Full Notification

Dec. 4, 2020 – The Texas Commission on Jail Standards this week conducted an unannounced inspection of the Harris County Jail.

The weeklong inspection included 23 areas of review, including the admission and release process, health services, supervision, discipline, exercise, education, commissary, and visitation.

Inspectors determined that the jail, which houses more than 8,700 people, was in compliance in 22 of 23 areas of review. The jail did not meet the compliance standard that requires staff to consistently perform visual checks on people in the jail within the required time. Texas jails must earn passing grades in all areas of review in order to be in compliance with state standards.
The Sheriff’s Office has 30 days to file a corrective action plan with the state.

The jail inspection team highlighted several positive findings, including:
• A kitchen operation that they described as “very clean and organized.”
• A laundry operation that is “above standard.”
• A fire and life safety team that is “immaculate.”
• Recreation practices that are well documented.
• On the overall cleanliness of the jail, inspectors said: “This is a very clean facility. That is a very impressive feat. You’re doing a great job.”
• On the overall professionalism of the employees working in the jail, inspectors said: “Overall, they’re doing a really good job. They’re stepping up and they’re doing the job and we appreciate it.”
• Inspectors said they received positive feedback from people being held in the jail: “Kudos to the staff for that, for making sure inmates are taken care of.”
In addition, the Sheriff’s Office has managed to prevent a large-scale health crisis within the state’s largest county jail during the ongoing pandemic.

“Our detention officers, medical team, and jail support staff have performed their duties admirably throughout this pandemic. Their courage and dedication to ensuring the care of the people housed in our jail is admirable,” said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. “We are committed to meeting every single standard for jail compliance and we will work even harder to fix each issue identified by the inspectors.”