Commissioners approve electronic inmate-check system for county jail; first-year cost covered by commissary funds

Lavaca County Commissioners Court approved a contract May 27 with Guardian RFID to install an electronic inmate check system at the county jail, a move county officials said will increase record accuracy, officer safety and regulatory compliance.

The county’s jail leadership, including the jail administrator, presented the system as a replacement for manual logbooks and head-count records that are vulnerable to error and delay. The handheld system records officer ID, time and location for checks, can generate real-time alerts when required checks are missed, and includes panic/duress features for officer safety.

Funding and contract terms: County representatives said start-up costs for the first year will be paid from inmate commissary funds so the initial purchase will not require general-fund dollars. The recorded first-year cost in the presentation was $4,294.70, with subsequent annual costs noted at $3,995 per year if the court elects to continue. The court approved a one-year agreement with a 60-day termination window to allow local evaluation before committing to a longer-term arrangement; after successful evaluation, the vendor proposed a five-year term at the stated renewal price.

Court action: The motion to approve the contract was made and seconded on the record; the court voted to approve the procurement. County staff said they worked with the auditor and county attorney during vendor selection and recommended the product as the best available option.

Ending: Installation and a one-year evaluation period will proceed. Staff will report back on system performance and whether the county should continue under the proposed five-year term.