UNCLASSIFIED POSITION IN THE FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
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ATTORNEY - CONSENT DECREE COMPLIANCE
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Attorney for Consent Decree Compliance serves as a legal advisor to the Sheriff’s Office on all matters related to detention facilities operating under a federal consent decree. This role focuses on ensuring that jail policies, practices, and operational systems comply with constitutional standards, federal mandates, and best practices in detention management. The Attorney works closely with command staff, detention leadership, federal monitors, the U.S. Department of Justice, and county officials to drive sustainable reform, reduce legal exposure, and support safe, humane, and lawful jail operations.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Consent Decree Compliance – Jail Operations
- Interpret and apply the requirements of the federal consent decree as they relate to jail conditions, inmate rights, medical and mental health care, use of force in detention settings, staffing, and facility operations.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for the federal monitoring team and the U.S. Department of Justice on jail-related compliance issues.
- Review monitoring reports, audits, and data to identify compliance gaps and advise leadership on corrective actions.
- Draft, revise, and review jail policies and procedures to ensure alignment with consent decree mandates and constitutional standards.
- Support the development and tracking of compliance metrics, corrective action plans, and implementation timelines.
Legal Counsel for Jail Operations
- Provide legal advice on issues including inmate rights, conditions of confinement, PREA compliance, IDEA compliance, medical and mental health obligations, disability accommodations, use of force, grievance systems, and disciplinary processes.
- Conduct legal research and prepare written opinions, guidance documents, and risk assessments for detention leadership.
- Advise on matters involving inmate litigation, civil rights claims, habeas petitions, and federal or state investigations.
- Assist in responding to subpoenas, discovery requests, and litigation involving jail operations, coordinating with county attorneys or outside counsel as needed.
Policy Development & Operational Review
- Lead or support the creation and legal review of jail policies, post orders, operational directives, and training materials.
- Ensure policies reflect best practices in detention operations, including suicide prevention, medical care, segregation practices, emergency response, and use-of-force protocols.
- Collaborate with detention command staff, medical and mental health providers, and training personnel to ensure policies are both legally sound and operationally feasible.
Training & Staff Education
- Develop and deliver legal training to detention officers, supervisors, medical staff, and command personnel on topics such as constitutional standards, inmate rights, use of force, ADA requirements, and consent decree obligations.
- Provide ongoing legal updates to ensure staff remain informed about relevant case law, regulatory changes, and compliance expectations.
- Support scenario-based training and tabletop exercises to reinforce lawful and effective jail operations.
Oversight, Accountability & Internal Investigations
- Provide legal guidance to internal affairs, professional standards, and jail oversight units regarding investigations involving detention staff or incidents within the jail.
- Review investigative files, findings, and disciplinary recommendations for legal sufficiency and compliance with consent decree standards.
- Support the development and refinement of accountability systems, including early intervention tools, incident tracking, and data-driven oversight mechanisms.
Interagency & Stakeholder Coordination
- Maintain effective working relationships with federal monitors, DOJ attorneys, county officials, medical and mental health contractors, and community stakeholders.
- Participate in compliance meetings, operational reviews, and public briefings related to jail reform efforts.
- Assist in preparing reports, presentations, and communications that accurately reflect the agency’s progress toward compliance.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
- Active license to practice law in Georgia, or eligibility for admission.
- Experience with federal consent decrees, civil rights litigation, institutional reform, correctional law, or government compliance.
- Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
- Ability to translate complex legal requirements into practical guidance for operational staff.
- Ability to work effectively with FCSO leadership, compliance professionals, and external oversight entities.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a reform-focused environment.
- Commitment to transparency, accountability, and ethical public service.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with the U.S. Department of Justice or court-appointed monitors.
- Familiarity with jail operations, correctional standards, or large-scale institutional reform.
- Experience supporting compliance monitoring, data reporting, or performance auditing.
- Strong understanding of constitutional standards governing jail operations, including Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment requirements.
