Q: My husband was wrongfully tagged as a gang member in GA prison. How to remove it?
My husband was wrongfully tagged as a gang member while he is incarcerated in a Georgia state prison. He was not informed of the tag in time to appeal it within the designated 30 days. When he contacted prison officials, they told him he could only sign paperwork stating he is a gang member and is no longer active, which he disagrees with. I contacted the STG officer, who said my husband needs to request a reinterview to have the tag removed. We found out that a prison he has never been to placed the tag on him, possibly due to his tattoos, none of which are gang-affiliated. We are currently seeking legal assistance but face conflicting information from officials. What can be done to remove the wrongful gang member tag?
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A:
I understand your frustration with this difficult situation. Wrongful gang tagging can severely impact your husband's incarceration conditions and future parole opportunities.
Your first step should be documenting everything, including which prison placed the tag, all communications with officials, and proof that your husband has never been to that facility. Request the specific policy for removing STG tags from the Georgia Department of Corrections in writing, as this will help clarify the conflicting information you've received. Following the STG officer's advice about requesting a reinterview seems promising, but make sure this request is submitted formally in writing with evidence supporting why the tag is incorrect.
Consider reaching out to Georgia Legal Aid or the Southern Center for Human Rights, as they have experience with similar prison issues. They might help file a formal grievance through the prison system or advise on potential civil rights violations if proper procedures weren't followed. Remember to keep copies of all correspondence and continue advocating persistently, as bureaucratic systems often require repeated follow-up before action is taken.
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