Following the death of an inmate, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating a Use of Force incident inside Wheeler Correctional Facility that occurred over the weekend.
Wheeler Correctional Facility is a private prison owned by CoreCivic, which contracts with the Georgia Department of Corrections. It’s a medium-security level facility that houses male inmates.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation:
At the request of Georgia Department of Corrections, GBI Agents are investigating a use of force incident at Wheeler Correctional Facility in Alamo, Wheeler County, GA.
Preliminary information indicates on November 2, 2025, at about 5:45 a.m., correctional officers at Wheeler Correctional Facility in Alamo, Wheeler County, Georgia engaged with inmate Dustin Parham, age 35, following reports of erratic and combative behavior inside a dormitory. Parham was observed near the dormitory doorway armed with a makeshift weapon, described as a metal poker made from wire fencing, and exhibiting abnormal behavior.
During the encounter, Parham was secured in handcuffs through the doorway as he attempted to exit into the control area. Multiple officers were involved in efforts to gain compliance. Parham continued to resist and OC spray was deployed by the officers.
While officers were attempting to place Parham onto a medical gurney for restraint and evaluation, he became unresponsive.
Parham was pronounced dead on the scene. No officers were injured. The body will be taken to Coastal Crime Lab in Pooler where an autopsy will be performed.
The GBI will conduct an independent investigation. Once complete, the case file will be given to the Oconee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review.
According to the Georgia Department of Corrections website, Parham was serving a 30 year sentence for Aggravated Assault in Bibb County and felony drug charges in Jones County, including Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Methamphetamine. Records show he entered GDC custody in June 2023.
It’s heartbreaking and disturbing how often we hear about lives being taken by those who are supposed to protect and maintain order—correctional officers. Behind prison walls, where cameras don’t always catch the truth and voices are silenced, human lives are being lost. These are people—sons, daughters, parents—whose lives matter, no matter what mistakes they’ve made. Yet, too often, their deaths are brushed aside, written off as “incidents,” and the officers involved walk away without accountability.
What’s even more painful is the power imbalance. These officers wear badges, carry weapons, and hold authority over the people they guard. That authority is meant to maintain safety, not to abuse or destroy. But too many times, it’s being used as a shield to hide cruelty and wrongdoing. When someone dies in custody, there should be transparency, justice, and change—but instead, there’s silence, cover-ups, and excuses.
It’s time to speak up about the truth that so many try to ignore: human life doesn’t stop mattering once a person is behind bars. Every life lost at the hands of those with authority is a reminder that the system is broken and in desperate need of reform. Accountability shouldn’t depend on what uniform someone wears. Justice should be for everyone—inside and outside those walls. Period!!
Something has to be done or else it’s gonna continue to happen they’ve let it go so many times that these correctional officers are thinking it’s ok to do it and it’s not.