Court monitor says Fulton County Jail 'scary'

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

The Fulton County Jail is becoming increasingly dangerous and unhealthy because of crowding and inadequate security, according to a monitor appointed to survey conditions at the jail.

Immediate intervention by county officials is needed to prevent serious harm to staff and inmates, according to a new report by Robert Greifinger, who has monitored the jail since a federal lawsuit was filed in 1999.

Greifinger _ former medical director of the New York state Department of Corrections _ has toured the jail 18 times in five years. His most recent visit prompted him to describe the jail as "scary."

He said he visited two weeks ago and found many inmates sleeping on floors, puddles of water, inmates unable to shower, broken air conditioning and mold on the ceiling. Few guards were supervising inmates, he said.

"The severe overcrowding and staff shortages have resulted in mounting tension within the living units, leading to violence," Greifinger wrote.

Chief Jailer Roland Lane agreed with Greifinger's findings, saying they showed the effect of the county's hiring freeze. The jail is down 94 positions, Lane said. It also has reported a 30 percent increase in the number of prisoners since 2002, he said.

County Commission Chairwoman Karen Handel acknowledged the crowding problem Thursday, but faulted Sheriff Jackie Barrett's management.

Barrett, who is under federal investigation for $7.2 million in investments that county auditors say were illegal, has said the county needs a new jail.

Fulton County officials plan to hire outside accountants to review some of Barrett's financial records because they lack detail to explain what happened to the investment money received from tax foreclosure auctions.

The records involve money owed to property owners whose homes or businesses were auctioned by the sheriff to pay overdue taxes. Money left over from the auctions after all debts are paid is supposed to be returned to the property owners.

There appears to be a discrepancy of at least $6 million between what the sheriff's records indicate is owed and what her bank accounts hold, according to a memo from County Manager Tom Andrews.

The Fulton County Jail was pretty scary last fall when my son was there. The conditions were awful! An inmate had his ear bit off in a little bit of "violence". Jerry could not wait to get out of there. As he said, "you don't want to be known here - I am laying low and hoping not to get noticed."
Becky
Jerry's Mom

Court monitor says Fulton County Jail 'scary'

The Associated Press - ATLANTA

The Fulton County Jail is becoming increasingly dangerous and unhealthy because of crowding and inadequate security, according to a monitor appointed to survey conditions at the jail.

Immediate intervention by county officials is needed to prevent serious harm to staff and inmates, according to a new report by Robert Greifinger, who has monitored the jail since a federal lawsuit was filed in 1999.

Greifinger _ former medical director of the New York state Department of Corrections _ has toured the jail 18 times in five years. His most recent visit prompted him to describe the jail as "scary."

He said he visited two weeks ago and found many inmates sleeping on floors, puddles of water, inmates unable to shower, broken air conditioning and mold on the ceiling. Few guards were supervising inmates, he said.

"The severe overcrowding and staff shortages have resulted in mounting tension within the living units, leading to violence," Greifinger wrote.

Chief Jailer Roland Lane agreed with Greifinger's findings, saying they showed the effect of the county's hiring freeze. The jail is down 94 positions, Lane said. It also has reported a 30 percent increase in the number of prisoners since 2002, he said.

County Commission Chairwoman Karen Handel acknowledged the crowding problem Thursday, but faulted Sheriff Jackie Barrett's management.

Barrett, who is under federal investigation for $7.2 million in investments that county auditors say were illegal, has said the county needs a new jail.

Fulton County officials plan to hire outside accountants to review some of Barrett's financial records because they lack detail to explain what happened to the investment money received from tax foreclosure auctions.

The records involve money owed to property owners whose homes or businesses were auctioned by the sheriff to pay overdue taxes. Money left over from the auctions after all debts are paid is supposed to be returned to the property owners.

There appears to be a discrepancy of at least $6 million between what the sheriff's records indicate is owed and what her bank accounts hold, according to a memo from County Manager Tom Andrews.