RELOCATE THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL Due to Inhumane Conditions, Unsalvageable Building
RELOCATE THE FULTON COUNTY JAIL Due to Inhumane Conditions, Unsalvageable Building
The Issue
CHANGE. As a deeply concerned resident of Fulton County, and as a fellow human, I am moved to action by the long-standing horrifying and deplorable state of the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia - a condition that must be changed immediately.
Numerous news outlets, along with formal investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, have shed light on the harsh, inhumane conditions that have prevailed in the facility for years. It's time for change. It's time to start fresh and leave the existing facility behind.
The recommendations of this petition are two-fold and based on the best interest of all parties involved – inmates, the county, the surrounding communities.
Firstly, a new jail needs to be built on a tract of land already owned by Fulton County with the purpose of safeguarding the welfare of the inmates. This will help to rectify the existing conditions, and above all provide a humane environment for inmates. The new location should have similar proximities to key medical and judicial facilities, similar access to infrastructure and utilities, and similar proximity to transit as the existing site.
Secondly, the current land where the jail sits on Rice St should be sold for development purposes. The funds garnered from this sale can directly fund the construction and relocation costs of a new jail – something not contemplated by the county’s studies.
A POSSIBLE NEW SITE. Fulton County already owns land meeting these requirements in an area heavily dominated by non-residential uses – a location near Brown Field Fulton County Airport - 1251 FULTON INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD, ATLANTA, GA 30336. Further, the county owns many of the properties adjacent to this location, totaling over 100 acres, and could easily combine and/or replat the land into whatever shape and size deemed necessary for a new facility.
The numerous properties are large and wooded such that any new facility would easily be hidden from view of surrounding neighbors, which are primarily warehouse, light industrial, and airport-related.
The site is approximately 20 minutes from both Grady and the Fulton County Courthouse with rush hour traffic –an equal or shorter travel time to both locations from the current facility on Rice St. MARTA’s bus route 50 has stops along the site boundary.
THE EXISTING JAIL. The problems with the existing conditions of the jail are well documented across various news outlets and government reports: inordinately high inmate violence and death rates, inhumane conditions (lack of air conditioning in summer months, bug infestations, overcrowding, inmates sleeping on floors, lack of proper care, indifference from guards and workers). In 2022 an inmate was found dead from severe neglect of mental health conditions, medications, and bed bug infestations: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-died-severe-neglect-fulton-county-jail-bed-bug-infestation-autopsy-rcna85676
OVERCROWDING. When the jail was opened in 1989, replacing an existing nearby facility on Jefferson St, it was almost immediately overcrowded, which lead to structural issues with the building (https://www.ajc.com/opinion/a-short-history-a-long-list-of-problems/O3OYA3PLAVHZXN524RGA5WQ7CA/#), paving the way for a future of infrastructural issues and maintenance costs.
Severe overcrowding has resulted in a Georgia GOP-led effort to force the City of Atlanta to let Fulton County use the city's jail to reduce overcrowding. (https://www.wabe.org/georgia-republicans-advance-bill-to-make-atlanta-let-the-fulton-county-sheriff-use-its-jail/)
In recent years, helped by overcrowding and arguably neglect and negligence by guards and staff, the jail has had one of the highest inmate death rates in the United States. (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/14/atlanta-fulton-county-jail-conditions?CMP=share_btn_url)
MAINTENANCE. The facility was built for $50 million in 1989 (roughly $130 million today adjusted for inflation). It was renovated in 2015 for $59 million. As of 2024 the County reportedly spends $300k per month ($3.6 million annually) on ongoing maintenance and repairs.
The infrastructure of the building, including air conditioning, often fails and is not repaired for weeks. (https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/fulton-county/fulton-officials-say-jail-air-conditioning-repaired-jail-size-makes-re-cooling-slow/BMWS4TWPMRGZ7CEO4YR3T7Q2RA/)
It has become increasingly clear that maintaining this building is not only economically impracticable, but morally indefensible.
