Marshals moving about 400 Atlanta federal detainees to Irwin County

Credit: Danny / Any County News · Source: Atlanta News First (U.S. Marshals Service, Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May, Sens. Ossoff and Warnock)

Atlanta News First reports the U.S. Marshals Service will relocate about 400 pretrial detainees from the Robert A. Deyton Detention Facility in Lovejoy to the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, with the move estimated to finish by Oct. 31.

A Marshals spokesperson said the process will prioritize safety, medical care and access to counsel.

Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May wrote that ending use of the Lovejoy facility would be a catastrophe, forcing expensive travel to Ocilla and risking delayed trials. She said Acting U.S. Marshal Stephen Serrao cited compliance issues at the Lovejoy facility, while noting Irwin County has faced its own controversies.

U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock wrote to the Marshals director expressing urgent concern about Georgians' constitutional rights.

As reported, the Marshals Service's decision stands.

Sources: Atlanta News First (Oct. 2, 2026)

Images: Aerial photo of the detention facility and a map/headline card. No AI-generated images.

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