Sheriff Seeks Additional $25 Million for Unsustainable Jail Overcrowding Caused by Harris County New 10% Rule

With Harris County's criminal court system mired in delay, disfunction, and hobbled by a monster case backlog, the Harris County Jail population is busting at the seams - currently at 99.8% of capacity with 9,688 inmates. 

"We are just not going to have the capacity to sustain a jail operation," warned Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.  

Gonzalez pleaded with the Harris County Commissioners Court to fund a $25 million plan to shift inmates to a private West Texas prison. 

"We are not going to get out of this anytime soon. We really don't have a choice, in my opinion," said Gonzalez. 

Advocates for jail inmates objected, calling the transfer of prisoners to a facility 500 miles away "inhumane." 

"Post, Texas is eight hours away. This puts undue stress on those who are already struggling in life," said Mo Cortez, an opponent of the outsourcing plan.  

"Consider what it means for them to be forced to wait for their day in court so far away from their legal support and their loved ones," said Diana Williams of Grass Roots Leadership. 

But former Harris County Sheriff, now Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, responded with a reality check. 

"Having an overcrowded jail is immensely inhumane," said Garcia. 

With the cost of outsourcing housing for inmates set to leap to $40 million per year, Judge Lina Hidalgo offered a question. 

"Where exactly is the bottleneck? I frankly don't know what the bottleneck is," said Hidalgo. 

Deputy's Union President David Cuevas says as cited in a federal lawsuit filed by his members, the jail overcrowding crisis must be relieved, or more inmates and potentially detention officers will die. 

"There is no choice. We need the Jail Commission to come back in and do another inspection. Maybe they (Commissioners Court) will start listening then. We have to relieve that pressure," said Cuevas. 

Sheriff Gonzalez repeated his call for criminal court judges to work "nights and weekends" to lower the six-figure case backlog. 

Gonzalez also said if Harris County does not secure the jail space in West Texas, other jurisdictions are eager to pay for it. 

Harris County has already transferred inmates to a facility in Louisiana.

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Commentary- 

Point No. 1-Lina Hidalgo asks what is the bottle neck?  How about the Commissioners Court making it harder for people to get out of jail.  There is a cause and effect for every decision that you make.  The Commissioners Court passed a resolution demanding that the bail bond board enact a new local rule requiring that bondsmen collect a 10% premium before posting certain bonds.  At the time the bondsmen said tht effect of this decision would be to increase the jail population.  Now that this very thing has happened, Lina Hidalgo acts like she has no idea what the ramifications would be of her earlier decision.  Good grief!

Point No. 2- District Attorney Kim Ogg recently testified  before an interim hearing at the Texas Senate Finance Committee.  Ogg recommended that Harris County's new 10% rule be codified state wide.  So Harris County's problems may be visiting the rest of the state.  If you oppose this you should mention it to your elected representative and senator.

Point No. 3-  When the Harris County 10% rule was being considered, bondsmen were asked why do you oppose this rule?  It ensures that you get your money up front.  The response was because it will further exacerbate the jail overcrowding problem and that is not good for the criminal justice system; especially the one in Harris County which is so close to collapse.  The bonding community was brushed aside and their arguments ignored.  No one else (including TPPF or Right on Crime) saw the potential downside of this rule but the bonding community.  Maybe the bonding community is a good resource after all!?!

Point No. 4-  Prediction.  Harris County will blame the unsustainable jail overcrowding on SB6's limitations on the use of PR bonds and demand its repeal.