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Fulton County residents press commissioners to replace jail as county details repair and 'blitz' work
Summary
Public commenters urged the Board of Commissioners to tear down or fully replace the county jail following recent violence and repeated safety complaints. County staff reported progress on a multi‑phase repair "blitz," provided operational metrics and said differences in how average jail stay is calculated explain discrepancies with DOJ figures.
Dozens of residents asked the Fulton County Board of Commissioners to replace the county jail, citing violent incidents, structural failures and recurring safety risks, while county staff outlined ongoing repair work and operational metrics meant to reduce risk and improve capacity.
Public commenters described multiple violent incidents inside the jail and said aging infrastructure allowed weapons and sharp objects to be fashioned from the facility. “The jail needs to come down,” said Lucy A. Watts, who identified herself as the grandmother of a detention officer who was stabbed. Other speakers — including Walter Dismuke, Irma Watts and Derek Knighton — said corrections staff and inmates faced daily danger and urged commissioners to prioritize a new facility.
The appeals came during the meeting’s public‑comment period. County staff then briefed the board on a month‑by‑month operational scorecard and a “jail blitz” repair…
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