THE COUNTY PLAN. In March 2023 Fulton County produced Phase 1 of its Jail Feasibility Study to analyze the best course of action for the jail moving forward, including: rebuilding the jail in place, relocating to a newly built jail, and a combination of renovating the existing facility and building a new jail (https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Exec_Summ.pdf).
The study indicated several options were considered for a new jail site and that the criteria for new sites included that the property must be 35 acres minimum, the lot should have a layout of 1:1, 2:3, or 3:4 and access to major arterial roadways and sufficient utility infrastructure. The new jail was contemplated to have 5,480 beds – a debatable number. (https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/PPI_Fulton_Co_Jail_Memo.pdf)
(The only justification for the site ratio given in the report is, "The proportions and area of the site are graded on the comparison of optimal site characteristics to existing conditions." Using the existing facility to dictate the requirements for a new facility is a flawed approach given the many issues with current conditions.)
SIGN TODAY. By signing this petition, your voice can help this cause reach the necessary authorities, thus bringing about a vital change in Fulton County that is beneficial for the inmates, communities, and county itself. Act now to support this urgent campaign and help rehabilitate the lives of those affected by inhumane conditions. Sign today!
OTHER SOURCES:
The DOJ Report:
https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1377011/dl?utm
Fulton County Jail Studies:
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Exec_Summ.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Vol1.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Vol2.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Vol3.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP2.pdf
Sheriff Says Jail Should be Condemned:
The County Declines to rebuild – including an embedded RFP for Jail Refurbishment:
The County Votes to Approve Release of RFP to Assess Jail:
The county’s jail current improvement plan:
Fulton County GIS – Used for Approximate Acreage Measurement – and Property Map Viewer:
https://gisdata.fultoncountyga.gov/
https://gis.fultoncountyga.gov/Apps/PropertyMapViewer/
MARTA Route 50:
https://www.itsmarta.com/pdfs/maps/50.pdf
1251 Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30036
https://maps.app.goo.gl/R2B1KpRoEKdnntbJ8
783
The Issue
CHANGE. As a deeply concerned resident of Fulton County, and as a fellow human, I am moved to action by the long-standing horrifying and deplorable state of the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia - a condition that must be changed immediately.
Numerous news outlets, along with formal investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, have shed light on the harsh, inhumane conditions that have prevailed in the facility for years. It's time for change. It's time to start fresh and leave the existing facility behind.
The recommendations of this petition are two-fold and based on the best interest of all parties involved – inmates, the county, the surrounding communities.
Firstly, a new jail needs to be built on a tract of land already owned by Fulton County with the purpose of safeguarding the welfare of the inmates. This will help to rectify the existing conditions, and above all provide a humane environment for inmates. The new location should have similar proximities to key medical and judicial facilities, similar access to infrastructure and utilities, and similar proximity to transit as the existing site.
Secondly, the current land where the jail sits on Rice St should be sold for development purposes. The funds garnered from this sale can directly fund the construction and relocation costs of a new jail – something not contemplated by the county’s studies.
A POSSIBLE NEW SITE. Fulton County already owns land meeting these requirements in an area heavily dominated by non-residential uses – a location near Brown Field Fulton County Airport - 1251 FULTON INDUSTRIAL BOULEVARD, ATLANTA, GA 30336. Further, the county owns many of the properties adjacent to this location, totaling over 100 acres, and could easily combine and/or replat the land into whatever shape and size deemed necessary for a new facility.
The numerous properties are large and wooded such that any new facility would easily be hidden from view of surrounding neighbors, which are primarily warehouse, light industrial, and airport-related.
The site is approximately 20 minutes from both Grady and the Fulton County Courthouse with rush hour traffic –an equal or shorter travel time to both locations from the current facility on Rice St. MARTA’s bus route 50 has stops along the site boundary.
