Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves, trying to end federal oversight of the Rice Street jail, will try again Wednesday to get four votes to replace more than 1,300 substandard door locks. The move would put the county $5 million in debt, but it would also be a major step toward full compliance with a 2006 consent decree, which stems from a lawsuit filed over dirty, crowded and dangerous conditions.
Jailers say the locks are so shoddy that inmates can pop open cell doors at will, leading to attacks on staffers and other inmates. Some commissioners, however, say the sheriff’s office just needs to supervise inmates better. Eaves lost his fourth vote last month because Commissioner Liz Hausmann wanted more information.
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