On Friday, The Valdosta Daily Times was informed that the records requested under an Open Records request from the Georgia Department of Corrections were being diligently researched, pulled from warehouses, etc. On Monday, The Times was told those records don’t exist. They were destroyed.

The Times wasn’t asking for records from decades ago. It’s been little more than four years. The Times wasn’t asking for an obscure piece of paper. The newspaper was seeking information about an incident in which a guard was beaten by inmates. According to the DOC, no records of the investigation, report or any paperwork related to the incident still exist, so the department is unable to comply with the request.

In a second Open Records request, regarding an incident involving a severe injury to a guard which left him blind in one eye and unable to return to work, The Times has been told by the DOC legal department that the documents exist but they can’t share them because they have been deemed “state secrets.”

The DOC legal department thinks The Times has treated them harshly in news stories and editorials. The Times thinks the DOC has a lot of explaining to do and continues to fail to do so. And no one is holding them accountable. Does Gov. Sonny Perdue pay attention to anything happening in Georgia?

It would be nice to think that perhaps members of our local legislative delegation might take up the cause and request action at the state level, but until then, The Times will continue to press officials for answers. At issue is the safety of inmates and employees in our community. A prison should be one of the safest places for someone to work.

Guards should not have to tolerate working conditions that leave them open to severe injury.

The Times will continue to file Open Records requests until we have satisfied the questions concerning these victims and the current climate which is allowing the attacks to continue.