Jail numbers spike again, report says

The county jail’s spending on inmate outsourcing is back up to where it was about five weeks ago, according to the weekly report from the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

The report, which County Judge Ruben Becerra reads aloud in commissioners court each week, stated that for the week of March 24-29, the county jail’s average daily population was 506, with a peak of 519. The daily average of outsourced male inmates for that week was 160, and the daily average of outsourced female inmates was four. Those inmates were sent to facilities in Burnet, Caldwell, McLennan and Limestone counties at a cost of $55,810.

On Wednesday, the day after the commissioners court meeting, Becerra’s criminal justice task force held its first meeting in the commissioners courtroom. The task force is working to make the county’s criminal justice system more efficient, in terms of money, time and energy, by recommending policies and practices to “improve public safety, efficiency, accountability and equity,” the judge posted on his Facebook page. Among the task force’s goals are improvements to the county’s criminal justice system based on research and evidence to reduce recidivism. Anyone interested in joining a committee can email Becerra’s office at judge.becerra@co.hays.tx.us.