FEDERAL DEFENDER PROGRAM, INC. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA SUITE 1500, CENTENNIAL TOWER 101 MARIETTA STREET, N.W. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303, September 29, 2022 VIA EMAIL - SIJENKINS@BOP.GOV Mr. Sylvester L. Jenkins, Warden USP Atlanta 601 McDonough Blvd., SE Adanta, Georgia 30315 Re: Update on Pretrial Detainee Conditions Dear Warden Jenkins, Tam sending you this letter as an update on the conditions at USP-Atlanta concerning pretrial detainees. On August 18, 2022, several staff members from the penitentiary met with us at our offices to discuss the complaints raised at the July 26, 2022 senate hearing and improvements that could be made for pretrial detainees. We very much appreciated this meeting as it has turned out to be a very productive collaborative effort. Jail Administrator Brandon Burkett has made great strides by swiftly implementing many improvements, Such as: © Direct access to Mr. Burkett via cellphone © Detainees’ immediate access to prescription medications for mental health issues as soon as they arrive at USP-Atlanta © Changes in visitation hours as well as requirements for scheduled appointments for legal visits # Access to discovery - purchasing a computer specifically for discovery review and a separate computer for legal research in the law library * Direct phone line and privacy booth for FDP clients to make legal calls # Added commissary items, including a variety of otherthe-counter medications, and installing a water fountain with cold and hot water © Pretrial detainees are no longer on 23-hour lockdown * Additional phone lines installed to make calls to friends and familyWithin a short period of time, Mr. Burkett has drastically improved the conditions at USP-Atlanta and it is greatly appreciated. I would also like to acknowledge that Mr. Burkett even makes himself available afterhours. On a Friday evening there were issues regarcling a legal visit scheduled for first thing Monday morning. The matter was concerning the approval of a staff investigator and the submission of his NCIC (which was current). Mr. Burkett was contacted that Friday evening and the matter was resolved immediately. Acclient reported to us that he has no concerns of issues with the accommodations at USP-Atlanta, nor his ability to communicate with his family, he has been able to review his discovery and contact our offices when needed. Some staff attorneys have expressed that their legal visits have gone smoothly, the correctional officers have been professional, courteous and diligent. “All in all, things have seemed to turnaround and it is a vast improvement from my prior experience.” A response from a FDP staff ateorney regarding the announcement of the installation of the direct phone line and privacy booth for clients ~ “Wow. That is huge. Thank you for dealing with USP-ATL and doing all of this!!”. We appreciate how quickly the concerns raised during our meeting on August 18th were addressed by your administration and look forward to continued open lines of communication between our staffs Very Truly Yours, Pohanie Kavos OD Executive Director SK/jmh : The Honorable Timothy C. Batten, Sr., Chief Judge