MoMo
08-05-2005, 03:19 PM
Aug. 4, 2005, 11:50PM
Revised numbers show jail crowding is worse
'Computer error' missed 400-600 more Harris County inmates, state says
By POLLY ROSS HUGHES
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - Overcrowding in the Harris County Jail is considerably worse than numbers cited in June indicated, a state jail standards official said Thursday.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards had found the jail in noncompliance last June, estimating that overcrowding had left nearly 1,300 inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor.
Actually, the number sleeping on mattresses at the time of the report was closer to 1,700 to 1,900, said Terry Julian, executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Julian blamed the discrepancy on a "computer error."
"I was shocked. The situation was much worse than it appeared. Somehow this number never came out even after the initial error. I find that a little disconcerting," said Bill Medaille of the American Civil Liberties Union's prison and jail accountability project.
The Harris County Commissioners Court is expected to approve nearly $1.5 million next week for staff to open more space and ease overcrowding in the county jail, county officials told the state regulators.
Sheriff Tommy Thomas said he's asking county commissioners Tuesday for $700,000 to fund jobs for 60 new detention officers through the end of the budget year in March.
He said he's also seeking $750,000 in overtime pay between now and the end of September, although ongoing overtime needs are likely to run into the millions.
With more jailers on hand, the county will be able to open up more space for the burgeoning jail population, which a state official said is growing at a rate of 100 per month.
Doug Adkinson, deputy chief of staff for County Judge Robert Eckels, told Julian that county commissioners are expected to approve the funding.
It represents a first step in attacking the jail's overcrowding. County officials are also working on a more comprehensive long-term plan that they earlier said could cost as much as $8 million. The Commissioners Court is expected to take up longer-term solutions in mid-September.
Other options under consideration include pressing the state to pick up inmates detained for Texas prisons more quickly, sending fewer people to jail for technical parole violations and diverting more low-level offenders to probation.
"This is a big ship, and you can't turn it real quick. It may be like the Titanic. Hopefully, there's no icebergs out there that's going to sink you," Julian told county commissioners at the jail standards meeting.
Julian expanded his Titanic analogy in a later interview, saying that with a jail population of 9,100 inmates, it will take Harris County longer to get back into compliance than it will for other counties.
"Part of the problem is they're taking in more inmates than they're letting out. It's like the gaping hole in the side. They just started bailing the water from the Titanic a little late," he said.
Chief Deputy Mike Smith, who oversees the jail, said the crowding could ease if the county can find a way to slow the intake.
Also, officials cited the addition of nearly 1,000 inmates convicted of state jail felonies who are serving their time in the county jail.
"Harris County is growing, so long term we'll have more people. We do feel like the intake has taken significant growth this year, and everybody's scrambling," Smith said.
Late last week, officials said that about 740 inmates had been moved from mattresses on the floor to bunks. Yet, based on the revised numbers cited by Julian, that still leaves roughly 1,000 without adequate sleeping arrangements.
The ACLU's Medaille said he was surprised the Jail Standards Commission is urging jail officials in Galveston to move faster to ease overcrowding in their jail, while taking a more patient attitude with Harris County.
"It seems to be the biggest issue on their plate and they didn't demand speedy action," he said. "I thought it was just odd. They weren't exactly subservient to the Harris County jail, but they weren't tough in any way."
polly.hughes@chron.com (polly.hughes@chron.com)
Revised numbers show jail crowding is worse
'Computer error' missed 400-600 more Harris County inmates, state says
By POLLY ROSS HUGHES
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN - Overcrowding in the Harris County Jail is considerably worse than numbers cited in June indicated, a state jail standards official said Thursday.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards had found the jail in noncompliance last June, estimating that overcrowding had left nearly 1,300 inmates sleeping on mattresses on the floor.
Actually, the number sleeping on mattresses at the time of the report was closer to 1,700 to 1,900, said Terry Julian, executive director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Julian blamed the discrepancy on a "computer error."
"I was shocked. The situation was much worse than it appeared. Somehow this number never came out even after the initial error. I find that a little disconcerting," said Bill Medaille of the American Civil Liberties Union's prison and jail accountability project.
The Harris County Commissioners Court is expected to approve nearly $1.5 million next week for staff to open more space and ease overcrowding in the county jail, county officials told the state regulators.
Sheriff Tommy Thomas said he's asking county commissioners Tuesday for $700,000 to fund jobs for 60 new detention officers through the end of the budget year in March.
He said he's also seeking $750,000 in overtime pay between now and the end of September, although ongoing overtime needs are likely to run into the millions.
With more jailers on hand, the county will be able to open up more space for the burgeoning jail population, which a state official said is growing at a rate of 100 per month.
Doug Adkinson, deputy chief of staff for County Judge Robert Eckels, told Julian that county commissioners are expected to approve the funding.
It represents a first step in attacking the jail's overcrowding. County officials are also working on a more comprehensive long-term plan that they earlier said could cost as much as $8 million. The Commissioners Court is expected to take up longer-term solutions in mid-September.
Other options under consideration include pressing the state to pick up inmates detained for Texas prisons more quickly, sending fewer people to jail for technical parole violations and diverting more low-level offenders to probation.
"This is a big ship, and you can't turn it real quick. It may be like the Titanic. Hopefully, there's no icebergs out there that's going to sink you," Julian told county commissioners at the jail standards meeting.
Julian expanded his Titanic analogy in a later interview, saying that with a jail population of 9,100 inmates, it will take Harris County longer to get back into compliance than it will for other counties.
"Part of the problem is they're taking in more inmates than they're letting out. It's like the gaping hole in the side. They just started bailing the water from the Titanic a little late," he said.
Chief Deputy Mike Smith, who oversees the jail, said the crowding could ease if the county can find a way to slow the intake.
Also, officials cited the addition of nearly 1,000 inmates convicted of state jail felonies who are serving their time in the county jail.
"Harris County is growing, so long term we'll have more people. We do feel like the intake has taken significant growth this year, and everybody's scrambling," Smith said.
Late last week, officials said that about 740 inmates had been moved from mattresses on the floor to bunks. Yet, based on the revised numbers cited by Julian, that still leaves roughly 1,000 without adequate sleeping arrangements.
The ACLU's Medaille said he was surprised the Jail Standards Commission is urging jail officials in Galveston to move faster to ease overcrowding in their jail, while taking a more patient attitude with Harris County.
"It seems to be the biggest issue on their plate and they didn't demand speedy action," he said. "I thought it was just odd. They weren't exactly subservient to the Harris County jail, but they weren't tough in any way."
polly.hughes@chron.com (polly.hughes@chron.com)