All three cities in Fayette County use the Fayette County Jail, which was built in the 1980s, and called a state of the art correction facility by many at that time.

Why was it built without an eye to the future? What happened was, the county then formed a state court, by ballot [which added] a Jjudge, solicitor, and court clerk then, which was appropriate, then somehow we went out in left field.

A combined probation department of state court, Peachtree City Municipal Court (with a population of over 30,000, a 9-mile trip to the Fayette County Jail) approximately two years ago, the Municipal Court of Fayetteville and the Municipal Court of Tyrone were formed, patterned after some other county, for the sole purpose of revenue. Union City, which is about half the size of Peachtree City, has a large new jail.

Peachtree City, Tyrone, and Fayetteville keep the monies collected for fines for D.U.I. and misdemeanor cases and also participate in the combined probation system that brings money into their coffers every month. So why does the county have to build a new jail to house these prisoners on [city] misdemeanor cases and violations of probation?

A [person who pleads guilty] pays a fine and is put on probation for 12 months, or if tried and found guilty, is put on probation, also. This consists of the person reporting once or twice a month and paying a fee each month for being on probation.

The courts are usually dealing with persons who are prone to get in trouble, and if it happens while on probation an arrest is made as the state judge or municipal judge deems necessary. This has been the main reason for overcrowding at the Fayette County Jail.

Fayetteville used to have a jail - what happened to it? Did it go the way of the railroad?

Something is out of balance here and it looks like it's all over money, and that's the sorry state of affairs for a justice system to get into.

There is no need for a new jail. Peachtree City, Tyrone and Fayetteville should take responsibility for their own courts and prisoners, and quit trying to enforce the letter of the law and putting every case on probation, many of which end up in the Fayette County Jail sooner or later.

James C. Claudell
Fayetteville

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