The jail in Georgia’s largest county, Fulton County, leaves its inmates vulnerable to “substantial risk of serious harm from violence” and violates their constitutional and statutory rights, according to a new Justice Department report released Thursday. 

After a more than year-long civil rights probe into the Fulton County Jail – which has long been plagued by overcrowding, understaffing and violence — federal investigators concluded detainees are subjected to “dangerous and unsanitary” conditions, like pest infestations and malnourishment. These conditions especially endanger those with mental health conditions, the report found. 

“None of these problems are new,” the report said. “And despite widespread awareness of these issues, the unconstitutional and illegal conditions have persisted.” 

The Justice Department launched its civil investigation into Fulton County’s jail in July 2023, after at least four Black inmates died in the mental health unit in a matter of weeks, including two who were killed by their cellmates. “Within weeks of opening our investigation, six more Black men had died in the Jail,” the Justice Department revealed. The family of one inmate, Lashawn Johnson, said he died in in the jail in 2022, after he was “eaten alive” by insects and bedbugs. About 91% of the jail’s total population is Black, according to the report, compared to 45% of the overall Fulton County population.

Justice Department investigators conducted multiple site visits, expert consultations and interviews with inmates and staff. 

Crumbling infrastructure, failing security, abusive staff and insufficient medical and mental health treatment contributed to the overall unconstitutional conditions described in the report. 

According to the county sheriff, 62% of the jail’s inmates suffer from mental health or substance use disorders and the staff failed to provide proper treatment or take steps to mitigate risks of suicide. 

“We found that 75% of those who died in the Jail since January 2021 had a current mental health diagnosis or reported a history of mental illness,” the report said. 

Justice Department investigators noted in their findings that Fulton County and the sheriff sought to remedy some of the issues, including by surging millions in emergency funding and sending some inmates to detention facilities in other districts. 

Still, the problems persisted. In 2024, three men in Fulton County’s main jail have died, including one person who was stabbed 20 times in April. From 2022 to the present, according to the report, “six incarcerated people have died in violent attacks.” All six victims were Black men, the Justice Department said. 

Non-lethal violent assaults are also rampant inside the jail. In 2023, the Sheriff’s Office said there were 1,054 assaults and more than 300 stabbings in the jail. The investigation also uncovered a pattern or practice of sexual abuse, according to the report. 

Announcing the report’s findings, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Department said officials in Fulton County have taken “preliminary steps” to address the issues outlined in the report, but such measures are “not enough.” 

The Justice Department’s report outlines various remedial measures the jail must carry out to improve the conditions, like increased accountability measures for staff, overhauling how the jail secures its facilities from violence and contraband, and ensuring proper suicide prevention measures. 

“At the end of the day, people do not abandon their civil and constitutional rights at the jailhouse door,” Clarke said. “We can fix these problems,” she added later. 

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, which runs the jail, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Justice Department officials on Thursday noted the sheriff had cooperated with the probe. 

With credit card rates now averaging above 23%, millions of Americans are struggling with their credit card debt. As the interest charges compound, it’s easy for this type of debt to grow out of control, especially given today’s rates. But effectively managing any type of debt — and credit card debt, in particular — can be especially challenging when paired with a poor credit score. 

A low credit score can severely limit your borrowing options, as borrowers with damaged credit are considered risky to lenders. This means that certain debt relief strategies, like using a balance transfer card to temporarily wipe out interest charges, can be out of reach. As a result, figuring out how to address your credit card debt when your credit score is low can feel like an impossible task. 

Many people in this situation consider debt consolidation or debt forgiveness as potential solutions. While both strategies aim to alleviate debt burdens, they work quite differently. With debt consolidation, the goal is to roll multiple debts into one loan with a lower interest rate. With debt forgiveness, the goal is to get your creditors to agree to a lower lump-sum settlement to reduce the amount you owe. Both can provide serious relief from high-rate card debt, but which one makes more sense for those facing this type of situation?

Compare the credit card debt relief options available to you here.

Does debt consolidation or debt forgiveness make more sense with bad credit?

When dealing with bad credit, debt forgiveness often emerges as the more accessible option compared to debt consolidation. That’s because traditional debt consolidation loans are acquired from banks, credit unions or other types of lenders and typically require a decent credit score to qualify for a new loan with favorable terms. If you have bad credit, debt consolidation loans tend to come with high interest rates that might not provide meaningful relief from existing debt burdens — and in certain cases, you may not be approved at all.

On the other hand, debt forgiveness programs, which are offered by debt relief companies, don’t typically require good credit scores to be eligible. These programs focus more on factors like the total debt amount you have, the types of debt you need to settle and your ability to make consistent monthly payments toward a settlement fund. While debt forgiveness can further damage your credit by requiring you to stop making payments to your creditors, this process might offer a faster path to financial recovery, especially if you’re already struggling with poor credit.

However, debt consolidation shouldn’t be completely ruled out if you have bad credit. There are several options for those with lower credit scores, including:

• Debt consolidation programs offered by debt relief companies, which typically have more flexible lending requirements
• Secured debt consolidation loans that use collateral to lower the risk for lenders
• Home equity loans (for homeowners), which can be more accessible since they’re secured by the equity in your home
• Debt management plans through credit counseling agencies, which can consolidate your monthly payments while lowering your interest rates or fees

So, if you’d prefer to avoid damaging your credit further by enrolling in a debt forgiveness program, it can still make sense to look into these alternative debt consolidation routes. You may find that one or the other works with your current credit score and financial situation. 

Tackle your expensive credit card debt today.

How to decide on the right debt relief option

When deciding between debt consolidation and debt forgiveness, it’s important to start by considering your financial stability, goals and current income. If you have a stable income but struggle with high-interest debts, debt consolidation might be more feasible and beneficial in the long term. Securing a debt consolidation loan with a lower interest rate can make monthly payments more manageable, even if your credit score isn’t ideal. If you’re not eligible for a traditional loan, there are debt consolidation programs that might work with you to secure a loan despite poor credit.

If your debts are so overwhelming that debt consolidation is out of reach, debt forgiveness may be a better option. This is often the case for people experiencing a financial crisis, such as a sudden job loss, major health expenses or other unforeseen circumstances. Debt forgiveness programs can reduce the total amount you owe by 30% to 50% on average, which can be a big relief for those who simply can no longer afford to pay off their balance in full. 

It’s also worth weighing the long-term impact on your credit score when choosing between these options. Debt consolidation, if managed well, can potentially boost your credit score over time by reducing your credit utilization ratio and demonstrating a commitment to repaying debt. In contrast, debt forgiveness can lead to a temporary drop in credit, as settled debts are typically reported to credit bureaus and you may be required to miss payments during the negotiation process. 

The bottom line

Deciding between debt consolidation and debt forgiveness is a highly personal choice and should be based on your unique financial situation and goals. With bad credit, each option has challenges, but they also offer distinct forms of relief. Debt consolidation may be suitable if you’re capable of managing a single monthly payment at a lower interest rate, providing an opportunity to rebuild your credit over time. Debt forgiveness, while offering immediate debt relief, may be more appropriate if your financial circumstances make consistent repayment impossible.