New warden takes over at Hays State Prison

TRION, Ga. - Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens appointed a new warden to oversee Hays State Prison in Chattooga County.

Clay Tatum, of Pelham, Ga., who has worked in 11 prisons in his career, was put in charge of the 20-year-old lockup Tuesday morning.

"One of my goals is to ask that more staff enroll in education," Tatum said at the ceremony, explaining he thinks his staff pursuing higher education is key for running the facility.

Tatum will be in charge of an operational budget of more than $19 million and about 440 staff members, reports show.

Former warden Rick Jacobs spent six months in charge of the facility before being promoted to field operations manager for the Department of Corrections in July.

When he started out in January, Jacobs said one of his main objectives was to score well on the Department of Corrections' regular comprehensive audit. The department audits all state prisons based on their conditions including cleanliness, security and prisoner health, spokeswoman Peggy Chapman said.

Jacobs said Tuesday that Hays staff members accomplished that goal and scored a 100 on this year's audit.

Tatum, who was formerly warden at Calhoun State Prison, will take over immediately at the men's prison. Hays is a close-security prison with a maximum capacity of 1,698 inmates.

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