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The new sheriff of Georgia’s most populous county— Fulton— is speaking out and taking action when it comes to addressing the rising violent crime rate in the Atlanta portion of the county. Pat Labat, in a statement yesterday, notes he is in “a unique position of knowing the issues of both jails and how to best keep the citizens of Atlanta and Fulton county safe, while also caring for detainees in the best way possible.” When it comes to keeping the city jail open and full of inmates, which Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms wants to close, the sheriff says “let’s not miss this historic chance to do the right thing and collaborate on the correct solution.” 

Labat notes that this week “more than 300 detainees are utilizing portable sleeping devices, commonly referred to as ‘boats.’ There is an undeniable humanitarian aspect to relieving overcrowding and getting detainees off the floor. However, we cannot overlook the public safety implications of an overcrowded jail in terms of detainees being quickly released on blanket signature bonds and arrests being down, in part, because officers understand this.”   

“Approximately 41% of all Fulton County Jail detainees were arrested by city of Atlanta police officers,” he emphasizes. “The murder rate in Atlanta is up 59% this year and it’s only May. There has also been an increase in other crimes against persons. Any notion of removing incarceration as a penalty for certain code violations poses a risk to public safety.” 

“The classification of jail detainees requires that considerations be made as to how they are housed,” he continues. “Without that flexibility, the jail system continues to be strained, thereby affecting safety of detainees, staff and others. Mental health issues cannot be fully addressed when there is not enough space to respect boundaries of detainees with special needs or considerations. As such, mental health programs suffer when jails are overcrowded.”   

Labat also underscores an important point to get around a mayor he considers permissive. “It is important to note that the county and the sheriff have independent contracting authority to negotiate for jail space, and while (Fulton County Commission) Chairman Robb Pitts has been engaged in talks with Mayor Bottoms, I have been engaged in talks with Sheriff Craig Owens in Cobb County. Rough estimates to lease 500 beds annually from Cobb County come in at around $5-7million.” The sheriff says the administration of the jail— to include determining which detainees are moved from one facility to another — “falls strictly within my purview.”  

He concluded with a statement directed at crime weary Atlantans and Fulton Countians: “I remain ready to have meaningful dialogue to explore solutions which may include purchasing the Atlanta City Detention Center, or leasing space until a new Fulton County holding facility can be built.”