Improvements in Montgomery County courts have reduced the number of inmates at the Montgomery County Jail, which was considered at risk of overcrowding in 2014. Overcrowding concerns came to light when the Texas Commission on Jail Standards deemed the jail was at risk of being noncompliant with state standards due to overcrowding in 2014. At the time, the jail occupied about 1,180 beds of its 1,253-bed capacity. According to county statistics, the jail population dropped from 97 percent of capacity in February 2014 to 73 percent in October 2016. Since then, county officials discussed possible options to address capacity concerns at the jail, including the possibility of building a second jail in the county. Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal credits efforts by local felony court judges to increase the efficiency in which criminal cases are managed. “I appreciate what the judges have been doing to help ensure no defendant stays in jail any longer than absolutely necessary," Doyal said. "We have been working to streamline our court system and make it as efficient as possible.” Jail Capt. David Moore said the court’s efforts are having an effect on the jail population. “It seems like the courts are doing their job, putting people through the system,” he said. However, changes to the 410th State District Court that take effect in January will reduce the number of judges hearing local criminal cases, Director of Court Administration Nate Jensen said. “We now have four full-time felony courts in action,” he said. "A fifth court, the 410th State District Court, [also] handles a partial felony caseload, but will no longer be hearing felony cases effective Jan. 1. However, the remaining courts should easily be able to absorb the caseload."