Candidates running for Fulton County Sheriff told voters at an ACLU of Georgia “Know Your Sheriff” town hall event on Tuesday they plan to improve prison conditions through a combination of additional staff, increased scrutiny of incoming inmates, and upgraded housing. Suggestions come in the wake of a slew of deaths in the county’s prison system.
As part of the event, candidates completed a questionnaire to inform voters about their position on issues. One question asked, “Since 2022, over 20 people have died in the custody of the Fulton County Sheriff’s department. What plans do you have to improve the safety of the Fulton County Jail?”
Candidate Kirt Beasley (pictured above, right) said, “Within the first year of my term I plan to hire a minimum of 200 quality staff members to adequately resource the Fulton County Jail…I will increase the staffing levels at the jail, train, re-train and support the existing staff.”
James “JT” Brown (pictured above, middle) said he would update “the intake process to properly house identified gang members, members of the LBTQIA+ community, persons needing medical care, and the mentally ill.” Brown added that he would have “proper staffing,” a “task force to conduct shakedowns and remove contraband,” and “robust training on policies and procedures.”
“To address these challenges, a meticulous review of existing policies and procedures will be undertaken,” said candidate Joyce Farmer. She also called for more “training,” increased “security rounds” inside and outside of cells, and “specialized mental health security rounds…every 15 minutes.”
Candidate Charles Rambo (pictured above, left) cited the need to “allocate funds for jail repairs and enhancements.” To improve safety at the Fulton County Jail, Rambo said he would implement his “proven Compstat and Correctional Oriented Policing Strategies,” which were “instrumental in satisfying the federal court that inmates were being housed in safe and humane conditions.”
The ACLU noted that incumbent Patrick Labat did not complete the questionnaire.
According to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, there were two recent deaths in less than a week in early April. Travis Landrey reportedly died by suicide and “was found unresponsive in his cell” at the Rice Street facility. Leonard Fortner was stabbed to death at the Fulton County Jail.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens called the situation “a crisis” and said he was “extremely concerned” about the Fulton County facility.
“I am extremely concerned about the crisis at the Fulton County Jail,” he said. “All human life must become a priority to Fulton County. Historically, the Fulton County Commission has underfunded quality of life services for inmates, physical and mental health services for County residents and people are paying the price—at times, with their lives.”
The first death of 2024 occurred in early January. According to a statement by Labat’s office, Michael Anthony Holland “was discovered unresponsive during a security round by a detention officer in the early morning hours on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.” He was later pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital.
Previously, a Georgia Senate subcommittee held two meetings in October 2023 and December 2023 “to address the current incidents and challenges reported at the Fulton County Jail.”
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Debra McClure is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network. Follow Debra on X / Twitter.
Photo “Kirt Beasley” by Beasley for Fulton Sheriff. Photo “James JT Brown” by James JT Brown. Photo “Charles Rambo” by Charles Rambo.
