Scores of residents braved the rainy weather Tuesday to hear more about what critics say are “terrible” conditions at the jail.
Several organizations hosted a town hall meeting at Zion Baptist Church in Marietta where they also heard from former inmates and family members of people currently incarcerated at the Adult Detention Center.
Dr. Ben Williams of the Cobb County Southern Christian Leadership Conference said many of the inmates at the jail have not been convicted of any crimes.
“Regrettably conditions in that facility are way out of bounds with respect to what it should be for any person who happens to be in the custody of law enforcement waiting for their time (in) court,” he said, adding that anyone serving a sentence also should not be subjected to “terrible conditions” at the facility.
More than 50 people attended Tuesday’s meeting, which was the second town hall in three months organizers have held about the jail run by Sheriff Neil Warren and the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.
No one from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office attended Tuesday’s town hall meeting.
The Cobb Adult Detention Center has experienced seven in-custody deaths since December 2018. Those inmates are Reginald Wilson, Jessie Myles, Bradley Emory, William Kocour, Steven Davis, Kevil Wingo and Christopher Hart.
The deaths of all but two inmates have been determined as natural causes: Davis’s death was classified as undetermined while Hart’s death remains under investigation.
The deaths, along with a month-long lockdown, have sparked criticism from residents and families, local activists and civil rights organizations, which are calling on Sheriff Warren to address their concerns about medical care for inmates and jail staffing levels.
One man, John Coleman, said his son has been incarcerated for seven months. Coleman said it’s important for families of inmates to share the experiences of their loved ones.
Several family members also said their loved ones, some of whom have dietary restrictions, have suffered significant weight loss during their time at the Adult Detention Center.
Credit: Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Credit: Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One woman, Andrea Stewart, said her 19-year-old son has lost more than 30 pounds over the last four months. While inmates are fed three meals a day, some of the speakers said those with dietary restrictions are not provided alternatives.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing these stories about a Detention Center,” Stewart said.
Another woman, Ivy Treadwell-Garcia, was incarcerated for six months at the Adult Detention Center. Treadwell-Garcia, who was released in October, said she has severe food allergies. When she was booked into the jail, her EpiPen was confiscated and she was told she would not have access to an alternative treatment for an allergic reaction.
To avoid an allergic reaction, Treadwell-Garcia said for the first 15 days she drank Ensure, which are meal replacement shakes, in place of solid food. She said she eventually lost 30 pounds during her incarceration.
“My parents were extremely worried (because) I was emaciated,” she said.
Wanda Webb, who also has a 19-year-old son at the facility, said her son told her Tuesday that he was thinking about taking a plea deal “because he wanted to get out of there.”
Webb also said her son has lost more than 20 pounds and suffered beatings at the hands of other inmates. Webb told the audience that her son and other inmates have all made mistakes, but it’s time the community to step forward and take action.
“We can talk all day long, but we really got to start doing (something),” she said.
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