Fulton County commissioners press for faster jail hiring as county reports modest staffing gains

Fulton County commissioners on June 17 pressed county staff for clearer answers after an update on jail staffing showed small gains but slower-than-expected progress toward a larger staffing goal.

Kenneet L. Herman Jr., the county’s chief human-resources officer, told the board the county hired 48 detention officers and recorded about 34 separations since January, producing a net increase of 14 jail staff and four additional separations pending payroll processing. Herman said the average time to hire for sheriff’s-office positions was about 136 days, and that the county has spent roughly $725,000 to date on recruitment and retention out of an approximately $16.8 million appropriation for the initiative.

Commissioner Bob Ellis said the pace and expenditures were “an abysmal result” relative to an original target of net 200 new hires per year. He and other commissioners pressed staff for more detailed exit reasons from separating employees and asked for clearer accounting of how recruitment funds have been used. Herman said exit-survey data exists but must be collated and that the county would provide additional detail.

The board also discussed recruitment partnerships. County staff said the Walls group has produced 15 hires referred to the sheriff’s office and that a $10,000 retention bonus for jail-assigned staff—approved earlier this year—appears to have reduced separations. Commissioners noted a separate contractor arrangement (Allied, with an extension involving Grady for roughly 30 FTEs) has brought additional non-sworn staffing online to support operations.

County staff framed the hiring update as part of a larger five-point jail-population reduction plan. The plan’s elements include expanding ankle-monitor use (staff reported a recent net increase in monitored participants), automated text reminders to reduce failures to appear, a bond-review calendar for lower-bond inmates held 30–90 days, a consolidated motions-and-trial calendar to address long pretrial stays, and a diversion/warrant-resolution hub. Staff also proposed temporary funding to use third-party forensic labs to reduce evidence backlogs that delay trials. Officials said several initiatives aim for phased launches in August and beyond.

Several commissioners urged faster implementation and clearer metrics. Commissioner Bridget Thorne asked for data showing total compensation and average cash-in-pocket pay for detention officers since the bonus was implemented. Vice Chair Kadijah Abdul Rakman asked for details on why Walls’ candidates were screened out by the sheriff’s office, noting the board funded Walls based on its demonstrated success in other jurisdictions.

The board did not take new formal action on the hiring numbers at the meeting but directed staff to return with the requested retention and hiring analytics and to clarify how remaining recruitment funds could be reprogrammed if needed.