Texas Jail Commission Cracks Down on Overcrowded Facilities
HOUSTON — County jails in Texas are under scrutiny as population growth and an increase in crime are causing overcrowding at several facilities throughout the state, particularly in the Houston region.
In response to overcrowding — county jails are at 86 percent capacity — the Texas Commission on Jail Standards is enforcing strict adherence to state regulations and has ordered some facilities to house inmates at other counties that are not experiencing overcrowding.
The Harris County Jail, which houses some Houston offenders, was cited for being understaffed and may have to transfer a minimum of 500 inmates to other counties until it can comply with the state-mandated regulation of one correctional officer per every 48 inmates.
If forced to transfer inmates, county officials would like to keep the prisoners within 200 miles. According to reports from neighboring counties, only Montgomery and Liberty county facilities have enough room and staff to accommodate the inmates.
Overcrowding has spurred a construction boom in the Houston region. Eleven counties are currently building or have built new facilities to accommodate the rise in the state’s inmate population.
- Galveston County is expected to open a new 1,171-bed jail this summer. The current facility has a capacity of 880, but typically houses 979 inmates. The jail has been overcrowded and understaffed for several years, but received waivers from the jail commission to continue operating.
- Montgomery County opened a new $8 million wing for its jail in 2005 after the original jail was sanctioned in November 2004 for being overcrowded and understaffed. The new wing brought the jail’s capacity up from 752 to 1,155 beds. The facility’s daily average is around 850 inmates.
- Voters in Fort Bend County passed an $85 million bond proposal for a new 952-bed jail. The county’s current facility is under capacity, but officials have housed inmates in other counties at a cost of $42 a day per inmate in order to comply with state regulations.
- The Brazoria County Detention Center has room for 1,153 inmates and only houses 850 inmates, but the facility has too few jailers to take on prisoners from other counties. The jail commission cited the center for being understaffed. Jailers will have to participate in a mandatory overtime plan in order to comply with regulations.
A 148-bed jail in Chambers County is undergoing $450,000 in repairs for damages inflicted by Hurricane Katrina. While the facility has space for 108 inmates during construction, it typically houses between 125 and 144 inmates. Officials transferred about 30 low-risk prisoners to other counties for the duration of the repairs.
