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Families and residents press Tarrant County commissioners for accountability after jail deaths; oppose privatization of jail management
Summary
Multiple family members and residents used public comment on March 18 to urge action after recent jail deaths, oppose rebidding an RFP for jail management services, and call for updates on mental-health facility planning and accountability for the sheriff’s office.
Several family members of people who died in Tarrant County jails and other residents used the commission's public-comment period on March 18, 2025, to demand accountability, criticize the sheriff’s office, and oppose a proposed rebid of a jail-management contract.
Anthony Johnson Sr., who said he was speaking about last week’s agenda item that rejected all proposals for an annual contract for jail management services, told the court the initial RFP represented a “major change” in the sheriff’s responsibilities and warned against privatizing jail management. Johnson referenced the private company MTC and a prior failure in Garza County, saying the private provider “did not meet state standards” and that contracting for profit would not improve conditions.
Multiple speakers described family members who died in county custody and called for action beyond verbal statements. Janelle Johnson said her son, Anthony Ray Johnson Jr., suffered mental illness and that she believes jail staff “murdered my son.” Jacqueline Johnson told the court it was “crazy” that deaths were not on the agenda and urged commissioners to act before more families are harmed. Carla Paul Morris asked for updates on a county mental-health facility and said the deaths are on the commission’s hands until officials take accountability.
Other commenters urged legislative and prosecutorial attention. Joe Palmer cited pending state legislation by name as possible steps — he referenced “Representative Lowe, House Bill 52 50 and, Chair Collier House Bill 38 41” as measures he said would address jail deaths — and encouraged commissioners to press for hearings at the Capitol.
Speakers repeatedly criticized the sheriff’s office, said reporting about jail deaths had been inconsistent, and asked for routine briefings and transparency. Several asked the court to refuse privatization proposals and to pursue reforms to prevent future deaths.
The court did not take formal action on these public comments during the meeting. Commissioners listened to the speakers and the record shows requests for briefings and questions from commissioners about particular incidents, but no vote or directive adopting a new county policy was recorded during this session.
Speakers who addressed the issue included family members of deceased persons, community members and advocates who urged the court to pursue accountability, transparency and changes to jail oversight.
