ATLANTA, GA — Jail booking for some misdemeanor charges will soon stop in Fulton County, where overcrowding and "deteriorating conditions" have long been an issue, authorities announced Tuesday.
The new procedure at the Fulton County Jail comes with exceptions. Anyone facing domestic violence, sexual assault or aggravated misdemeanors will still be booked into the jail, according to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities plan to implement the updated policy starting July 1.
Fulton County Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Labat began preparing for the measure in October 2025, when he solicited a formal legal opinion from the Office of the Fulton County Attorney.
Labat's request concerned his authority and responsibility as it pertained to booking misdemeanor arrestees at the local jail, according to his office.
He finally received the opinion on May 13 and immediately conversed with local police chiefs, mayors and other law enforcement and justice officials to determine the overall impact of the change. The contents of the opinion were not made public.
“As the sheriff, it is my responsibility to implement a pathway forward that aligns with what is best for our residents, community public safety and the consent decree,” Labat said in a news release.
Authorities said they will continue preparation through June and will also hold a town hall meeting to inform residents on how the adjustment affects the community.
Conditions at the jail have been crumbling in recent years much to the frustration of the sheriff's office. In the past, Labat has criticized the Fulton County Board of Commission for choosing to renovate the jail rather than completely replacing it.
The Rice Street facility was initially designed to hold single bunks; however, prior to the jail opening in 1989, authorities said there was a shift to double bunking to "accommodate the growing inmate population."
In August 2025, authorities released the following statement, in part:
"The failing infrastructure is a long-standing problem attributed to the demand put on a system far beyond its designed capacity, from the critically failing pipes that continuously burst and leak, a foundation that consistently floods when it rains, locks that do not work properly, to an outdated HVAC system that span across three federal consent decrees."
Aside from the Rice Street jail, the Fulton County Sheriff's Office also operates the Marietta Annex in Atlanta, the North Annex in Alpharetta and the South Annex in Union City.
Patch is working to learn more information on the outcome surrounding misdemeanor charges not booked at the jail.
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