By Burnet County Judge Donna Klaeger, Chairman, Texas Commission on Jail Standards
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS or Commission) is making some changes that will enable sheriffs, county commissioners courts, jailers, advocacy groups, and others who are interested in Jail Standards to discuss concerns and make comments to specific Jail Standards through workshops that will be conducted the afternoon before each of our quarterly meetings.
The first workshop took place on Nov. 2 with many in attendance. Comments and discussions primarily included the processes and procedures by which the Commission will review Jail Standards in 2012. Our goal is to review the Jail Standards in an open forum to enable discussion and comments. We are set to review ALL Jail Standards in an organized, time-efficient manner by the end of 2012. A standardized form is being prepared, which will be forwarded to stakeholders through listservs and County Progress; this form will be available on our website, http://www.Commission.state.tx.us/.
Acknowledging that Austin is far away from many counties, the Commission began broadcasting our workshop and Commission meetings in November. You can now sit at your desk in your office to view the meetings. They are not interactive; however, after making a comment during our Nov. 3 meeting, I did receive a text message from the office of a representative, stating they were watching and everything was coming through loud and clear! The meetings are also archived to enable you to view at any time at http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audio/capitol-events/
Our workshops will allow the Commission to hear comments, have open discussions on Jail Standards, and to receive input and information so that we will be able to make informed decisions during the review process. There will be no action taken during the workshops.
Some issues will require more information, history, possible legal opinions, and stakeholder input. In those instances, the chairman will appoint a committee of stakeholders to meet as needed to discuss, with the goal to bring a consensus recommendation on the issue back to the Commission. Examples of stakeholders include, but are not limited to: staff, attorneys, Commission members (no quorum, of course!), sheriffs, county judges, county commissioners, advocacy group representatives, etc.
Timelines have been set to review each chapter of Jail Standards (see page?). The deadline to receive comments on Chapters 251-265, Chapter 275, and 289.4, OMIT Chapter 261 (which addresses “grandfathered” facilities), is 5 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2012. Comments received by the deadline will be posted as an attachment to the February 2012 Workshop Agenda to give you an opportunity to review. Agendas are generally posted 10-14 days prior to meetings. The Commission will ADD a review of history, legislation, and legal actions pertaining to the Jail Standards as points of reference prior to posting.
At the Feb. 1, 2012, TCJS Workshop, the comments will be reviewed and discussed in an open forum. Again, the meeting will be broadcasted. Commissioners have also requested that each of our inspectors provide a list of the TOP 5 ISSUES they encounter in their respective regions. The quarterly meeting conducted the next day, Feb. 2, 2012, will provide an opportunity to review and discuss the workshop proceedings, and to take possible action on Jail Standards updates.
Please note that the Commission has included an opportunity to suggest new Jail Standards in July 2012.
The 2012 meeting dates are: February 1 & 2; May 2 & 3; August 1 & 2; October 31 & November 1. Workshops will begin at 2 pm; quarterly meetings begin at 9 am. All meetings will take place at 105 W. 15th Street in Austin at the John H. Regan Building.
Members of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards are looking forward to hearing from you during this review process. Please take this opportunity to visit with your county stakeholders – judges, commissioners court, sheriffs, jailers, bailiffs, etc. – and take the time to offer your comments and suggestions. Communication is key. We have set up a very precise schedule so that you will know well in advance what Jail Standards are up for review. If you have suggestions about the process, please feel free to forward them to TCJS Chairman Donna Klaeger, Burnet County judge, at countyjudge@burnetcountytexas.org. All suggestions will be considered.
Other Commission business addressed at the Nov. 3 TCJS meeting included:
· The Commission voted unanimously to publish Standard 269.1(6), Information on Licensed Jailer Turnover Report in compliance with the mandate of Senate Bill 1687. This amendment requires jails under the Commission’s purview to submit a report on or before the fifth day of each month containing the number of licensed jailers who left employment at the jail during the previous month.
· There was much discussion and many comments received regarding Harris County’s request to continue their variance of 720 inmate beds. Information received heightens the awareness that we all, as counties, are housing “paper ready and blue warrant” state felony inmates, as well as inmates requiring mental health assistance. Harris County provided a comprehensive review of changes in their criminal justice practices which have resulted in a continued decline in inmate populations. A 16 percent reduction has been realized since September 2009. The Commission voted to continue the variance through May 4, 2012, which should provide Harris County time to finalize renovations on facilities.
· Staff reports noted that county jails are collectively operating at 73.22 percent of capacity. On Sept. 1, 2011, one jail was at 100 percent or more of capacity; 37 TDCJ halfway house inmates were housed in county facilities; local facilities were housing 64 out-of-state inmates (New Mexico and Arkansas) in two facilities; and the total number of contract inmates (county, federal, TDCJ and out-of-state) was 10,000.
