'Public health nightnare": notorious Georgia jail - USA Trending Blog

'Public health nightnare": notorious Georgia jail - USA Trending Blog

'Public health nightnare": notorious Georgia jail - USA Trending Blog

Former President Donald Trump and his 18 co-defendants accused of trying to steal the 2020 presidential election are expected to be booked at the Fulton County Jail this week.

The facility is known for its poor conditions and management, and the Department of Justice is investigating the jail's living conditions, medical care and use of excessive force.

The jail is open 24 hours a day, and the former president and other defendants could show up at any time, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat's office announced last week. Trump and the defendants have until noon on Friday to surrender.

Trump isn't expected to spend a long time at the jail, but this booking process marks a stark contrast with how the former president has been processed in courthouses in the other criminal investigations he faces. Here's what you need to know.

An  independent autopsy report found that the cause of Thompson’s death was “complications due to severe neglect,” among other factors including untreated schizophrenia, dehydration, malnutrition and severe body insect infestation. 

The Southern Center for Human Rights found last year that the jail has been understaffed and mismanaged for decades, “leading to multiple lawsuits." The facility also easily facilitated the spread of viruses such as the one that causes COVID-19.

"The jail is a public health nightmare," Terrica Ganzy, executive director of the Southern Center Human Rights, said in a statement.

A report released last year from the American Civil Liberties Union acknowledged overcrowding in the prison.

The Justice Department announced it would investigate conditions at the Fulton County Jail last month after Thompson's death. The investigation also comes after accusations that the jail is structurally unsafe, that “prevalent violence has resulted in serious injuries and homicides,” and its officers use excessive force, according to the department.