Fulton County making big changes to address overcrowding at jail

Added: 2026-06-02

[00:00:00]We're learning more [music] about the Fulton County Sheriff's decision to keep most people charged with misdemeanors out of the Rice Street jail.

[00:00:07]>> So that change is expected to start on July 1st. 11Alive's Grace King explains what's behind this decision.

[00:00:14]With the World Cup just weeks away, Fulton County Commission Chairman Rob Pitts says they're making big changes to keep their jail population under control. We do have a some 300,000 plus is the estimate uh people coming to Fulton County uh in a sporting event. Things are going to happen. Starting July 1st, the Sheriff's Office plans to stop booking most people accused of non-violent misdemeanors into the Fulton County Jail, saving space for those accused of domestic violence, sexual assault, and aggravated circumstances, as well as felony charges. At any given point in time, there are a couple hundred, possibly 300 people who are in our jail on these low-level misdemeanors. So why exacerbate that problem on a temporary basis? Similar policies have worked in cities like Denver, Colorado, and Portland, Oregon. Attorney Darrell Cohen is interested to see whether that'll be the case here. My concern is are we going to have people charged with felonies that should be charged with misdemeanors because the officer wants to make sure that they are incarcerated?

[00:01:20]He says jail time is often a deterrent for repeat offenders. If you have a misdemeanor, the worst it can happen is 12 months in jail if you are convicted or enter a plea. So it's not a lot, but it sometimes gives someone an idea of I don't want to do this again. And the Fulton County Sheriff's Office says it plans to hold a town hall next month to educate its citizens on how this decision could affect the community. In downtown Atlanta, Grace King, 11Alive News. So if this policy, this new policy works well during the World Cup, Chairman Pitts says it could become permanent.