Sheriff David Davis addresses inmate care, violence at Bibb County Jail

Sheriff David Davis discusses inmate violence, medical care and whether Bibb County should build a new jail or renovate the current one.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Concerns are growing in Bibb County over conditions at the Bibb County Jail, following years of incidents—including the recent death of an inmate and another case where an inmate was attacked with scalding hot water.

As the anniversary of Stephen Fossett’s death approaches, many are looking for answers.

With nearly 1,000 inmates currently housed at the facility, Sheriff David Davis says the main challenge remains inmate-on-inmate violence. He says there have been changes in the inmate population.

“Lack of guidance, lack of hope, lack of education, all of those things that create that type of person on the street,” he said.

Sheriff Davis reiterated that inmates receive medical attention as needed.

“They get treated, the medical folks give them the care that they need,” he said. “If they have to go off site for specialized care, they will make sure that that happens—whether they have to go to the hospital or either orthopedic type hospital or wherever that they need to go to.”

He added that inmates are screened upon arrival by a medical provider called Correct Health, which offers services to jails across Georgia.

For the past eight years, there have been discussions about constructing a new jail or renovating the current 45-year-old facility. Sheriff Davis stressed the importance of working with Mayor Lester Miller to determine the next steps.

“We need to decide exactly what we’re going to do,” he said.

He estimated the cost of building a new jail at around $300 million. An alternative could be an add-on facility to better manage inmates with varying needs.

“You can put the sickest of the sick and the most disruptive of the disruptive in the jail,” Davis said. “If we have a place where we put those particular inmates and are able to watch them more closely, so that they don’t go in and create problems for the others, that will help us.”

He also mentioned the need for dedicated spaces for inmates with mental and physical health issues.

“They can be watched, sort of kept isolated—not in solitary confinement—but in a place all to themselves where they can get a little bit higher level of care,” he said.

In closing, Sheriff Davis assured the community:

“When we know about a situation or an inmate is in crisis, we’re going to get there as quickly as we can.”

Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller said in a Facebook post last month that his administration has already invested more than $30 million into the jail’s medical care, mental health services and security since 2021, adding that the county is now in the process of weighing whether to renovate the current facility or build a new one.

“My administration is the first in many years to initiate proactive steps in addressing this important issue,” Miller wrote. “I take this issue seriously and will take any steps necessary to protect the deputies, inmates, and medical staff without unduly burdening the taxpayers.”