Former President Donald Trump and his 18 co-defendants, who were recently indicted in Georgia for state felony charges related to their alleged efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 election, are expected to be booked at the Rice Street Jail in Atlanta. However, this jail is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice for safety violations. The investigation was launched in July after a man incarcerated at the jail was reportedly "eaten alive" by bedbugs. The jail has faced allegations of being structurally unsafe, having prevalent violence resulting in serious injuries and homicides, and officers being prosecuted for using excessive force.

Sheriff Pat Labat, who has repeatedly raised concerns about the dangerous overcrowding, dilapidated infrastructure, and critical staffing shortages at the jail, welcomed the federal investigation and stated that the best possible outcome would be confirmation that the Rice Street Jail is not viable and a replacement jail is needed. In September 2022, another inmate, Lashawn Thompson, died in his bedbug-infested cell, and an independent autopsy report revealed that he had been dealing with untreated schizophrenia and severe neglect at the jail. Thompson's family reached a $4 million settlement with the county this month.

Despite the ongoing investigation and the jail's troubled history, Trump and his co-defendants have been ordered to turn themselves in for processing by Friday, August 25. It is unclear how long the process will take, but they are not expected to be held for an extended period. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office website outlines the standard procedures for individuals who have been placed under arrest, including property intake, a medical screening, fingerprinting, photographing, and a warrants check. Although Trump was not required to have a mugshot taken following his previous criminal indictments in other states, Sheriff Labat has stated that they plan to take one in Georgia.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who unsealed the indictment, stated that the defendants have until noon on August 25 to surrender to authorities. The charges against Trump include 13 counts related to his alleged attempts to unlawfully change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election in his favor. Other charges include making false statements, soliciting Georgia's secretary of state and state lawmakers to violate their oaths, and conspiring to commit forgery. The indictment also lists 41 counts in total and includes former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, and lawyers Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and Sidney Powell as co-defendants.

Meadows is seeking to have the case moved to federal court, arguing that the alleged conduct took place while he was chief of staff. Giuliani, Clark, Eastman, and their attorneys have criticized the indictment, with Giuliani calling it an affront to American democracy. The criminal case in Fulton County is the fourth brought against Trump this year and the second involving efforts to overturn the election results. In total, Trump now faces 91 state and federal charges across the four indictments, pleading not guilty in the three cases where he has been arraigned and denying any wrongdoing related to the charges in Fulton County.

Trump's lawyers have criticized the investigation, claiming it relied on witnesses with personal and political interests. They look forward to a detailed review of the indictment, which they argue is flawed and unconstitutional. Despite the ongoing investigation into the safety violations at the Rice Street Jail, it remains to be seen how the booking and processing of Trump and his co-defendants will be handled, as officials have not provided specific details.