HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Hundreds of Harris County Jail inmates were taken to Louisiana Thursday as the sheriff tries to make sure Texas regulations can be followed at the building.
In November, state jail inspectors found the Harris County jail in violation of state standards and noted a tense and hostile environment inside the jail. It came days after a jail staffer was allegedly brutally sexually assaulted by an inmate inside her jail office. reported other assaults inside the jail around the same time.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards ordered Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to come up with a corrective plan. As part of it, 192 county inmates have been moved to a jail in Lasalle Parish, Louisiana.
The jail is northeast of Alexandria, about five hours from Houston. The sheriff’s office told ABC13 that about 300 more inmates will follow in coming days, and it will all be paid for by Harris County taxpayers.
The sheriff’s office says the transferred inmates are almost all men awaiting trial in “generally acceptable health with court dates set approximately 40-45 days out.” Inmates in high risk or special circumstances will not be eligible for transfer.
