Press Advisory: ACLU of Georgia Policy Counsel to Speak in Opposition to Moving Fulton County Jail Detainees Out of State

WHAT

Fulton County Board of Commissioners will take comments on Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat’s possible proposal to send people housed at Fulton County jail to out-of-state facilities.

WHEN

Wednesday, September 20, 10 a.m.

WHERE

Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall at 141 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

WHO

Benjamin Lynde, ACLU of Georgia Policy Counsel.

QUOTE

“As we predicted last year, simply increasing bed space through the lease of Atlanta City Detention Center made no real difference in the humanitarian crisis that exists in Fulton County today. This year alone, ten people have died while in custody of Fulton County and $40,000 is spent daily to house detainees in other counties. We are here to express our concern that plans to send detainees out of state may end up only increasing human and financial costs, without actually addressing any of the issues this county is facing.”

BACKGROUND

Earlier this month, the Fulton County Public Defender Office sent a letter to Fulton County Superior Court asking a judge to impose a standing order to allow detainees who meet certain criteria and can’t pay cash bonds to be released on signature bonds. Last week, the public defender’s office filed an emergency petition in an effort to prevent the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office from transferring the clients it represents out of state. The ACLU of Georgia supports efforts seeking solutions to the crisis at the Fulton County Jail. No one should be detained simply because they can’t afford to pay bail.