Research summary
Research summary
Topic summary
Trace Bottoms’s mayoral record and Jackson’s campaign claims on crime and policing.
Key research questions
- Investigate "Georgia Governor: Rick Jackson vs.
Important claims and supporting citations
Jackson Healthcare entities resolved a Department of Justice False Claims Act whistleblower lawsuit alleging kickbacks and illegal remuneration by paying a settlement exceeding $5 million.
Reported robberies and rapes declined in Atlanta between 2019 and 2020 according to the AJC's analysis of crime data.
The U.S. Department of Justice initiated a civil rights investigation in July 2023 examining inmate deaths and living conditions inside the Fulton County Jail under Sheriff Pat Labat.
An AJC review of data from 70 large police agencies found Atlanta's pandemic-era violent crime increase was more dramatic than trends in many peer jurisdictions.
- https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/10/crime-roiled-atlanta-during-covid-its-fallout-has-shaped-governors-race/
- https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-mayor-announces-covid-testing-site-for-employees-and-new-police-use-of-force-orders/JF3GR6LRDVF7NPEFVONA3BIEVM/
- https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/09/rick-jackson-unveils-anti-trafficking-proposal-debuts-new-attack-ad/
Following the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in June 2020, over 170 Atlanta police officers staged a 'Blue Flu' sickout after criminal charges were filed.
On July 4, 2020, 8-year-old Secoriea Turner was fatally shot inside an SUV near barricades erected outside the burned Wendy's restaurant where Rayshard Brooks was killed.
The Atlanta Civil Service Board reinstated officer Garrett Rolfe in 2021 finding a lack of due process, and special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis declined to prosecute him in 2022 concluding the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks was justified.
In mid-2020, Mayor Bottoms proposed placing approximately $73 million of the Atlanta Police Department's budget into escrow pending police reform recommendations, though the Atlanta City Council did not permanently cut the funds.
Outstanding questions
- Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly defends her record by highlighting that she supported the construction of the Atlanta public safety training center.
View all claims (text)
Claims
Claim text is for reading and citation. Bulk copying and AI training need a licensed maps data API key. Markdown
Rick Jackson announced he would commit over $50 million of his own personal funds to his Georgia gubernatoria…
Rick Jackson announced he would commit over $50 million of his own personal funds to his Georgia gubernatorial campaign.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
In June 2020, Keisha Lance Bottoms issued executive orders mandating de-escalation tactics, mandatory reporti…
In June 2020, Keisha Lance Bottoms issued executive orders mandating de-escalation tactics, mandatory reporting of deadly force to the citizen review board, and a duty for officers to intervene against excessive force.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
The U.S.
The U.S. Department of Justice initiated a civil rights investigation in July 2023 examining inmate deaths and living conditions inside the Fulton County Jail under Sheriff Pat Labat.
Labels: Source-linked, Medium, known
Atlanta's police budget grew during Bottoms's tenure as mayor, exceeding $200 million in the FY2022 city budg…
Atlanta's police budget grew during Bottoms's tenure as mayor, exceeding $200 million in the FY2022 city budget.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Jackson Healthcare entities resolved a Department of Justice False Claims Act whistleblower lawsuit alleging…
Jackson Healthcare entities resolved a Department of Justice False Claims Act whistleblower lawsuit alleging kickbacks and illegal remuneration by paying a settlement exceeding $5 million.
Labels: Source-linked, High, known
Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly defends her record by highlighting that she supported the construction of the A…
Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly defends her record by highlighting that she supported the construction of the Atlanta public safety training center.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, investigate
Atlanta experienced a 21% decrease in homicides in 2023 under Mayor Andre Dickens, followed by a 32% drop in…
Atlanta experienced a 21% decrease in homicides in 2023 under Mayor Andre Dickens, followed by a 32% drop in the first half of 2025.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Homicides in Atlanta declined by approximately 20% or more between 2022 and 2024 following the 2021 peak duri…
Homicides in Atlanta declined by approximately 20% or more between 2022 and 2024 following the 2021 peak during Bottoms's final year in office.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Mayor Bottoms issued directives in June and August 2020 ordering revisions to the Atlanta Police Department's…
Mayor Bottoms issued directives in June and August 2020 ordering revisions to the Atlanta Police Department's use-of-force policies, de-escalation, and duty to intervene.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
In mid-2020, Mayor Bottoms proposed placing approximately $73 million of the Atlanta Police Department's budg…
In mid-2020, Mayor Bottoms proposed placing approximately $73 million of the Atlanta Police Department's budget into escrow pending police reform recommendations, though the Atlanta City Council did not permanently cut the funds.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach and other legislators introduced bills in 2021–2022 to de-annex Buckhead…
Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach and other legislators introduced bills in 2021–2022 to de-annex Buckhead from Atlanta over crime concerns, an effort that died in the state Senate in 2023.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Criminal Justice and Detention Center Reforms
Criminal Justice and Detention Center Reforms
Labels: Inferred, Low
Atlanta Pandemic Crime Trends and Analysis
Atlanta Pandemic Crime Trends and Analysis
Labels: Inferred, Low
Summer 2020 Protests and Wendy's Site Incidents
Summer 2020 Protests and Wendy's Site Incidents
Labels: Inferred, Low
Fallout and Aftermath of the Rayshard Brooks Shooting
Fallout and Aftermath of the Rayshard Brooks Shooting
Labels: Inferred, Low
Atlanta Ordinance 18-O-1045, signed by Bottoms on February 6, 2018, eliminated cash bail requirements only fo…
Atlanta Ordinance 18-O-1045, signed by Bottoms on February 6, 2018, eliminated cash bail requirements only for municipal city-ordinance arrests, not violent or state-level offenses.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
On July 4, 2020, 8-year-old Secoriea Turner was fatally shot inside an SUV near barricades erected outside th…
On July 4, 2020, 8-year-old Secoriea Turner was fatally shot inside an SUV near barricades erected outside the burned Wendy's restaurant where Rayshard Brooks was killed.
