Jail full in Georgia city as jury trials remain shut down
February 13, 2021 GMT
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Officials in Augusta say the local jail is nearly full in part because jury trials remain suspended in Georgia because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richmond County Sheriff’s Maj. Jack Francisco tells WJBF-TV that there are about 800 people in the county’s Charles B. Webster Detention Facility, and that 500 of those can’t be released because they are detained without bail for violent crimes. Another 300 can’t afford to pay their bail.
“We’re releasing anyone we can release,” Francisco said. “But we’re running at 95 percent capacity right now.”