JOHNSON COUNTY, Ga. — Rumors have swirled in Johnson County about a potential prison escape, but the Georgia Department of Corrections says that claim is not true.
Director of Communications Joan Heath said Johnson State Prison received an anonymous call from someone who said they saw someone running toward a wooded area near the prison on Friday. The caller said it appeared they were running away from the facility.
Heath says GDC staff took "immediate precautions" to investigate the sighting, which involved an emergency head count.
But after the count, it showed that all inmates at Johnson State Prison were in the facility and accounted for. So no, there has not been an escape at Johnson State Prison.
Johnson State Prison, which is located in Wrightsville, houses medium security offenders.
According to the department, medium-security offenders are "the largest category of offenders" in the prison system, but they may work outside the prison under constant supervision and don't face major adjustment problems.
The facility was opened in 1992 and can hold 1,612 male felons. The facility was renovated in 2002/2001.
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