The US Justice Department has reached a court-enforceable agreement with Georgia’s Fulton County regarding jail conditions that federal investigators have deemed inhumane, violent, and unsanitary. The proposed consent decree, along with a complaint, were filed in federal court and are pending approval by a judge, as announced by the Justice Department and the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated that detention in the Fulton County Jail had led to tragic outcomes for many individuals due to the harsh conditions inside the facility. The agreement follows a 16-month investigation that revealed unconstitutional treatment of detainees, including broken facilities, pest infestations, inadequate healthcare, and failure to protect individuals from violence.
The proposed agreement aims to address the pattern of inhumane treatment and unsanitary living conditions faced by those in custody. It calls for measures to ensure detainee safety, improve staffing and supervision, enhance medical and mental health care, maintain cleanliness, and provide appropriate services for vulnerable individuals.
The investigation, initiated in 2023, was prompted by the death of Lashawn Thompson, who passed away in a cell covered in lice and filth. Several officials resigned amid the probe into Thompson’s death, and his family reached a settlement with Fulton County. The consent decree is seen as a positive step by Thompson’s family, who hope for its strict enforcement.
Following the launch of the federal investigation, multiple deaths were reported at the jail, highlighting the urgent need for reform. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners has allocated funds to address facility needs, including renovations, to ensure a safer and more humane environment for detainees.
