The Justice Department has released findings indicating that conditions at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia breach constitutional and federal laws. The investigation, covering the Main Jail in Atlanta and three annexes, revealed violations of the 8th and 14th Amendments, as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, "Lashawn Thompson’s horrific death was symptomatic of a pattern of dangerous and dehumanizing conditions in the Fulton County Jail." He emphasized that unsafe and unsanitary conditions have led to pest infestations, malnourishment, violence among inmates, including homicides and sexual abuse. Garland asserted that these unconstitutional conditions have persisted for too long.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke highlighted the severity of the situation: “We cannot turn a blind eye to the inhumane, violent, and hazardous conditions that people are subjected to inside the Fulton County Jail." She noted that detention there has been akin to a death sentence for many. Clarke stressed that individuals do not lose their civil rights upon incarceration.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan described unacceptable living conditions: "In Fulton County, people in custody awaiting formal charges or trials frequently must protect themselves from brutal physical attacks." He called for urgent cooperation from county officials to address these issues.
The department's investigation found several failures at the jail: inadequate protection from violence among inmates; unsanitary living conditions; insufficient medical care; discriminatory use of solitary confinement; and lack of special education services for incarcerated minors.
From 2022 onwards, six deaths due to violence were reported at the jail along with over 300 stabbings in 2023 alone. There were also four suicides within four years.
The Justice Department conducted this investigation under various statutes including CRIPA and is prepared to seek court-ordered remedies if necessary. The findings are part of broader efforts by the Civil Rights Division to address unconstitutional practices in correctional facilities nationwide.
For further details on this investigation or to report civil rights violations, visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section or contact via phone or email provided by the department.