Jan 5, 2025 Story by: Publisher
ATLANTA (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department has finalized a court-enforceable agreement with Georgia’s most populous county, addressing concerns over violent and unsanitary conditions in its jails that violated detainees’ constitutional rights.
A complaint and proposed consent decree have been filed in federal court and await judicial approval, the department announced Friday in a news release.
“Our topline goal with this consent decree is to bring the Fulton County Jail within compliance with the U.S. Constitution and federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan in an interview. He emphasized that compliance would lead to “increased safety for the folks who live in Fulton County or folks who are arrested and wind up in custody in the Fulton County Jail.”
The Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation in July 2023, prompted by reports of violence, unhygienic conditions, and the death of a man whose body was found covered in insects. The investigation uncovered failures by jail officials to protect detainees from violence, excessive use of force, and unconstitutional living conditions.
In response, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office stated it had anticipated the Justice Department’s actions and had been collaborating with federal officials and county attorneys. According to a news release, the consent decree was reached after “extensive negotiations.”
“This consent order is a road map to a better future for our facility, staff, and the individuals entrusted to our care,” said Sheriff Pat Labat. “Together, these opportunities will build meaningful and long-lasting change.”
Under the proposed agreement, county and jail officials must implement measures to protect detainees from violence, improve supervision, ensure proper staffing, and repair faulty doors and locks. Additionally, they must follow constitutional standards when using force, safeguard detainees at risk of suicide, and provide adequate medical and mental health care. Sanitation improvements, including pest control and housekeeping plans, are also required.
Isolation for vulnerable individuals will be discontinued, and special education services for detainees with disabilities will be enhanced. An independent monitor, agreed upon by both parties, will oversee the implementation of these requirements for at least two years, providing public updates every six months. The agreement will conclude once compliance is maintained for a full year.
If issues arise, the Justice Department can seek judicial enforcement. Buchanan noted the county’s cooperative approach thus far. “As of right now, we’re proceeding in a way that’s positive, toward a positive goal, as opposed to avoiding a negative consequence,” he said. “We’re really hopeful that this momentum can continue and we can get the jail safe as quickly as possible.”
Fulton County’s main jail has faced long standing challenges. Labat, reelected in November, has advocated for a new facility since taking office in January 2021. A November report detailing the Justice Department’s findings criticized county leaders, including Labat, for failing to adequately address the ongoing crisis, despite acknowledging the problems publicly.
Chairman Robb Pitts of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners said Friday that the county remains committed to jail improvements, having already pledged up to $300 million for upgrades.
The report highlighted severe violence, including stabbings, sexual assaults, and murders. Vulnerable groups, youths, and those with serious mental health conditions, face heightened risks of injury and trauma.
Investigators found officers poorly trained in the use of force, frequently engaging in excessive and harmful practices. Conditions at the main jail, plagued by broken plumbing, pest infestations, exposed wires, and filthy cells, were deemed hazardous and unsanitary. Detainees often lacked adequate food and were subjected to unsanitary distribution methods, leading to malnourishment and other risks.
Medical and mental health care for detainees was found to be grossly inadequate, violating their constitutional rights and exposing them to significant harm, investigators said.
The 2022 death of Lashawn Thompson, a 35-year-old detainee in the jail’s psychiatric wing, brought national attention to these issues. Thompson died in a bedbug-infested cell, and an independent autopsy requested by his family attributed his death to severe neglect. Photos released by the family’s attorneys showed his body covered in insects and his cell filled with filth and garbage.
Michael Collins, senior director of the racial justice group Color of Change, has been a vocal critic of the jail and Labat’s leadership. While he supports the Justice Department’s intervention, he remains cautious.“He’s definitely part of the problem,” Collins said of Labat. “I think what remains to be seen is how much can the Department of Justice implement the changes they want to implement, which we agree with, with the sheriff there.” Source: AP News
