"Fulton County Leaders Pat Labat and Fani Willis Advocate for New Rice Street Jail Facility"

Upon taking office in 2021, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat confronted a dire situation at the Rice Street jail, housing 3,600 inmates, with 600 forced to sleep on the floor, predominantly Black. At the Black Men Initiative Summit, Labat and District Attorneys Fani Willis and Tasha Mosley addressed these pressing issues, exacerbated by Lashawn Thompson's tragic death. A consent decree with the DOJ in January 2025 mandated reforms to uphold inmates' rights. Labat emphasized the urgent need for a replacement facility, not just renovations.