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Hays County reports daily jail population above capacity; county outsourcing costs exceed six figures
Summary
Court heard that the county jail’s daily average population was 530 (peak 537) against a rated maximum of 410; the sheriff's office estimated outsourcing costs Monday at about $132,145 with roughly 200 male inmates currently housed outside the county.
Hays County officials reported the county jail’s population and related outsourcing costs during the June 10 meeting.
Court materials noted a rated maximum jail capacity of 410 inmates; the county’s internal guideline — holding roughly 10% capacity in reserve for operational flexibility — reduces practical capacity to about 368. County staff reported a daily average population of 530 and a peak of 537 on June 5. Because the population substantially exceeded capacity, the sheriff’s office had been arranging off‑site housing; the estimate presented to the court for outsourced housing this week was $132,145. The sheriff’s office reported approximately 200 male inmates were being held out of county (Haskell County cited at the meeting), with zero females outsourced at that time.
Court staff also noted 31 “paper‑ready” inmates — people for whom state transfer paperwork is complete and who are awaiting placement in state custody. Commissioners used the report as context for broader discussions about jail capacity, detainee costs and long‑term planning; no formal action was taken at the June 10 session on that item.
Judge Becerra read the county jail report and commissioners discussed policy options in executive session later in the meeting; the public session summarized counts and outsourcing costs for transparency.
