Fulton seeks end to jail supervision
Fulton County has asked a judge to end federal supervision of its troubled Rice Street jail.
On Friday the county filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Atlanta to end a consent decree that has long governed the operation of the jail.
“While I cannot comment on the legal issues involved in the filing, I know the county has worked tirelessly to address all of the issues which led to the case being filed,” County Commission Chairman John Eaves said Wednesday.
In 2004 the Southern Center for Human Rights filed a lawsuit over unsafe, overcrowded jail conditions. The parties later agreed to a consent order that called for dozens of improvements. The county has largely finished that list, though it has struggled to keep the jail fully staffed.
About the Author
David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
