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Sheriff: 603 inmates as county weighs costly out‑of‑county housing
Summary
Potter County Sheriff reported 603 people in the detention center and urged commissioners to consider a short‑term contract with a private facility (example price $98.50 per inmate) to relieve overcrowding; commissioners asked for a posted contract and scheduled follow‑up consideration.
Potter County’s detention center is operating far above the capacity target sheriff’s staff outlined on July 27, the sheriff told commissioners, noting the jail held 603 people that morning and reporting recent increases tied in part to a multi‑agency enforcement initiative.
“This morning, we had a total of 603 people in our jail,” the sheriff said, and described the inmate mix (94 females, multiple out‑of‑county placements). He presented a contract option with a private facility that would guarantee up to 50 beds at about $98.50 per person and said a six‑month block would provide breathing room through the busy summer period. The sheriff warned that failing inspection thresholds for overcrowding could reduce the facility’s rated capacity and stressed the operational urgency of temporary housing.
County staff and the auditor warned commissioners about the fiscal consequences: the estimated six‑month cost for a 50‑bed block would be material and likely drawn from fund balance if no other revenue is available. The county prosecutor described a related legal change (Article 11d of the Texas Constitution) that has increased pretrial detention in enumerated serious felony cases and is contributing to rising populations; the prosecutor said the law’s public‑safety results are real but the cost is significant. Commissioners asked staff to post a contract for formal consideration and to return with more detailed cost scenarios and a recommended funding approach.