- Familiarity with correctional practices, inmate medical and mental health care standards, PREA, IDEA, ADA, and use-of-force principles in detention settings.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a resume, and any relevant certifications/licenses through the county’s online application portal. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide legal analysis and advice related to the interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of the federal consent decree applicable to the Fulton County Jail.
- Advise FCSO leadership and compliance staff on consent decree requirements, performance measures, timelines, and documentation obligations.
- Review and assess FCSO policies, procedures, practices, and operational changes for consistency with consent decree provisions.
- Development, revision, and implementation of compliance-related policies, protocols, corrective action plans, and training materials required by the consent decree.
- Preparation and legal review of compliance reports, submissions, and correspondence to the Court, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the court-appointed Monitor.
- Participate in meetings, site visits, and communications with DOJ representatives and the Monitor concerning consent decree compliance.
- Identify potential areas of non-compliance or risk related to the consent decree and advise on legally sound remedial strategies.
- Monitor court orders, rulings, and guidance related to the consent decree and advise FCSO on their impact.
- Coordinate with the Chief Counsel to ensure consistency in legal positions related to consent decree matters.
- Perform other duties directly related to federal consent decree compliance.
Purpose of Classification:
The purpose of this classification is to provide legal counsel to the Fulton County Sheriff. This position will provide legal counsel to the Sheriff, FCSO command staff. officers, administrative and civilian staff. This position must be able lo function with autonomy, representing the interests of the Fulton County Sheriff, with minimal supervision.
Essential Functions:
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
Provide legal advice and counsel to the Fulton County Sheriff, Fulton County She1iff's Office (FCSO) command staff, and employees in a variety of legal areas, including, but not limited to the duties, responsibilities, and authority of the Sheriff; criminal law, constitutional law, public records law, and labor and employment law.
Review, edit, and draft contracts, policy, and mutual aid agreements, and provide legal updates for the FCSO.
Ensure that the Sheriff and his employees are in compliance with case law, court orders, consent decrees and other objectives set by the Fulton County Sheriff.
Act as liaison between the FCSO, Office of the Fulton County Attorney, and outside counsel to defend the legal interests of the Sheriff and the FCSO.
Serve as a key executive strategist, policy and legal liaison to the Sheriff and direct and oversee development of FCSO policies and administration of the Sheriff's statutory responsibilities.
Advise on Internal Affairs investigations and other employment matters, provide legal updates and training to members of the agency, review agency policies and procedures, and other associated duties which may be requested or required.
Respond to crises and challenging situations, both quickly and professionally, while considering possible legal implications.
Prepare the Sheriff for his attendance at, and attend, speaking engagements and special events. Assure all agency materials have consistent and positive messaging and branding. Conduct quality control on all internal and external communications. Manage a team of communications staff. Develop working |relationships with media outlets and other companies as appropriate.
Additional Functions:
Performs other related duties as required and assigned. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:*All applicants must agree to and successfully pass a background investigation, drug screening and polygraph to be considered for employment with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.*EXAMINATION:The examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience, accomplished by analysis of the application. Application must document that the applicant possesses the minimum knowledge, skills, education and experience as listed to be rated as qualified. If selected, an official, accredited college transcript is required, at time of employment, for all degrees/course work used to qualify for this position.ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL BEFORE THEY ARE SUBMITTED. PLEASE REVIEW ALL APPLICATIONS FOR ACCURACY AND MAKE ALL CORRECTIONS BEFORE SUBMITTAL BECAUSE ERRORS CAN RESULT IN NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. WE DO NOT ACCEPT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AFTER APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. Performance Aptitudes:Data Utilization: Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.
Human Interaction: Requires the ability to function in a director capacity for a major organizational unit requiring significant internal and external interaction.
Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver, and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and/or rapid adjustments.
Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.
Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.
Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in critical and/or unexpected situations involving moderate risk to the organization.
It is the policy of Fulton County that there will be equal opportunity for every citizen, employee and applicant, based upon merit without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, genetics, age, disability or sexual orientation.