THE EXISTING JAIL. The problems with the existing conditions of the jail are well documented across various news outlets and government reports: inordinately high inmate violence and death rates, inhumane conditions (lack of air conditioning in summer months, bug infestations, overcrowding, inmates sleeping on floors, lack of proper care, indifference from guards and workers). In 2022 an inmate was found dead from severe neglect of mental health conditions, medications, and bed bug infestations: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-died-severe-neglect-fulton-county-jail-bed-bug-infestation-autopsy-rcna85676
OVERCROWDING. When the jail was opened in 1989, replacing an existing nearby facility on Jefferson St, it was almost immediately overcrowded, which lead to structural issues with the building (https://www.ajc.com/opinion/a-short-history-a-long-list-of-problems/O3OYA3PLAVHZXN524RGA5WQ7CA/#), paving the way for a future of infrastructural issues and maintenance costs.
Severe overcrowding has resulted in a Georgia GOP-led effort to force the City of Atlanta to let Fulton County use the city's jail to reduce overcrowding. (https://www.wabe.org/georgia-republicans-advance-bill-to-make-atlanta-let-the-fulton-county-sheriff-use-its-jail/)
In recent years, helped by overcrowding and arguably neglect and negligence by guards and staff, the jail has had one of the highest inmate death rates in the United States. (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/14/atlanta-fulton-county-jail-conditions?CMP=share_btn_url)
MAINTENANCE. The facility was built for $50 million in 1989 (roughly $130 million today adjusted for inflation). It was renovated in 2015 for $59 million. As of 2024 the County reportedly spends $300k per month ($3.6 million annually) on ongoing maintenance and repairs.
The infrastructure of the building, including air conditioning, often fails and is not repaired for weeks. (https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/fulton-county/fulton-officials-say-jail-air-conditioning-repaired-jail-size-makes-re-cooling-slow/BMWS4TWPMRGZ7CEO4YR3T7Q2RA/)
It has become increasingly clear that maintaining this building is not only economically impracticable, but morally indefensible.
THE COUNTY PLAN. In March 2023 Fulton County produced Phase 1 of its Jail Feasibility Study to analyze the best course of action for the jail moving forward, including: rebuilding the jail in place, relocating to a newly built jail, and a combination of renovating the existing facility and building a new jail (https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Exec_Summ.pdf).
The study indicated several options were considered for a new jail site and that the criteria for new sites included that the property must be 35 acres minimum, the lot should have a layout of 1:1, 2:3, or 3:4 and access to major arterial roadways and sufficient utility infrastructure. The new jail was contemplated to have 5,480 beds – a debatable number. (https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/PPI_Fulton_Co_Jail_Memo.pdf)
(The only justification for the site ratio given in the report is, "The proportions and area of the site are graded on the comparison of optimal site characteristics to existing conditions." Using the existing facility to dictate the requirements for a new facility is a flawed approach given the many issues with current conditions.)
SIGN TODAY. By signing this petition, your voice can help this cause reach the necessary authorities, thus bringing about a vital change in Fulton County that is beneficial for the inmates, communities, and county itself. Act now to support this urgent campaign and help rehabilitate the lives of those affected by inhumane conditions. Sign today!
OTHER SOURCES:
The DOJ Report:
https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1377011/dl?utm
Fulton County Jail Studies:
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Exec_Summ.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Vol1.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Vol2.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP1_Vol3.pdf
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/Fulton_Jail_StudyP2.pdf
Sheriff Says Jail Should be Condemned:
The County Declines to rebuild – including an embedded RFP for Jail Refurbishment:
The County Votes to Approve Release of RFP to Assess Jail:
The county’s jail current improvement plan:
Fulton County GIS – Used for Approximate Acreage Measurement – and Property Map Viewer:
https://gisdata.fultoncountyga.gov/
https://gis.fultoncountyga.gov/Apps/PropertyMapViewer/
MARTA Route 50:
https://www.itsmarta.com/pdfs/maps/50.pdf
1251 Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30036
https://maps.app.goo.gl/R2B1KpRoEKdnntbJ8
783
The Decision Makers
Petition created on February 10, 2025