The Fulton County jail will get new cell door locks, replacing current locks that are so old and shoddy, inmates can open them at will.
After months of delays and years of putting off the problem, the Fulton County Commission voted 5-2 today to go $5 million in debt to replace more than 1,300 substandard locks. The vote puts the county on track to end federal oversight of the Rice Street jail, which has been ongoing for six years.
The locks are one of two major issues left that, if corrected, would resolve a long-running federal lawsuit that has already cost taxpayers about $140 million. The suit was filed in 2004 on behalf of inmates over dangerous, dirty and overcrowded conditions.
Most of the money was spent on extensive renovations and for renting beds in other jails so the number of inmates in Fulton’s lockup remains below a population cap of 2,500, set by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Shoob.
Commission Chairman John Eaves thought he had the four needed votes to approve new locks two weeks ago, but Northside Commissioner Tom Lowe arrived at the meeting 3 1/2 hours after it began and missed the vote. Without Lowe, the proposal failed 3-3.
Vice Chairwoman Emma Darnell changed her vote today, citing better information provided by the sheriff’s office.
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