When Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat took office in 2021, 3600 individuals were incarcerated at the jail located at 901 Rice Street. 600 people sleeping on the floor. More than 90% of the population is Black. While speaking at the Black Men Initiative’s Restoration and Representation Summit, Labat was joined by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley.
The problems at the Fulton County Jail were magnified after the death of Lashawn Thompson in 2022. In January 2025, former Attorney General Merrick Garland and his Department of Justice entered into a consent decree with Fulton County. It called for a series of improvements at the jail aiming at ending violations of prisoners’ constitutional rights. Labat said this was a long-time coming.
“I asked the Department of Justice nine months before they came in here to take a look at what we’re doing because our county commissioners aren’t doing anything about it,” Labat said.
“We don’t need a new jail. We need a replacement jail. Because ultimately, that jail was built for minimum security.”
In 2022, the City of Atlanta leased up to 700 beds from the Atlanta City Detention Center to alleviate overcrowding. Also, the Fulton County Board Commissioners punted Labat’s idea. Instead, they approved $300 million dollars in renovations to avoid a property tax increase.
“It is disgusting that they are living in a facility that is not keeping them safe,” Willis added. “We have to demand that our commissioners do what is needed. So when they’re in that environment, they’re in a safe environment.”
Mental Health Matters
Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley highlighted similar issues in her locale. She pointed out there needs to be more mental health services for those requiring rehabilitation. But, the Republican-dominated legislature and executives inside the State Capitol have not shown much appetite to help.
“And I can tell you right now, I’m not that person, and my sheriff is not that person,” Mosley said. “There are experts out there that can be that person. But the State won’t get up off that money and do it. They have pushed everything down to the county level. So when you’re paying all these taxes, it’s going everywhere, but where it needs to go. Not to the jail or to the mental health facility. What are we to do? Because the state looks at you and says, ‘it’s on you.’”
Sheriff Labat says 1900 people currently housed in the Fulton County Jail have documented mental health conditions.
“I mentioned earlier the actual jail feasibility study says we need 500 beds that are strictly for mental health and for medical services,” Labat said. “And so we have to keep in mind that a lot of people that come in, that are incarcerated, in many instances, have chronic illnesses. And so we are stuck in the middle of being a hospital and being a mental health ward.”
The Standoff Continues
Senate Bill 7 was introduced during the 2025 Legislative Session. The Republican-baked proposal would see the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office use the Atlanta City Detention Center and only pay for the cost of maintaining it. The measure made it out of committee. But, the measure never reached the floor for a full vote. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens opposed the idea, along with the two Democrats on the Public Safety committee. They believe it is not the State’s responsibility to forge a sale of city-owned property to the county.
Meanwhile, the 2025-2026 state budget calls for a 4% salary increase for all correctional officer staff in an effort to improve recruitment and retention. Additionally, of the nearly $1.5 billion of state funds allocated for prison services, there is $147.8 million set aside for four private prisons in Georgia.
