Nine Georgia prisoners are injured in suspected gang violence, officials say

ABBEVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Nine prisoners at a Georgia lockup were treated at a hospital for stab and cut wounds after suspected gang-related violence broke out, authorities said.

The Georgia Department of Corrections said the violence happened Thursday night at Wilcox State Prison, a medium-security facility about 150 miles (240 kilometers) south of Atlanta.

None of the injured prisoners received live-threatening injuries, authorities said. Four were treated at a hospital and sent back to the lockup. The other five remained hospitalized Friday.

No prison staffers were injured.

The cause of the violence is under investigation. The prisoners will remain on lockdown until the warden sees fit, the corrections department said.

The Legislature plans to address widespread violence and deaths in Georgia’s prisons during the session that starts Monday. The U.S. The Department of Justice said in November that conditions in Georgia prisons are “inhumane” and that prison officials were violating prisoners’ Eighth Amendment protections against cruel punishment by letting violence run rampant.

Gov. Brian Kemp this week proposed making huge investments in the prison system, including constructing a new facility. Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver is asking lawmakers to amend the current year’s budget to spend $458 million during the first half of the year and increase spending by another $145 million beginning July 1.