Feb 7, 2025 Story by: Editor
ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia Senate committee, led by Republicans, has moved forward with a bill that would require Atlanta to permit the Fulton County sheriff to utilize the city jail, charging only for maintenance costs.
Proponents of the bill argue that it would help ease overcrowding at the county jail, which has been under federal scrutiny due to a civil rights investigation. The probe found that detainees were subjected to unsanitary and hazardous conditions, violating their constitutional rights. Last month, Fulton County and Sheriff Pat Labat reached a court-enforceable agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to improve jail conditions.
Since 2021, 32 individuals have died in Fulton County custody, including two in the city jail, according to the sheriff’s office. The county currently uses approximately 350 beds in the city jail under an agreement that permits up to 700.
Fulton County commissioners have long sought control of Atlanta’s city-owned jail, arguing that acquiring it could alleviate overcrowding and allow better separation of detainees based on their risk level. However, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has made it clear that he has no intention of transferring ownership of the Atlanta City Detention Center.
“I cannot legislatively force the sale of the jail,” stated Sen. John Albers, the Roswell Republican sponsoring the bill, known as SB 7. However, he explained, SB 7 mandates that “the jail be leased to the county at a very reasonable rate.”
The bill was approved in a 5-2 vote, with Democrats opposing it. Critics contend that state intervention in a local matter is unwarranted and argue that focusing solely on expanding jail capacity overlooks deeper issues, including mismanagement and neglect. Criminal justice advocates suggest that fewer individuals should be detained and that more cases should be redirected toward mental health and economic support programs.
“Reading the Department of Justice report, what feels like a common theme is a high level of apathy and indifference that is creating a culture that fosters violence, that would neglect people to death, and an outraging lack of concern for the health and well-being of anybody in that facility,” said Terrica Redfield Ganzy, executive director of the Southern Center for Human Rights.
During a Monday hearing, County Manager Dick Anderson described the city jail as an “underutilized asset” and suggested it could be designated for female detainees and individuals with medical or behavioral health challenges. Sheriff Labat expressed support for this idea during Wednesday’s hearing, emphasizing the need for more staff while acknowledging that jail conditions require more than just additional space.
“We have a cultural change that needs to take place,” Labat admitted.
Sen. Albers noted that while he would prefer Atlanta and Fulton County to reach an agreement independently, such discussions have yet to produce results.
Sen. Sonya Halpern, an Atlanta Democrat who voted against SB 7, believes that enough stakeholders are willing to negotiate a solution without state intervention.
“I think we are making a grave error and setting a terrible precedent in allowing for any city to have their assets seized by counties,” Halpern cautioned.
Albers countered by stating that the state has previously intervened in local matters to facilitate asset transfers, such as during the formation of new cities. However, Jim Thornton, director of Governmental Relations for the Georgia Municipal Association, pushed back, asserting that such decisions should remain at the local level.
Since taking office in 2021, Labat has advocated for the construction of a new, costly jail—a proposal rejected by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Instead, the board opted to invest over $300 million in renovations to avoid raising property taxes. The Justice Department’s investigation highlighted ongoing structural issues, noting that within six weeks of a repaired housing unit reopening, new damage had already appeared. Federal officials warned, “Until supervision of the Jail improves, it is likely to remain in a state of disrepair that fosters violence.”
The 2022 death of Lashawn Thompson, who was found in a bedbug-infested cell in the jail’s psychiatric ward, was a key factor in prompting the federal investigation. The report revealed that officers were aware of the infestation but failed to address it. It also noted that Thompson was deprived of his prescribed medications, including those for psychosis, in the month leading up to his death. Over his three months in jail, he lost 32 pounds (14.5 kilograms).
Fulton County now houses fewer than 2,500 detainees, with approximately 1,600 at the main jail and the remainder in other facilities, according to sheriff’s office data. The percentage of detainees with unindicted cases has declined from 34% in May 2023 to 16% currently. Source: Yahoo News
