After an audit of who is incarcerated at the Bibb County Jail, Macon government officials have identified 10 areas of concern they want to improve in order to reduce issues at the facility, according to documents shared by Macon-Bibb County Tuesday.
In-custody deaths, assaults in the facility, concerns over living conditions and drug use among inmates has prompted widespread concern, ranging from local community protests to calls for an investigation from federal officials.
The Macon Justice and Wellness Task Force, which includes local law enforcement and crime prevention professionals, was announced in June as a response to concerns. The task force was asked to conduct a 30-day audit of inmates, reviewing the case for every person housed at the jail and identifying issues both within the jail and in the court system.
Concerns of overpopulation were expected to be addressed by releasing roughly 150 people from the jail with ankle monitors, in an effort to "eliminate a two-tier justice system where individuals who can afford it are at home, while those that cannot are in jail," Mayor Lester Miller said at a press conference when he introduced the task force.
Court delays make problems worse at Macon jail
The task force found significant issues in timelines for court hearings, according to the list of 10 concern areas. People at the jail often face inconsistencies and "substantial delays" for their arraignments and indictments. Defendants often miss their arraignments, leading to bench warrants and more time in jail.
"Legal representation at this early stage is often lacking," the task force said in the document.
Incarcerated people awaiting arraignment also don't get bond review hearings in a timely manner, the task force said, leaving them in jail longer. Homicide cases also face significant delays due to "a growing backlog ... which require(s) prioritization and dedicated judicial resources," the improvement opportunities document said.
The task force also found the courts aren't using time and resources efficiently. For example, some defendants are taken from jail to court to serve as a witness in someone else's case, but their own legal matters aren't dealt with why they're at the courthouse, the task force said.
"In other cases, they are not transferred or released in a timely manner due to administrative oversight," the document says.
Incarcerated individuals also experience delays in transfers of custody due to coordination issues. While other counties experience a delay of five to seven days, "in Bibb County, delays can stretch to 30-40 days," the document aid.
The task force also identified probation holds and out-of-county-charges as issues that lead to prolonged stays in detention, stating that as the inmates await their transfer or hearing in other counties, they can be held in jail still due to their probation holds.
Limits for Macon inmates needing mental health, housing help
People who are homeless and being held on minor charges or outstanding bonds have a limited in-reach program that connects them with housing or social services, according to the document. In-reach mental health services are also limited, though a significant number of people in custody "are waiting on mental health evaluations or placement in treatment facilities," the document said. The average wait time exceeds 40 days.
Jail staff have also failed to transport inmates with documented mental health concerns to their court hearings, the document said. However, leadership at the jail "has acknowledged this and is developing updated policies," according to the document.
Attorneys for the incarcerated individuals have also reported that accessing their clients at the jail is difficult, which hinders legal preparation and timely resolution of the case, according to the document.
All 10 issues identified
- Delays in arraignments and failure to appear
- Delays in transfers from the Georgia Department of Corrections
- Homeless individuals cycling through the jail
- Mental health related detention
- Probation holds and out of county charges
- Bond review delays
- Backlog of serious charges
- Attorney access restrictions
- Failure to present individuals with mental health needs in court
- Inefficient transport and missed case coordination
