FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 2, 2026
Contact: Aliyah Farhoud, aliyah@heyjoemedia.com

Community Shares Firsthand Accounts from Inside Fulton County Jail

‘Tale of the Jail’ event exposed conditions & safety concerns, highlighted alternatives to incarceration

ATLANTA—Community members, advocates, and directly impacted people gathered last night for “Tale of the Jail,” a public forum focused on firsthand accounts of conditions inside the Fulton County jail and the urgent need to reduce incarceration and prevent further harm.

The event centered the voices of people who have experienced the jail system firsthand, offering a rare, unfiltered look at the human impact of incarceration in Atlanta. The Community Over Cages coalition that held the event said they hoped to move beyond headlines and statistics and instead ground the conversation in real stories that reflect what is happening inside the jail today.

The “Tale of the Jail” forum highlighted growing concerns around safety, jail conditions, and deaths inside Fulton County facilities. Community leaders from organizations including Women On the Rise, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, Black Futurists Group, and Southern Center for Human Rights said those most affected by the system must be at the center of any conversation about solutions.

Speakers shared personal experiences, highlighted ongoing concerns, and outlined what community-led safety and accountability can look like without expanding incarceration.

“If we’re serious about reducing jail overcrowding, we have to stop criminalizing poverty and start investing in solutions like the Diversion Center,” said Robyn Hasan-Simpson, executive director of Women On the Rise.

The event was organized by Community Over Cages, a coalition of local groups, including Women On the Rise and partner organizations across Atlanta, working to reduce incarceration and invest in community-based alternatives.