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Freestone County officials weigh short-term fixes as jail capacity strains system
Summary
County officials discussed overcrowding at the Freestone County jail, delays in transferring inmates to Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities, and possible short- and medium-term responses including contracting with nearby counties, overtime for staff and billing process changes.
Freestone County officials spent a substantial portion of a commissioners meeting discussing jail overcrowding, transport delays to Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDC) facilities and short-term options for freeing beds.
County officials said the jail held 39 inmates the morning of the meeting and that roughly 17 inmates were housed outside the county. Participants identified several drivers of the backlog: increased arrests on highways that run through the county, TDC intake and billing logistics, medical holds that pause transfer-day counts, attorneys’ scheduling and attendance, and limited local bed configurations that complicate housing.
Why it matters: officials said the county is already turning away or sending inmates out of county at times, which raises costs and creates operational burdens. Building a new jail was discussed as a long-term option but estimated to take four to five years from ballot…
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