Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez.

Douglass-Griffin faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Forrest Christian and Trial Attorney Tona Boyd of the Civil Rights Division, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

This case is a stark reminder of the importance of holding corrections officers accountable for their actions. As U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore said, “We expect the men and women who work in our state prisons to exemplify professionalism and integrity – and the vast majority do. But when a small group of guards violate the civil rights of inmates in the facility and then actively try to cover that up, my office will have no tolerance for their conduct.”

The case has significant implications for the Georgia prison system, and serves as a warning to corrections officers who would seek to abuse their power. As the investigation continues, it is clear that those responsible will be held accountable.

MANDATORY FACTS: Defendant – Darren Douglass-Griffin, Criminal Charges – Conspiracy to violate the civil rights of inmates and falsification of records, City and State – Oglethorpe, GA, Date – 2010, Sentence – Maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

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