Fulton County Jail: Court-ordered report reveals severe staffing crisis

ATLANTA - The first federal court monitor’s report on the Fulton County Jail was filed Aug. 21, revealing widespread staffing shortages, failing infrastructure and unsafe conditions at the Rice Street facility. 

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The findings, submitted by Lead Monitor Kathleen Kenney, are part of a consent agreement between Fulton County, the Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at addressing civil rights violations inside the jail.

What we know:

The report identifies staffing as the jail’s most critical failure. According to monitors, "most floors in the main jail were staffed with only one deputy or detention officer. This lone deputy was responsible for approximately 200 residents who were housed in six separate housing zones." 

PREVIOUS STORY: Fulton County Jail reforms underway with DOJ-approved deal

The review concluded that "FCSO Jail Operations is significantly understaffed, which creates serious safety risks for residents and staff and will obstruct compliance with virtually every provision of the Consent Decree."

Security towers, designed as enclosed posts for monitoring housing floors, were "often left vacant, thereby further exacerbating safety risks." 

Vacancy rates averaged 50% during day shifts at the main jail and climbed to 58% overnight. 

Annex facilities were 55% vacant during the day and 59% at night, while support and operations staffing fell to 68% and 71% short, respectively. 

The monitoring team added that "due to inconsistencies in the rosters and reporting methods, the actual vacancy rate may be higher than reported."

Staff Feedback

• Do not feel safe working in the jail.
• Poor environmental conditions: no proper ventilation; leaks caused health issues like asthma attacks.
• Fear of being fired or humiliated if mistakes are made, due to public reporting of misconduct.
• Often working alone in units that should have 4–6 staff, delaying response to emergencies.
• Doors frequently malfunction or don’t lock properly.
• Believe a new jail facility is urgently needed.
• Must pick up OC spray at a training center 20–30 minutes away, on their own time; some carry empty or depleted canisters.
• Suggest paying double time for overtime shifts to increase staffing.
• Recommend assigning outside units to jail shifts on a regular basis.

Resident Feedback

• Do not feel safe; weapons and gangs contribute to unsafe conditions.
• Rounds by staff are infrequent due to understaffing.
• Perception that staff do not care.
• Grievance system seen as ineffective.
• Food is poor quality and portions are too small.
• Basic plumbing often broken: sinks, toilets, and showers don’t work.

Note: Monitors toured all facilities – Rice Street jail, Alpharetta North Annex, Marietta Annex, South Annex in Union City, and Atlanta City Detention Center. 

The backstory:

Staffing problems have plagued the Rice Street facility for decades. In 2005, the jail was already the subject of a lawsuit against then-Sheriff Myron Freeman over conditions and lack of adequate personnel. 

Additionally, the facility is in need of a major overhaul. Fulton County Sheriff Patrick "Pat" Labat would prefer a brand-new jail, but that request has been denied. Instead, county commissioners have voted to spend $1.1 billion to renovate existing facilities. 

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By the numbers:

Here are some of the highlights from the report:

• Vacancy rates: On average, 50% of posts at the main jail (Rice Street) were vacant during the day shift, rising to 58% on the night shift. Support and operations units were even worse, with 68% vacancies during the day and 71% at night
• One officer for 200 inmates: During the baseline visit, some housing floors were staffed with just one deputy responsible for around 200 residents across six zones
• Overcrowded intake: More than 100 detainees were held in three intake cells, with 30–40 people per cell and only one toilet each. Some were kept there for five to seven days in conditions where they could not sit or lie down
• Beds offline: At the main jail, 731 beds were inoperable because of broken infrastructure, leaving residents packed into other units
• Contraband and drones: Staff reported that detainees regularly cut through windows so that drones could drop drugs and weapons inside the jail
• Mental health crisis: Between 40% and 70% of the jail population has a diagnosed mental illness, with waits for treatment stretching weeks for a sick call and months for hospital transfers
• Gang presence: At least 143 residents admitted gang affiliation during intake, but only 46 had been formally validated due to staff shortages
• Grievances: Between January and July 2025, the jail logged 1,337 paper grievances and 922 electronic grievances, but many residents said they didn’t trust the system to address complaints
• Maintenance backlog: As of May 2025, there were 1,167 outstanding work orders for repairs, from broken doors and locks to plumbing and electrical issues
• Use of force: From January 2024 to mid-May 2025, there were 489 reported use-of-force incidents, including 201 involving Tasers

What's next:

Kenney’s report sets priorities for the next six months, directing Fulton County and the Sheriff’s Office to focus on four areas: classification and housing, staffing and supervision, physical plant repairs, and suicide prevention. 

The monitoring process will continue into March, with compliance in these areas expected to determine whether the jail can meet federal standards.

All reports and notices can be found here. 

Big picture view:

The Fulton County Jail has long been a flashpoint in Atlanta’s criminal justice system, and this latest report underscores the scale of the crisis. 

With half or more positions unfilled, infrastructure crumbling, and mental health needs overwhelming staff capacity, the jail represents both a public safety concern and a financial burden for taxpayers. 

The consent decree obligates county leaders to make measurable progress, but failure to do so could lead to deeper federal intervention and costly consequences for local government. 

For residents, the findings highlight an urgent question: whether Fulton County can finally bring its jail into compliance—or whether the decades-old problems will continue to undermine justice and safety for both inmates and staff.