The Fulton County Commission has voted to spend $5 million to replace more than 1,300 faulty locks at the county jail.

The commission voted 5-2 Wednesday to replace the locks. The issue is one reason the county jail has been operated under federal oversight for the past six years.

Officials have said the locks are in such bad shape that inmates can force cell doors open, and the locks are so old they have been discontinued.

Officials missed a chance to resolve the issue Dec. 5 when a commissioner whose vote could have swayed the decision was over three hours late to the meeting and missed the vote.

County officials have said the jail's primary problem is improper supervision of inmates, not faulty cell locks.

Tags: jail, fulton county commission, fulton county jail