Harris County Sheriff’s Office
FILE — A detention officer walks up steps inside the Harris County Jail.
The Harris County Jail was found to be in compliance with state standards during an inspection conducted this week, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the downtown Houston jail.
It’s the first time in longer than a year that the jail was found to be in compliance with all of Texas’ minimum jail standards.
“The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is committed to operating a jail that reflects our community’s belief that every defendant deserves to feel safe while they await their day in court,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a statement.
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The passing inspection follows the county’s persistent failure to comply with state standards — an issue that led to the threat of intervention last year by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards issued a remedial order last year to address several issues of non-compliance in the Harris County Jail.
Texas jails are required to meet 26 compliance standards mandated by the state.
Top law enforcement leaders of non-complying county jails attend the state jail commission meetings in Austin every few months to provide updates on their efforts to get into compliance.
A December inspection of the Harris County Jail — the state’s largest county jail system — found deficiencies with fire control panels and issues with providing timely medical services to inmates.
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The sheriff’s office has recently made investments to address the state’s orders — like pay raises for detention officers and security screening for everyone entering the jail to prevent the introduction of contraband, according to a Thursday news release.
Gonzalez commended Harris County commissioners for rallying around efforts to improve conditions at the jail.
“Maintaining a safe and secure jail environment under challenging circumstances requires constant vigilance and attention to detail,” Gonzalez said. “The detention officers, medical providers, and professional staff who serve in the jail have earned my deep respect and profound gratitude for a job well done.”
Two inmates have died inside the jail this year. Twenty inmates died in the jail’s custody last year, according to the sheriff’s office.