JM: How many different blocks were there? Kelly: I do not know how many cells there were but I would think there
was 3 or 4 additional cells. You never saw additional inmates
except at the doctor, dentist or at the church services.
JM: Did they have names? If so, what were they? Kelly: There are just named letters.
JM: Which inmates were housed in the different blocks? Kelly: One block was all members of a New Beginning Class I signed
up for but was never allowed to enter. The New Beginning Class
is a class which last a week and you work on yourself and try to
figure out a way to have a new beginning. I continued to sign up
for the class but I think they may first accept people who have
drug problems and that was not my situation. I wanted to go as
I lost both of my children to death and five days after we buried
our son my husband filed for divorce so I need a new
beginning. This class allows individuals time to work on
themselves and I did hope to be able to attend. The entire cell
block were class members. The leader of the class is a social
worker and teaches people how to map their life.
JM: What do you remember being the nicest and worst parts about the different blocks? Kelly: I never saw any of the other blocks so do not know much about the
other blocks. I was only allowed into medical and my own cell
block. I never saw any other blocks.
The Fulton County Jail is a 7-story high-rise jail located in northwest Atlanta. There are 12 cell blocks on each floor. The higher up you go, the more security. If you have a dui or something minor you will most likely be held on the 2nd or 3rd floor. Inmates on the 7th floor for example are all maximum security. Most are facing life sentences and/or death penalty trials. The movement and freedom is much more restrictive on the 6th and 7th floors as well. My brother has unfortunately been to the Fulton Co Jail many times and said that on the 7th floor, certain cell blocks are single cells (isolation)... Other cell blocks on the 7th floor are double cells and inmates are allowed out into a common area every day. Inmates on the 6th and 7th floors also ride a different bus to court everyday. He also told me that if you get into a serious fight in the jail (on one of the lower floors), guards will threaten to put you on the 7th floor for certain period of time for punishment. In one instance, he told me that he was in a minimum security dormitory housing unit and a fellow inmate was caught with narcotic pills. The inmate was moved to the 7th floor and within an hour of being up there he was severely beaten and had to be transported to the hopital (Grady). My brother told me the other inmates said the reason for the beating was because inmates on the 6th and 7th floors are all facing serious prison time and are trying to make a name for themselves before entering prison. He also said they were extremely jealous about the fact that he was a (short-timer) and was probably going to be released from the jail within a week. All inmates on the floors wear blue jumpsuits. Inmates in the medical unit wear red jumpsuits.
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Thursday, September 3, 2009