Lavaca County sheriff reports 100-day crackdown, rising jail population and long jail stays

Sheriff Stephen Greenwell told the Lavaca County Commissioners Court on April 14 that his office’s first 100 days in office have focused on traffic enforcement, drug investigations and reducing serious criminal activity.

The sheriff said, “For the last 100 days, the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office patrol deputies have made 620 traffic stops. Those vehicle stops resulted in 7 arrests for various violations of criminal law. 3 were for misdemeanors and 4 were for felonies.” He also told the court that one stop led to the seizure of 2.2 pounds of methamphetamine and a federal referral to Homeland Security Investigations.

The report laid out broader enforcement numbers: Greenwell said the sheriff’s office executed seven search warrants in county drug investigations, arrested eight people on felony drug charges from those warrants, and that combined with other arrests raised the 100‑day total to 25 criminal arrests, “Most of these arrests were felony drug convictions.”

Why it matters: the sheriff tied these enforcement actions to public‑safety priorities—he said focusing on traffic enforcement helps disrupt more serious criminal conduct—and described cross‑jurisdictional work with U.S. Attorney’s Office, ICE, HSI and the Operation Lone Star task force to pursue traffickers.

Jail population and length of stay

Greenwell told the court the county’s maximum jail capacity is 48 beds. “For the last 100 days our average daily population, our ADL, has been 38 inmates. As of this morning our population is at 41,” he said, adding that 31 of those 41 were arrested or convicted of felony‑level crimes. He said seven of those were awaiting transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

The sheriff said the average length of stay (ALS) in the Lavaca County Jail for the 100‑day period was about 120 days, far above the 12–16 day industry benchmark he cited. He explained the elevated ALS with two primary factors: several inmates had been sentenced to TDCJ but remained in the county jail for long periods before his administration required transfer, and a small number of defendants had been detained locally for many months or years awaiting state disposition. He said transfers to TDCJ are “at least a 45 day process” and that recent transfers of long‑held inmates should reduce the ALS over time.

Greenwell also raised mental‑health transports as a driver of jail workload and costs. He said the sheriff’s office conducted at least 16 mental‑health transports covering roughly 2,300 roadway miles during the period, and called mental‑health demand “an issue that needs to be and must be addressed.”

Costs and overflow housing

The sheriff presented housing cost figures and overflow arrangements. He said Lavaca County pays Calhoun County about $55 per day per inmate when using Calhoun as overflow; Calhoun is roughly 75 miles away by road. For the roughly three months of the sheriff’s tenure covered by the report he estimated Lavaca County paid about $17,000 to Calhoun for overflow housing, not including transportation staff time and vehicle costs.

Dispatch, courtroom security and bailiffs

Greenwell briefed the court that dispatch is fully staffed with eight dispatchers plus a supervisor and that morale and equipment upgrades (chairs, monitors, new computers) are under way. On courtroom security, the sheriff said the office adopted a model used by neighboring counties to provide dedicated courthouse security and that Sergeant Raul Diaz leads that effort as bailiff supervisor.

He also described a plan to supplement courthouse security with part‑time bailiffs funded from the court security fund and said that several constables currently provide part‑time bailiff services. Greenwell said the model saves money versus using full‑time deputies for all courtroom security needs and helps align deputies to duties they are trained for.

What the court raised

Commissioners noted jail capacity constraints and the expense of overflow housing, with one commissioner observing the 48‑bed facility fills quickly because it houses both men and women and therefore must separate populations. County Attorney James Reeves was referenced as coordinating on prosecutions and transfers; the sheriff said he intends to work closely with Reeves’ office to push cases efficiently.

Ending

The sheriff closed by saying he and his command staff are drafting solutions to identified problems and will present recommendations to the court in future meetings. He thanked court members and staff for support during his first 100 days and for condolences paid to his family.