The city of Marietta will continue housing its inmates at the Cobb County Detention Center, despite concerns raised by one councilman about the number of inmates who have died while in custody within the last 12 months.
The City Council Wednesday approved a seven-year contract with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office to house its inmates at the facility. Councilman Reggie Copeland cast the lone dissenting vote.
Copeland said he was troubled after listening to the accounts of residents who attended a town hall meeting Monday. Those residents, who have family members incarcerated at the detention center, said they had little to no contact with their relatives during a lockdown the Sheriff's Office said began around Sept. 27 and ended Oct. 25. Those residents also said their relatives have not had a chance to speak with attorneys or have been given consistent medical care.
READ | Families of inmates in Cobb Detention Center recount frustrations
Copeland said he didn't feel it was in Marietta's best interest to enter into a long-term contract in light of the seven inmates who have died within the last year. He felt more comfortable with the city entering into a year-to-year agreement.
“I just think it’s asinine for us to sign a seven-year contract without any negotiations with the person and the entities that are in charge of the jail,” he said, adding he wanted Sheriff Neil Warren to meet with city officials to explain what’s happening inside the Detention Center walls.
The major change in the contract is that it now includes provisions allowing the city to terminate the agreement for cause with 30 days notice or without cause with 60 days notice, said City Manager Bill Bruton.
Bruton said the existing 20-year contract that was set to expire at the end of the month did not include those clauses.
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Along with the Detention Center, Marietta also has contracts with the cities of Smyrna and Acworth to house its inmates at their jails.
In 2018, 657 city of Marietta detainees went to the Cobb Detention Center, while Smyrna received 1,693 and Acworth 5, said Deputy Police Chief David Beam. Marietta pays Cobb County $73.90 per inmate. It currently pays Smyrna and Acworth each $42 per inmate, Beam added.
Two speakers at Wednesday’s meeting also asked the city to reconsider approving the Detention Center contract. Ben Williams, president of the Cobb County Southern Christian Leadership Conference, said the city should “press the pause button” because the issues that have “bubbled so long” are now rising to the top. Pax Riddle of the Cobb County Coalition for Public Safety said he’d like to see an outside organization conduct an independent audit of the jail.
READ | Cobb inmate committed suicide after his family warned jail staff
Councilman Johnny Walker said he was “pleased” to see the two provisions that allow the city to exit the contract. Councilwoman Cheryl Richardson said she also has concerns about the number of inmates who’ve died at the jail. However, not agreeing to a contract with the Sheriff’s Office would leave Marietta with one less option to send its inmates.
“There’s always the possibility that we overwhelm our ability to go to Acworth and Smyrna and then we (would) have nothing,” she said.
Councilman Andy Morris also express hesitation about not agreeing to a contract, adding “we don’t really know the cause of the seven deaths.”
Mayor Steve Tumlin added it would be “irresponsible” for Marietta not to sign a contract.
“I think we join in the solution, not protest,” he said.
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