Overview
- Sheriff Patrick 'Pat' Labat announced Tuesday that the Fulton County Jail will refuse most misdemeanor bookings starting July 1, with exceptions for domestic violence, sexual assault, and aggravated misdemeanors.
- The change grew from a legal review Labat requested in October 2025 and a written opinion delivered by the Fulton County Attorney on May 13 that cleared the sheriff to limit intake.
- The Fulton County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution urging limits on low‑level bookings and listed offenses such as marijuana possession, public intoxication, and trespassing that officials say fill hundreds of jail beds.
- Labat has resumed meetings with police chiefs, mayors, and justice partners and plans a public town hall before July 1 while officials promote diversion centers and officer discretion as alternatives to arrest and booking.
- Key details remain unresolved, including whether people already jailed on misdemeanors will be released or transferred and how the change will affect court processing, jail staffing, and public‑safety responses during large events.