Fulton County Jail in Atlanta faces severe criticism for its inhumane conditions. The US Justice Department’s 16-month investigation reveals shocking problems, including flooded housing units, infestations, exposed wiring, and inadequate food, medical, and mental health care.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke condemns the conditions, saying they jeopardize inmates’ lives and well-being. The jail fails to protect inmates from violence, including stabbings, sexual abuse, and murder.

The investigation highlights Lashawn Thompson’s tragic death in 2022, caused by severe neglect in a bedbug-infested cell. Two others died in the same mental health unit, killed by cellmates.

Violence is rampant, with 1,054 assaults and 314 stabbings recorded in 2023. Some officers permit or instigate violence, and many incidents go unreported or undocumented ¹ ².

Clarke demands change, stating, “We cannot turn a blind eye to these inhumane conditions. Detention in Fulton County Jail amounts to a death sentence for dozens.”