FULTON COUNTY, GA — The Fulton County sheriff’s office issued a formal statement in response to a scathing report from the justice department about the deteriorating conditions at the Fulton County Jail.

The response says the DOJ’s report underscores the deep challenges facing the correctional system. The failing jail building compounded by the lack of adequate staffing fuels unrest and vandalism, which worsens the challenges of recruiting and retaining experienced jail staff. The Fulton County sheriff’s office agrees these are challenges that are decades in the making. It also notes the deteriorating condition of the current jail is making matters worse. The statement goes on to say the sheriff’s office is already working to address the problems and takes the recommendations very seriously.

County commissioners scrapped a plan to build a new jail. Instead, they’ll spend a fraction of the cost to renovate the current jail.

A formal statement from the sheriff’s office says the failing jail building compounded by the lack of adequate staffing fuels unrest and vandalism--which worsens the challenges of recruiting and retaining experienced jail staff. The agency says the federal report underscores the deep challenges - facing the correctional system. The fulton sheriff’s office says it takes the d-o-j’s recommendations seriously--and is already working to address the problems. The county has already voted to renovate the jail rather than build a new facility.