Sharp warnings to Atlanta City Council over stalling transfer of inmates
Stark warning from leader about jail violence
A local politician is not holding back in a warning to Atlanta City Council members about some call a crisis at the county jail. Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts called on council members to respond to the violence that's taken place at the overcrowded county facility. He wants them to speed the transfer of county inmates to the downtown city jail.
ATLANTA - Fulton County Chairman Robb Pitts is sending an urgent warning to the members of the Atlanta City Council are the "crisis" at the county jail.
Pitts said blood will be on the hands of the council members whose actions are slowing the transfer of county inmates to the downtown city jail.
He was referring to the violence at the overcrowded county facility.
Pitts said recent violence had already spilled blood on the floors of the county jail. For that very reason, Pitts has been urging the council to not block an agreement to transfer inmates.
Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat wants to place up to 700 county inmates in the virtually empty Atlanta City Jail. Before that can happen, some council members said they wanted to see jail data--which inmates are housed currently, and what their charges are.
At City Hall last Monday, the debate was tense. Council member Michael Bond, who supported the sheriff, said the council members who never supported the idea are putting up roadblocks.
While all this plays out, nearly 500 county inmates are sleeping on the floor in doggie trays and Pitts said a family just buried an inmate stabbed to death in September.