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Hays jail passes its inspection

Public Safety
Friday, October 26, 2018

The Hays County Jail received a positive report following its most recent inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), which occurred Oct. 9-10.

The report found “no deficiencies,” and noted that the facility had experienced no fires, deaths, suicides or escapes since its last inspection Oct. 23-24, 2017.

“I congratulate every one of you for jobs well done,” Sheriff Gary Cutler commented to staff after the results of the unannounced inspection were known. 

Two inspectors visited the jail, which was built in 1989, renovated in 2001 and is currently in the process of expanding. AT the time of the visit the jail, with a maximum capacity of 362, was housing 314 inmates, including 73 females. 

The report also noted the number and location of outsourced inmates at the time of the inspection. Two were in Guadalupe County, none in Caldwell County (the most recent county with which Hays signed an outsourcing agreement), 8 were in Blanco County, 13 were in Bell County, 33 were in Burnet County and a whopping 216 more than 130 miles away in McLellan County.

Though no deficiencies were found, inspectors did make three recommendations about future procedures and two observations that were corrected while they were still on site.

The first recommendation concerned overcrowding. “The administration is concerned that even though they are adding additional beds to the jail, there is a strong possibility that they will have to continue housing inmates out of county due to the steady increase in the inmate population,” the report noted. The second recommendation dealt with verbiage on suicide prevention training. “The Operation Plans state that ‘training will be conducted  on an ongoing basis.’ The lead inspector recommended changes be made to the verbiage of the plan to reflect that training will be conducted on an annual basis.” Jail staff was told to have that done by the end of this month.

The third recommendation concerned jailer certification records. “While reviewing 15 inmate face-to-face observation sheets, it was observed that the times were pre-printed on each of the forms. The inspection team recommended that the administration immediately stop the use of that form and to implement a form that the officers writes in the time of each face-to-face observation,” noting the lead inspector would follow up on that within 39 to 90 days. “While on site, the lead inspector provided technical assistance in the area of face-to-face observations to ensure that all jail officers understand the proper way to conduct an observation and the importance of proper documentation.”

Inspectors also made note of “ceiling fans in several areas” that were “covered in dust” and “multiple inmate cells with low water pressure.”

In a press release, the Sheriff’s Office said that inspector Jennifer Shumake “commended the Sheriff’s Office as a whole for doing an excellent job in regulatory compliance; especially in the maintenance of an aging jail facility that operates consistently at full capacity,” and went on to also say that Shumake “made congratulatory comments about the cleanliness of our entire facility; especially our jail laundry.”

The report said both those issues were corrected “on site,” with “no follow-up needed.”

Jail expansion, funded by a 2016 bond election, is expected to be completed in 2020.

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666