Beleagured Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett is on the hot seat once again, this time over a music video produced at the Fulton County Jail last week.Posted on 06/22/2004 8:51:45 AM PDT by mhking
Beleagured Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett is on the hot seat once again, this time over a music video produced at the Fulton County Jail last week.
A music video for rap artist "T.I." (23 year-old Cobb County work-release inmate Clifford Harris) was produced in the maximum security wing of the downtown Atlanta facility, and during the time that the video was being produced, ostensibly without Barrett's knowledge, a prisoner who was being booked in slipped OUT of the jail.
Clifford Harris, who goes by the stage name "T.I.", is part of a work release program in Cobb County, officials confirmed Friday. He is assigned to work at Atlanta’s LaFace Records from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. daily and the rest of time, he is in custody. He was convicted on drug charges and a probation violation.Got all of that straight? Well I'm glad someone does.Cobb County’s sheriff gave him special permission to go the Fulton County Jail from 6 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. to tape the video. Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett said she was unaware of the filming.
Barrett said that the video production had nothing to do with the escape of 23-year-old Cara Williams. Williams, who was taken to the jail wearing hospital scrubs, ducked down a staff corridor while she and eight other women were being walked to the intake room Thursday night.
"What we know right now about the escape is really more a factor of not having enough staff to watch the number of inmates. We had 125 inmates in the back (being booked) last night," Sheriff Barrett said, adding that four staffers were doing the booking when normally eight are on duty.
Barrett is looking at firing a number of employees, starting with Lt. Dwayne Turner, who arranged for the artist's use of the jail, and Chief Deputy Caudell Jones, who is the uncle of the artist.
Five other deputies face dismissal for allowing Clifford Harris, also known as rapper "T.I.," to make the video, which also featured eight prisoners and a few guards.Barrett is in hot water with members of the Fulton County Commission over other escapes from the Fulton County Jail, as well as for mishandling of department funds. An ongoing investigation into the funding issue is ongoing.Lt. Dwayne Turner acknowledged arranging the 23-year-old hip-hop star's use of the maximum-security wing of the jail. But Turner insisted that he had permission from Jones to shoot a documentary.
"He said, 'OK, go ahead,' " Turner said Monday. "He actually cut me off before I could give him all the details."
Jones has said Turner told him he wanted to bring a wayward nephew into the jail for some "scared straight" counseling similar to what the Sheriff's Office does for television judge Glenda Hatchett. The jail occasionally allows Hatchett's TV crew to fly juvenile delinquents to Atlanta to talk with inmates about staying out of trouble.
Many people, both supporters and detractors of Barrett alike, are calling for her resignation. She has been in office since 1994.
Double-barrelled Mega-PING! to both lists! If you want on, FReepmail me!
There is no good music anymore. Prince is right.
I hate rap almost as much as I love taffy. And I'm a man who loves his taffy.
I'm getting bored with th genre myself. Too commercialized and mass marketed. It's just like pop music where all you have to do is be a dumb blonde and look good. Doesn't matter that your career lasts five minutes, as long as the recording company makes money.
"Prince is right."
Did you ever in your wildest dreams EVER imagine those words coming off your keyboard?
Nah I always liked Prince. Prince was always good. It's the rap genre that has not recovered since the entrance of gangsta rap. I don't think rap will ever be what it once was.
And what is it with these rappers and their fascination with jail and prison? I know a kid whose around 18 who I'm pretty sure is selling crack. He's a wannabe rapper and I get the distinct feeling that he's trying to get thrown in prison to get the street cred. Blows my mind.
Mission accomplished.
$710.96.. The price of freedom.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.