Julian Retires From Jail Commission

Once a county judge, always a county judge.
Whenever Terry Julian took the podium at CJCAT educational conferences, he was always introduced as Judge Julian, having served six years as Nolan County judge before going to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS).
Julian retired from the TCJS Aug. 31 after serving six years as executive director and 10 years as a West Texas jail inspector. He is now a consultant for Burns and Gill Architects, of Fort Worth, advising counties on jail-related needs.
“Being the county judge gave me an insight into the partnership between the county commissioners court and the sheriff’s department,” Julian said. “The commissioners court funds the jail, and the sheriff has to run it,” he continued.
During his 16-plus years with the TCJS, Julian said he witnessed a greater connectivity and improved relationship between many commissioners courts and sheriff’s departments “because the commissioners court is understanding more and more their liability.”
“As part of their understanding, the court knows they have to fund the operation of the jail within the law,” Julian explained.
However, the most significant and far-reaching change Julian observed over his tenure was the increase in the number of overall county jail beds, along with the increase, percentage wise, of the number of female inmates.
“That’s adding to the incarceration needs of counties because they (males and females) have to be separated by sight and sound,” he said. The inspectors are responding to these changes, doing a “good job of getting the message out and working with the counties on a daily basis.”
Julian said while at the Commission his county counterparts were like family, and he is pleased that his new position as a jail consultant with Burns and Gill will afford him continued contact with commissioners courts across Texas.
“We are extremely pleased and excited that Mr. Julian has chosen to join our firm,” said Kenny Burns, president of Burns and Gill. “He has so much jail-related experience.”
Julian said he will represent Burns and Gill as an exhibitor at educational conferences.