Opinion ID: 3049501
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Johnson’s Transfer to Miller County Jail

Text: Following his arrest, Johnson was housed in the overcrowded Dougherty County jail in Albany, Georgia.3 On June 5, 1994, Johnson was taken to a hospital for treatment after other inmates beat him.4 Lane knew that Johnson received other beatings from jail inmates.5 Lane saw Johnson had suffered injuries, but they were “mainly bruises and lacerations, . . . not anything that would have required him to be hospitalized.” Johnson gave Lane handwritten threatening notes that Johnson received in the Dougherty County jail. Lane “knew it wasn’t a healthy situation for [Johnson] to be there.” 2 Lane waited to request co-counsel until he determined he would not challenge venue because he wanted a local attorney as co-counsel. 3 In January 1995, Dougherty County opened a second, newer jail. We refer to that facility as the “new Dougherty County jail” and the first jail as either the “old Dougherty County jail” or simply the “Dougherty County jail.” 4 Records show Johnson was transported to the emergency room and diagnosed with contusions to his neck, arms, and face. X-rays revealed no fractures. Johnson complained of pain in his left wrist and left eye, suffered swelling in his left wrist, and had a knot on his forehead. 5 Lane did not know of any alleged rapes. Johnson in fact denied being raped or sexually assaulted. In July 1995, Johnson underwent a psychological assessment at Central State Hospital, as part of which Johnson completed a questionnaire that included the question, “Have you ever been sexually or physically abused? Explain.” Johnson wrote “No” next to “sexually,” and next to “physically” he wrote, “physically abused in Dougherty Co. jail.” 6 Attorney Lane met with Johnson at the jail on June 6, 1994, to discuss the jail conditions and his beating. Lane later met with the sheriffs of Dougherty County and nearby Miller County to discuss transferring Johnson to the Miller County jail. Lane told the Dougherty County sheriff about Johnson’s abuse in the Dougherty County jail. Lane also preferred that Johnson be housed in the Miller County jail because it was closer to Lane’s office in Donalsonville, Georgia. After four months in the Dougherty County jail and because of Lane’s request, Johnson was transferred to the Miller County jail in August 1994.