As continues to monitor developments at the Harris County Jail, the Jail Standards Commission convened its quarterly meeting in Austin on Thursday, delivering an update that indicates ongoing challenges.
Although Harris County has made some progress in booking inmates within 48 hours, it has simultaneously regressed in terms of the average length of inmates’ stay at the jail, according to statements made by jail leaders at Thursday’s meeting.
Assistant Chief of Detentions Command at the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Commander Phillip Bosquez, reported that the current average length of stay at the jail stands at 197 days. To provide context, the state average for length of stay at other jails ranges from 46 to 56 days.
Bosquez outlined plans to address the issue incrementally, aiming for potential reductions in 30-day intervals.
Brandon Wood, Director of the Jail Standards Commission, expressed concern over this trend, noting that the jail’s numbers have increased since the last quarterly meeting held in November.
The Harris County jail has been subject to significant attention in recent times due to issues such as prolonged wait times for processing and instances of jail deaths.
Community calls for transparency regarding incidents at the jail have prompted action, resulting in the addition of 532 body-worn cameras for detention officers, as confirmed by jail representatives.
Staffing shortages and jail capacity remain persistent challenges, with the county annually allocating $50 million in taxpayer funds to outsource inmates to facilities in Texas and other states.
County officials highlighted the issue of inmates who should be in state facilities rather than the county jail, estimating that approximately 1,500 inmates fall into this category for various reasons.
Despite efforts to expedite cases through the court system by adding additional courts, the jail’s population remains a concern.
reached out to the sheriff’s office for comment on the increasing outsourcing numbers but has not received a response at the time of publishing.
