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Commissioners approve six‑month agreement to house 36 Polk County inmates in Angelina County
Summary
To address local staffing shortages and inmates housed out of state, the court approved a six‑month agreement to reserve 36 beds in Angelina County at $75 per inmate per day (estimated $486,000) and allocated $20,000 for a study on remodeling local jail capacity.
The Polk County Commissioner’s Court on Jan. 27 approved the sheriff’s request to reserve 36 inmate beds in Angelina County for a 180‑day term at $75 per inmate per day, a measure the sheriff said would help bring inmates back from out‑of‑state placements while the county works to increase jail staffing.
In the presentation Sheriff (unnamed in the transcript) said the $75 daily rate is about $15 more than the amount the county pays in Louisiana but could reduce mileage, wear and tear and overtime by shortening transport distances. The sheriff said local staffing — roughly 13 officers on duty at the time of the meeting — is the limiting factor for bringing all inmates home; the six‑month term was chosen to provide time to recruit and to evaluate remodel options for local beds.
The sheriff said the county has considered adding 200–250 beds or remodeling the older facility; court members directed staff to conduct a study with a $20,000 allocation to evaluate remodel costs and feasibility. The sheriff cautioned that older buildings require extensive upgrades to meet jail commission and ADA standards and warned that remodeling estimates can change once work begins.
A motion to approve the six‑month inmate housing agreement was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote. Court discussion reiterated support for bringing inmates closer to Polk County, subject to staffing and facility‑upgrade considerations.
