Residents, human rights group voice concerns in protest outside of Bibb County Jail

The Human and Civil Rights Coalition of Georgia was outside the jail, joining county residents in demanding an increase in the quality of sanitation, medical care and more.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Calls continue for better living conditions for inmates at the Bibb County Jail. Today, the Human and Civil Rights Coalition of Georgia was outside the jail, joining county residents in demanding an increase in the quality of sanitation, medical care and more.

“Our tax dollars go to them,” said Akasa Cade, a Macon resident. “Our tax dollars go to them. And you don’t have any respect for the people that are incarcerated.” 

Many rally speakers pointed to “inhumane” conditions inside the jail, some pointing to recent photos on social media showing infestations.

“I see the rats, the mold, it’s disgusting in there,” Cade said. “Bed bugs, all of that.”

Others, like Brenshell Willis, say officers are not quick to respond to medical emergencies. Willis says her son was stabbed inside the jail and needed stitches, none of which she was informed about.

“They didn’t give him medication,” Willis said. “It was just so much going on, and I couldn’t call nobody. The only person I could call on was the Lord. I couldn’t call on nobody else. Nobody would help me.” 

Sheriff David Davis would eventually join the protestors. One of the issues he was asked about is overcrowding, which many rally speakers say is due to extended waits before court.

Davis says a new jail would cost nearly $300 million, which he admitted would be hard to come by. But after touring the jail with Mayor Lester Miller and county commissioners last week, Davis says the sheriff’s office is working on recommendations for improvement.

“We may be able to get something that will service us and alleviate some of the problems here for a fraction of that,” Davis said. “But that’s what we’re doing the RFP for. That’s what we’re enlisting architects and folks like that for.”

Davis called on advocacy for jail improvements to continue.

“There’s a lot of people in our community that say, man we don’t need no jail, those folks are in jail, and they deserve what they get in jail,” Davis said. “But this is an infrastructure part of government. “We have to have a place to hold those individuals we feel may be harmful to us.” 

After request, Davis granted a police escort for protestors wanting to march to City Hall and demand that more money be allocated to improvements at the jail. Chris Floore, Macon-Bibb County Chief Communications Officer, says the mayor was out of office, but shared the following statement:

“The Mayor and Commission toured the jail in the past month to get a direct view of the conditions and talk about the issues with the Sheriff. They have been meeting on the next steps to make improvements based on Sheriff recommendations.”