Fulton County moved a step closer Friday to ending federal oversight of its troubled jail when a judge dismissed a request to hold officials in contempt for poor conditions.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. dismissed the Southern Center for Human Rights' contempt motion after the organization's attorney agreed Fulton has addressed overcrowding and other problems at the jail in recent months. However, federal oversight of the jail will continue.
County Commission Chairman John Eaves said the judge’s action validates “the hard work that has been done to resolve several issues inside the facility.”
The Southern Center sued the county in 2004, citing crowded, dirty and dangerous conditions at the jail. The following year, Fulton agreed to make dozens of improvements. But progress has been slow, and the county at times has allowed conditions to deteriorate. Earlier this year, as many as 160 inmates were still sleeping in temporary bunks on the floor.
The center asked Thrash to find the county in contempt because of lingering problems. Since then, the county has taken numerous steps to improve conditions. It’s fixed faulty cell locks and leased space at other jails, and inmates are no longer sleeping on the floor.
Though Fulton has hired dozens of corrections officers this year, jail staffing remains an issue. Thrash gave Fulton until December to comply with minimum staffing requirements.
Eaves hopes to end federal oversight of the jail this year. But Southern Center officials have said they want to see Fulton comply with all requirements for six months to a year before they drop the lawsuit.
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