What happened
At a July 15 commissioners court meeting, Zitzmann said the jail is operating at 97.9% capacity, housing 1,289 inmates. According to the presentation, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards requirement is operating at 90% capacity. The county applied for and was granted a one-year variance from that requirement, which expires in March, he said.
“We have to go every year to receive that variance,” Zitzmann said. “It's not guaranteed year to year, but at the rate we're going, we're hoping to have it for a couple more years.”
Currently, the county is estimated to spend over $1 million annually to house inmates in Waller County, according to the presentation.
Zitzmann said there are ongoing plumbing issues, increasing maintenance costs and makeshift workspace arrangements inside the facility.
“We’ve repurposed every available space,” Zitzmann said. “This isn’t just about four walls and a roof, it's about safety control and our moral responsibility to those in our custody and those who serve inside our facility every day.”
Zitzmann said the county would need over 2,350 beds by 2040 based on population growth.
“We’re not just talking about inmates. They’re going to be our neighbors and our coworkers when they’re released,” Zitzmann said. “How we treat people in jail is how they will treat others when they get out.”
By the numbers
Zitzmann said:
- The jail is housing 1,289 inmates with 1,317 beds
- Roughly 70% of inmates are pretrial detainees
- Over 90% will eventually return to the community
- The county will need over 2,350 beds by 2040
- Maintenance costs are pushing $1 million annually, which is a projected doubling from last year
- 30 inmates are currently housed in Waller County, costing more than $1 million per year
New jail facility
- 20-30 year solution
- Cost: $350 million
- 2,300 beds
- Five-year planning and construction timeline
- 5-10 year solution
- Cost: $60 million
- 2,500 beds
- Limited expansion potential
Commissioner Charlie Riley was appointed as liaison for the planning effort. A consulting firm will be hired to analyze best practices and guide the county through both options using existing budget funds. The study will take 90 days and focus on the cost, location and projected needs, Zitzmann said.
The consultant will work with the county purchasing department, the sheriff’s office and the county attorney on the study, which will be funded by the sheriff’s existing budget.
