WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump and his 18 co-defendants accused of stealing the 2020 presidential election are expected to be booked this week at the Fulton County Jail.
The facility is known for poor conditions and management, and the Justice Department is currently investigating living conditions, medical care and the use of excessive force at the prison.
The jail is open 24 hours a day and the former president and other defendants can show up at any time, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat’s office announced last week. Trump and the defendants have until noon on Friday to voluntarily surrender.
Trump is not expected to stay in jail for long, but this booking process stands in stark contrast to the former president being prosecuted in courthouses in the other criminal investigations he faces. Here’s what you need to know.
Prison known for extreme conditions
Inmate LaShawn Thompson, 35, was reportedly found last year in his cell at the Fulton County Jail, with his body dehydrated, malnourished and “infested with bugs inside and out.”
An independent autopsy report found Thompson’s cause of death to be “complications from severe neglect” among other factors including untreated schizophrenia, dehydration, malnutrition and severe insect infestations on the body.
The Southern Center for Human Rights found last year that the prison has reportedly been understaffed and poorly managed for decades, “leading to multiple lawsuits.” The facility also easily facilitated the spread of viruses, such as COVID-19.
“Prison is a public health nightmare,” Terrica Ganzy, executive director of the Southern Center Human Rights, said in a statement.
A report released last year by the American Civil Liberties Union acknowledged prison overcrowding.
The Justice Department announced last month after Thompson’s death that it would investigate conditions at the Fulton County Jail. The investigation also comes amid allegations that the prison is structurally unsafe, “predominant violence has resulted in serious injuries and homicides” and that officers are using excessive force, the department said.
What does Trump’s booking process look like?
Labat told CNN that unless other authorities tell him otherwise, they will follow their normal practices — as if someone were being charged.
According to Chris Timmons, a litigation attorney at the law firm of Knowles Gallant Timmons, a typical booking process involves fingerprints and photographs taken of a defendant.
If the defendant goes into custody, they will be placed in a cell, Timmons said. However, defendants may have legal agreements that release them from custody without posting bail.
“In this particular case, I don’t expect anyone to be taken into custody,” Timmons told USA TODAY.
The amount of time a booking process takes depends on the person, Timmons added. The physical process of taking fingerprints takes about three minutes and taking a mug shot takes one and a half minutes to two minutes.
He explained that it can be a “logistical nightmare” for a former president to go through the booking process because of his security needs.
“I assume if the former president of the United States comes to jail, they’ll be efficient — ready to go,” Timmons said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump Is Booked In Georgia’s Notorious Fulton County Jail
