Rapper Makes Video While Jailed

A best-selling rapper filmed an unauthorized video at the Fulton County Jail, where he has been held since April on a probation violation charge, embarrassed city officials said.

The video for jailed rapper Clifford Harris, whose stage name is T.I., was being shot Thursday night, around the same time as another inmate escaped, authorities said. They said the two events were unrelated.

An Atlantic Records spokesman for the rapper did not immediately return calls for comment.

Harris' first album, "I'm Serious," was released in 2001. His second album, "Trap Muzik," was a best-seller on the charts last year.

A spokesman for Fulton County Sheriff Jackie Barrett said she had no idea a rap video was being filmed inside her jail.

Lt. Clarence Huber said he didn't know how many people were in the 3,200-inmate jail filming the video, or who gave permission for the shoot to take place.

"We did find out there was some sort of video being shot," Huber said. "There is a lot we're still looking into."

Fulton County Chairwoman Karen Handel, who has long been critical of Barrett, blasted the sheriff.

"You're going to have a video crew roaming around the jail? I don't understand why that was even remotely considered," Handel said. "I don't care whether she knew or didn't know. The buck stops with her, and this should've been an automatic 'No."'

Harris has been in jail for violating probation for a 1998 drug conviction.

Jail officials said the video shoot had nothing to do with the escape of inmate Cara Williams, who allegedly slipped out a door for employees while she was being processed on a probation violation.

Acting on a tip, police recaptured Williams around 2 a.m. Friday.

Williams' is the 10th escape or accidental release from the jail during the last 16 months. It came after a monitor released a report last week saying conditions at the jail were becoming increasingly dangerous and unhealthy because of crowding and inadequate security.

By Kristen Wyatt