Fulton approves contracts to house inmates
Fulton County may head into a February court hearing on conditions at its jail with no inmates sleeping on the floor.
The county Board of Commissioners Wednesday approved contracts with Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas and Gwinnett counties to house up to 265 inmates in coming months. The move will mean about 140 inmates that have been sleeping on the floor at Fulton’s Rice Street jail will have better accommodations while the county replaces faulty cell locks.
The jail has been under the supervision of a U.S. District Court judge since 2006. Though county officials say they have made many improvements, the Southern Center for Human Rights recently asked the court to hold Fulton officials in contempt because of continued overcrowding. A hearing is set for Feb. 6.
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.
