DOJ Opens Investigation Into Fulton Jail

ATLANTA, GA — The U.S. Department of Justice Thursday launched a civil investigation into the living conditions, inmate care and use of force at the Fulton County Jail.

Justice officials said in a news release the probe will also examine the jail's ability to protect people from violence and whether Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriff's Office discriminate against people diagnosed with psychiatric disabilities inside of the jail.

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section is leading the investigation alongside the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Northern District of Georgia.

RELATED: 2 Inmates Accused Of Setting Fire At Fulton County Jail

"Based on an extensive review of publicly available information and information gathered from stakeholders, the department has found significant justification to open this investigation, including credible allegations that an incarcerated person died covered in insects and filth, that the Fulton County Jail is structurally unsafe, that prevalent violence has resulted in serious injuries and homicides and that officers are being prosecuted for using excessive force," justice officials said in the release.

RELATED: Fulton Detention Officer Accused Of Improper Sex Contact With Inmate

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland added the department has received reports of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions at the jail, as well as the failure of authorities to provide adequate medical care to inmates.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office in a statement to media Thursday said the sheriff's office will fully cooperate with the DOJ's investigation.

RELATED: Fulton County Inmate Dies Of Unknown Cause In Cell

The Fulton County Jail has recently gained attention with a number of its detention officers facing various charges, stemming from use of force to inappropriate behavior with an inmate. Inmate deaths at the jail have also been a concern.

Most notably, the aftermath of Lashawn Thompson's death in September 2022 added pressure for changes in the jail's conditions. Thompson was housed in the facility's psychiatric wing.

RELATED: Fulton County Detention Officer Fired; Faces Assault, Battery Charges

NFL player and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick paid for a private autopsy on behalf of Thompson's family, said civil rights activist and family attorney Ben Crump at a May 22 press conference.

The May 20 autopsy revealed Thompson's cause of death was complications due to severe neglect with a contributing cause of untreated decompensated schizophrenia. The report noted significant conditions were dehydration, malnutrition and severe body insect infestation.

Thompson suffered more than 1,000 bug bites on his body while in custody, Crump said at the past press conference.

RELATED: Insect Bites Contributed To Inmate's Death, Prompting GA Jail Updates

Crump and his co-counsel, Attorney Michael Harper, released a joint statement Thursday to media regarding the DOJ's probe.

“While nothing can undo the injustice that Lashawn Thompson faced, it is a tragedy that can hopefully amount to much needed change inside of the Fulton County Jail. It is our prayer that the DOJ confirms the clear pattern of negligence and abuse that happens in Fulton County and swiftly ends it so that no other family experiences this devastation. We thank Attorney General Garland and Assistant Attorney General (Kristen) Clarke for hearing Lashawn’s family’s cries for justice and opening this investigation," read the statement.

RELATED: Fulton Detention Officer Accused Of Using Excessive Force On 3 Inmates

The DOJ said no conclusions have been reached regarding allegations about the jail, and the investigation will be conducted under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“People in prisons and jails are entitled to basic protections of their civil rights," Garland said in the release. "During this comprehensive review of the conditions of confinement at the Fulton County Jail, the Justice Department will determine whether systemic violations of federal laws exist, and if so, how to correct them.”