The U.S. Justice Department has condemned the conditions at Georgia’s Fulton County Jail, stating they violate the constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals. A civil rights investigation, launched in July 2023, revealed systemic issues, including violent assaults, inadequate medical and mental health care, pest infestations, and unsanitary living conditions. These conditions have contributed to several deaths, including the 2022 death of Lashawn Thompson, who died in a bedbug-infested cell after being neglected. The report documented six deaths from violence, over 300 stabbings, and four suicides in the past four years. Additionally, detainees, including juveniles, face abuse and inadequate care, with some placed in restrictive housing without proper monitoring.
The jail’s overcrowding exacerbates these issues, and Black individuals, as well as those with mental health needs, are disproportionately affected. The report also highlighted failures in providing special education to detained minors, in violation of federal law. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the urgent need for corrective measures, while Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke described the jail’s conditions as a “death sentence” for many detainees. The Justice Department is working with Fulton County officials to implement reforms, and the potential for a federal lawsuit remains if the issues are not addressed.
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