Georgia Landscape Analysis

Problem(s) Addressed:

This research examines systemic barriers in Georgia that perpetuate cycles of crime, violence, and community instability, concentrating on four interrelated factors: (1) Economic Stability (poverty reduction, employment, housing), (2) Criminal Justice System Efficiency (incarceration rates, reentry challenges), (3) Civic Infrastructure (voter engagement, community trust), and (4) Threat Mitigation (addressing extremist activity). An asset map identified 310 organizations working in these areas, revealing significant gaps in service coverage, particularly in rural regions.  

Methods:

A mixed-methods approach included:

• Asset mapping: 319 organizations are cataloged through database searches (like GuideStar, IRS).

• Surveys: 38 organizations completed survey inquiring about the priorities, challenges, and resources for service provision in four impact areas.

• Qualitative data: 19 in-depth interviews and 3 focus groups with stakeholders were conducted

• Contextual data analysis: Secondary data pertaining to demographics (by population, race and ethnicity, education levels, age, and sex), income, poverty rates, uninsured/insured rates, social program recipients and spending, housing units and occupancy, criminal justice expenditures, jail and prison population, childcare development expenditures, education funding sources and expenditures, registered voters, and voting rates was collected from state agencies, BJS, and US Census for contextual analysis.

Key Findings:

• Economic Stability: Despite majority organizations focusing on poverty, rural areas lack enough programs to deal with unemployment, housing insecurity, and skill gaps, linking to property crime and recidivism.  

•  Criminal Justice: Despite high incarceration rates (968 per 100,000 residents), efforts to reduce recidivism are hampered by a lack of coordination among employers, vocational training providers, and reentry programs.  

•  Threat Mitigation: In rural and underserved urban areas, there are vulnerabilities due to few organizations specifically targeting extremist groups associated with violent crime.   

•  Geographic Disparities: Despite overlapping risks such as economic deprivation and limited access to mental health services, Middle and Southwest Georgia suffer from severe shortages of resources for crime prevention.