Brazos County juvenile services asks commissioners for $412,000 fence after November escape

Linda, executive director of Juvenile Services, told the Brazos County Commissioners Court that she is requesting funding for a perimeter fence around a new addition to the county juvenile detention facility after a youth escaped the day after Thanksgiving 2024. "Had we had a fence, I think that that would have kept him from actually getting out into the community," Linda said, asking the court to approve a $412,000 capital project to enclose the facility. The request covers fencing that follows a red-line perimeter shown to commissioners and would run from the Texas Avenue side near the facility's academy program around the rear toward employee parking. Linda said the fence is intended to secure required fire-door egress points and the facility's outdoor recreation area, where family members can currently approach the rec area from outside the property. The issue arose after the November escape, which Linda described as a "perfect storm": an outside contractor on the roof, an exposed area missing razor wire and an open gate that allowed the youth to exit. "We had to add more razor wire," she said, adding that the department has already increased wire in vulnerable spots. A commissioner asked whether detention facility standards require specific fencing and razor wire; a county official replied that the project specifications would include the type of fencing commonly used around detention facilities, including razor wire, because youths will attempt to climb barriers. The court did not take a vote on the request during the session. Commissioner Nettles inspected the site with staff before the presentation, Linda said, and urged prompt action. No formal motion or appropriation was made during the workshop; Linda said the department had discussed additional security measures with the sheriff's office and facilities staff but presented the fence as the immediate capital need. If funded, the project would aim to reduce liability from future escapes and to secure staff and juveniles by preventing unauthorized public access to the recreation area and other exterior doors. No timeline or funding source was specified during the discussion.