The Brief
- Fulton County leaders approved $1.3 billion for a new special purpose jail facility and renovations to the current jail.
- The plan aims to end overcrowding that has led to stabbings and deaths, but the new facility will not open until 2031.
- What we don’t know: It remains unclear if the approved funding will be enough to satisfy federal monitors or prevent future overcrowding as the population grows.
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – Fulton County commissioners took a major step Wednesday toward overhaul of the county’s jail system by approving funding for a new facility and a multi-million dollar renovation.
New facility to focus on mental health
What we know:
The Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 to fund a $1.3 billion special purpose facility that will include 1,800 beds.
This new building is designed specifically to house seniors, youth, and inmates struggling with mental or behavioral health issues. …