Labels: Inferred, High, known
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms fired Atlanta Police officer Garrett Rolfe within days of the June 12, 2020 killin…
Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms fired Atlanta Police officer Garrett Rolfe within days of the June 12, 2020 killing of Rayshard Brooks prior to the conclusion of the GBI investigation, and Fulton County DA Paul Howard charged Rolfe with felony murder five days later.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
Demonstrators set fire to the Atlanta Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was shot on June 13, 2020, which Rick Jac…
Demonstrators set fire to the Atlanta Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was shot on June 13, 2020, which Rick Jackson's campaign ads cite to allege Bottoms 'let Atlanta burn.'
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
Following the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in June 2020, over 170 Atlanta police officers staged a 'Blue…
Following the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks in June 2020, over 170 Atlanta police officers staged a 'Blue Flu' sickout after criminal charges were filed.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
An AJC review of data from 70 large police agencies found Atlanta's pandemic-era violent crime increase was m…
An AJC review of data from 70 large police agencies found Atlanta's pandemic-era violent crime increase was more dramatic than trends in many peer jurisdictions.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, known
Mayor Bottoms permanently ended the Atlanta municipal jail's practice of housing ICE detainees in September 2…
Mayor Bottoms permanently ended the Atlanta municipal jail's practice of housing ICE detainees in September 2018.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
Atlanta police investigated 98 homicides in 2025 compared to 126 the prior year, representing a 32% decrease.
Atlanta police investigated 98 homicides in 2025 compared to 126 the prior year, representing a 32% decrease.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Mayor Bottoms signed the ground-lease ordinance for the $100M+ Atlanta Public Safety Training Center ('Cop Ci…
Mayor Bottoms signed the ground-lease ordinance for the $100M+ Atlanta Public Safety Training Center ('Cop City') in DeKalb County following a contentious Atlanta City Council vote in September 2021.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
During 2020 and 2021, the Atlanta Police Department fell several hundred officers short of its authorized for…
During 2020 and 2021, the Atlanta Police Department fell several hundred officers short of its authorized force of roughly 2,000 officers due to resignations and retirements following the Rayshard Brooks shooting.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
In 2021, Mayor Bottoms proposed repurposing Atlanta's 1,300-bed detention center for services addressing home…
In 2021, Mayor Bottoms proposed repurposing Atlanta's 1,300-bed detention center for services addressing homelessness, addiction, and mental illness, though the facility was not fully closed before she left office.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
On June 17, 2020, Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly stated that Atlanta police morale was down 'tenfold' followin…
On June 17, 2020, Keisha Lance Bottoms publicly stated that Atlanta police morale was down 'tenfold' following the death of Rayshard Brooks and subsequent officer charges.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
The Atlanta Civil Service Board reinstated officer Garrett Rolfe in 2021 finding a lack of due process, and s…
The Atlanta Civil Service Board reinstated officer Garrett Rolfe in 2021 finding a lack of due process, and special prosecutor Pete Skandalakis declined to prosecute him in 2022 concluding the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks was justified.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
Reported robberies and rapes declined in Atlanta between 2019 and 2020 according to the AJC's analysis of cri…
Reported robberies and rapes declined in Atlanta between 2019 and 2020 according to the AJC's analysis of crime data.
Labels: Source-linked, Low, known
Eight-year-old Secoriea Turner was fatally shot on July 4, 2020, near the barricaded Wendy's site in Atlanta,…
Eight-year-old Secoriea Turner was fatally shot on July 4, 2020, near the barricaded Wendy's site in Atlanta, leading authorities to clear the area on July 6.
Labels: Inferred, Medium, known
More than 200 Atlanta Police Department officers resigned or quit in 2020.
More than 200 Atlanta Police Department officers resigned or quit in 2020.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Atlanta's reported homicides increased by 59% from 2019 to 2020, compared with an average 33% increase across…
Atlanta's reported homicides increased by 59% from 2019 to 2020, compared with an average 33% increase across other examined cities.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
In a January 2025 interview, Keisha Lance Bottoms stated that delaying the clearance of the barricaded Wendy'…
In a January 2025 interview, Keisha Lance Bottoms stated that delaying the clearance of the barricaded Wendy's site was her 'biggest regret.'
Labels: Inferred, Low, known
Atlanta recorded 157 homicides in 2020 and 158 in 2021, with 2020 marking the city's highest total since 1996.
Atlanta recorded 157 homicides in 2020 and 158 in 2021, with 2020 marking the city's highest total since 1996.
Labels: Inferred, Low, known