Fulton County Commission Chair candidate Mo Ivory is making jail reform a centerpiece of her runoff campaign, arguing that the county’s long-troubled detention facility cannot be fixed without both reducing the number of people entering the system and replacing what she describes as an inadequate jail facility.
Speaking in a recent interview with Courier Georgia, Ivory said the challenges facing the Fulton County Jail have persisted for decades and require a comprehensive approach that addresses both overcrowding and deteriorating conditions.
“It’s so important to talk about fixing the jail because it’s been a decades-long problem,” Ivory said. “Not one decade, not two. Almost since it was built in 1989, it’s been overcrowded.”
Ivory, who advanced to a Democratic primary runoff against longtime incumbent Robb Pitts after receiving the most votes in last month’s election, said many people currently entering the criminal justice system should be diverted to alternative programs instead of being jailed…