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Council accepts 2025 jail report, members flag staffing and transport concerns
Summary
DeKalb County Council accepted the sheriff’s 2025 jail report but discussed staffing shortfalls, turnover and transport miles; members noted the state is taking more inmates again and that mental-health options have improved with a local crisis center.
The DeKalb County Council accepted the sheriff’s 2025 annual jail report on April 8 after a brief discussion of staffing and transport issues. Sheriff Thomas presented the report; the council moved and approved acceptance by voice vote.
Council members raised concerns that staffing levels may not meet needs and noted high turnover in jail positions. "I believe that once again we might have been cited for not having enough staff," one member said, asking that staffing be a consideration for next year’s budget cycle. The council noted weekly jail-commander reports showing an average of roughly 63–65 detainees who had not yet been to court and that transport miles for prisoner movements totaled about 64,000.
Members also discussed state reimbursements for holding state prisoners, which in prior periods had been substantial and are being received more regularly now, and asked that staffing levels be analyzed in the upcoming budget. The availability of a regional crisis center was highlighted as a new option for some detainees who previously had only the emergency room or jail as alternatives.
The council recorded no vote counts on staffing questions; it formally accepted the annual report and asked staff to consider a staffing analysis during budget planning.
