Residents and advocacy groups press Clayton County leaders over alleged jail failures, call for sheriff’s removal

Several speakers at the Clayton County Board of Commissioners’ Dec. 16 meeting urged the board to intervene in alleged problems at the Clayton County Jail, describing prolonged pretrial detention, unsafe conditions and conflicts of interest and calling for independent investigation and the sheriff’s removal.

Stacy Hopkins, a resident who said she lives in Fulton County, told the board she has a friend who has been held at the Clayton County Jail “for 3 years” without a first appearance or bond, and said family members have lost contact. “He still sits there, doesn’t with no bond, nothing,” Hopkins said during public comment, and asked the board to “please look into the Clayton County Jail.”

Advocates who spoke after Hopkins pressed for more aggressive action. LA Pink, representing families of people detained in the jail, urged the board to remove Sheriff Levon Allen and to open a formal investigation. “What we are demanding is for the sheriff to be taken and removed,” LA Pink said, alleging multiple bank accounts and hiring of relatives as evidence of conflicts of interest.

Gerald Rose, president of New Order National Human Rights Organization, said he had toured the facility and described maintenance problems and security failures. “There’s mold everywhere,” Rose said, and added that multiple internal doors were not functioning: “Those doors ain’t working. This is a jail. That’s security.” Rose said his organization would seek action from the governor.

An organizer identifying himself as Shall we Eichner asked the commissioners to pass “a vote of no confidence,” forward complaints and jail reports to Governor Kemp and request a GBI investigation and suspension of the sheriff, saying the jail “needs leadership that the public can trust.”

Board members did not move to take immediate disciplinary action during the meeting. The chair thanked speakers and said their comments were “duly noted.” Staff and other speakers said the commissioners would continue to take public comment and review materials, and several commissioners said they would seek further clarification and documentation.

Why it matters: The public allegations—claims of lengthy detention without hearings, possible conflicts of interest, and alleged unsafe facility conditions—are matters that fall under county oversight and, where raised, state investigative authorities. The speakers requested formal remedies, including referral to state investigators and removal of the sheriff.

What the board did: The commissioners listened to public comment, asked for clarifying information in some cases, and did not vote on disciplinary or investigatory measures during the Dec. 16 meeting. Several speakers said they would continue pressing state authorities.

Next steps: The board did not announce a vote or formal investigation at the meeting. Multiple speakers said they planned to seek action from the governor and outside organizations; the board indicated staff would follow up and provide additional context in later meetings.