Johns Creek taxpayers are committed to spending an estimated $200,000 a year to send arrestees to the Forsyth County Jail, driven by the closure of the Fulton County North Annex Jail in Alpharetta. Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat's proposed policy to stop accepting most misdemeanor inmates at the overcrowded Fulton County Jail.

Labat held a public town hall Thursday, July 16, at ENON Baptist Church in Atlanta to hear community concerns about the proposal. No official decision has been made, but the policy shift has already prompted Johns Creek to lock in an alternative.

What the sheriff said

Labat told the crowd that in 2025, nearly 3,000 misdemeanor cases were brought to the Fulton County Jail from the city of Atlanta alone, many involving domestic violence, aggravated battery, or mental health crises.

"We want to be thoughtful about that," Labat said at the town hall.

If the change moves forward, Labat said it would not happen all at once. Officials would implement it strategically. The original target date of July 1 was already delayed to allow for community input and consultation with justice partners.

Residents asked about alternatives, including whether fines for top misdemeanor offenses could be increased instead of jailing offenders. Others raised questions about re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Why the jail is in crisis

A federal consent decree came after the 2022 death of Lashawn Thompson, who was arrested on a simple battery charge and found malnourished and infested with body lice in his cell. Investigators documented more than 300 stabbings at the jail in 2023.

The jail's population rose 20% in the first half of 2025, according to Akiva Friedland of the ACLU of Georgia. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution on Wednesday, May 20, requesting the sheriff use his existing authority to decline certain misdemeanor bookings. Vice Chair Khadijah Abdur-Rahman made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Dana Barrett.

How Johns Creek responded

The Johns Creek City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Forsyth County for jail services at its Monday, June 1, meeting, according to Appen Media reporting. Under the deal, Johns Creek pays a $65,000 annual fee plus $195 for an inmate's first day and $140 for each day after. City staff estimate the total annual cost at about $200,000 based on an average of 22 inmates per month.

Johns Creek Police Chief Mark Mitchell said after the June 1 vote that officers were spending up to 90 minutes driving to and from the Rice Street jail in downtown Atlanta. "The traffic going downtown is pretty rough," Mitchell told Appen Media.

The Forsyth County Jail in Cumming sits about 20 minutes from the Johns Creek Police Department. Mayor John Bradberry said after the vote that the facility would provide a closer and safer alternative. Mitchell said the agreement runs approximately one year, after which the city will reassess.

What's next

No timeline has been announced for a final decision on the misdemeanor intake policy. The sheriff's office has not stated when or whether another public hearing will be held.