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Short thread: Last year, Mayor Bottoms signed legislation to close Atlanta's extra city jail - the result of an incredible campaign waged by @WomenOnTheRise1 & others. A task force recommended the demolition of the jail, to be replaced w a community center https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/atlanta-mayor-to-sign-legislation-shutting-down-city-s-jail/952983263/
Recently, Fulton County Sheriff Labat (former warden of the jail) decided he wanted his old jail back & announced his interest in buying the emptying building to expand Fulton County jail. This is a nonstarter for many reasons:
Sheriff Labat’s proposal is one in a long line of unsuccessful attempts by Fulton County (for years!) to continue their jail expansion with the purchase of ACDC. Here's a piece from 2019 where Fulton tried the same thing: https://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/fulton-mulls-moving-inmates-to-other-counties-to-address-its-overcrowded-jail/article_a4b6ac08-a389-11e9-b785-170658319cb4.html
Fulton’s acquisition of the jail would mean massive unnecessary costs for Fulton taxpayers, when Fulton has the answer to overcrowding in its own hands: reduce its jail population, as many counties––both rural & urban––across the state have done in the past several months.
ACDC exists to temporarily cage people charged with city ordinance & traffic violations & has never housed those charged with more serious offenses. As long as the Atlanta City Detention Center remains open, APD will have reason to fill it with Atlantans.
Atlanta City Council meets for a work session to finally close the jail this week. Pls stand up against new jails by calling Council today, between 4 & 7, to tell them to close ACDC in 2021 & transform it into a center for Equity, Wellness & Freedom. Sample script here:
The number to call is (404) 330-6001. Again, that's between 4 and 7 PM today. #nonewjails
I hope that folks see through the subterfuge of Fulton County intimating that they care about overcrowding. If they cared one bit about that, they would decarcerate like so many other jails have successfully and safely done.
