Inmates in Roswell will have a new home next month.
After a unanimous 6-0 vote Monday night by Roswell leaders, the Roswell Detention Center will close by May 8, according to an agenda item from the city meeting. All prisoners being held there will be transferred to the Alpharetta Annex Detention Center by then.
The reason for closing the jail seems to be an issue of cost. The current annual budget of the Roswell Detention Center is $1.5 million and ceasing operation of it and entering into the intergovernmental agreement with Fulton County will save Roswell taxpayers about $1 million per year.
Roswell was already using the Fulton County Jail for its state prisoners, for misdemeanor and felony charges, but was using the Roswell jail for those charged with city ordinance violations.
Prisoners were typically held in the Roswell jail for 72 hours. If no bond was posted, the detainee was transferred to the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center. Roswell paid Lumpkin $38 per prisoner, per night, and it will continue to pay that fee to Fulton.
Roswell will still be responsible for medical expenses for its prisoners.
MORE ROSWELL NEWS...
About the Author
