Hays County reports jail crowding; outsourcing this week estimated at $134,045
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Summary
County officials reported a daily jail average of 566, a peak of 578 on Aug. 2, and an estimated $134,045 in outsourcing costs for the week. The county’s maximum capacity is 410 with a practical capacity of roughly 368 when 10% is left open, officials said.
Hays County officials reported this week that jail crowding has required outsourcing inmates to other counties, with an estimated outsourcing cost of $134,045 for the current week.
County staff told the commissioners that the jail’s maximum capacity is 410 inmates and that jail standards recommend keeping about 10% of beds open, effectively lowering practical capacity to roughly 368. The county’s daily average jail population reported was 566 and the peak population reached 578 on Aug. 2. County staff said the average number of outsourced men housed elsewhere was 201 and there were no outsourced females at the time of the report; all outsourced inmates were housed in Haskell County.
Staff also reported there are 60 inmates described as “taper ready” — individuals who have completed local processing, been convicted and are awaiting placement as state inmates — and said the county hopes to secure state reimbursement for those cases because they reflect state, not county, responsibility.
The report was delivered as part of agenda item N1 and preceded the court’s executive-session items. No immediate vote followed the informational update.