Texas County Progress
The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas
Kelly Rowe learned a valuable lesson his first day on the job in the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Department back in 1999. “When I first walked into the old Lubbock County Jail, which was built in 1931, I made a lot of notes to self,” recalled Rowe. “One of those notes was to tour the jail before accepting my next job. I accepted this job, and then I toured the jail. I walked … [Read more...] about Time and Attention
Reimbursement Procedure in Place for Qualifying Counties Approximately $1 million appropriated to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (Commission) is now available to reimburse counties for the installation of electronic cell sensors or cameras in high risk cell areas in jails with 96 beds or less. Senate Bill 1849, known as The Sandra Bland Act, was passed by the Texas … [Read more...] about Sandra Bland Act Sensor Camera Mandate
Years ago, County Progress published a special series of articles to help acclimate new officials to Commissioners Court: County Focus. This set of descriptive writings authored by experts in the field covers the varied offices and departments that make up county government. What are the responsibilities of the Commissioners Court? How about the county treasurer? Who is in … [Read more...] about County Focus Series: County Sheriff
Slowly but surely, the state of Texas is trying to turn a complicated, costly, and often heartbreaking saga into a coordinated, comprehensive service delivery system – and counties are right in the thick of it. Anywhere from 16 percent to 20 percent of offenders in the Texas criminal justice system have a mental health diagnosis, said Leon Evans, director of the Center for … [Read more...] about Jail Diversion Programs Target Offenders With Mental Illness
Article 5, section 23 of the Texas Constitution provides that “There shall be elected by the qualified voters of each county a Sheriff, who shall hold his office for the term of four years, whose duties, qualifications, prerequisites, and fees of office, shall be prescribed by the Legislature, and vacancies in whose office shall be filled by the Commissioners Court until … [Read more...] about Office of the County Sheriff
