The Dallas County jail has been the source of increased scrutiny over recent years due to several high-profile issues that rocked the system, fueling speculation that the federal government may step in and seize control.
For example, last year, the FBI investigated over $600,000 of missing money from inmates’ commissary accounts. In July 2022, a sheriff’s office supervisor pleaded guilty to stealing at least $250,000 of the missing funds over three years.
Since the COVID pandemic in 2020, health conditions have been criticized, with inmates allegedly being refused medical treatment.
In February of this year, an inmate died after state standards were allegedly not followed. Delays in updating the camera systems and the lack of a sufficient workforce were cited as reasons why standards were purportedly not followed.
Furthermore, as The Dallas Express previously reported in-depth, the jail has faced a severe shortage of employees (see Part 1 and Part 2).
The staffing problems have reportedly crippled the jail’s ability to provide sufficient monitoring, and existing employees must work large amounts of mandated overtime. State regulations require that there must be one detention officer per every 48 inmates.
When staff members are on leave due to illness or quit altogether, the burden falls upon the remaining employees to maintain the necessary ratio, forcing them to work long days repeatedly, sometimes up to 16 hours.
Employees, including former Detention Officer Emmanuel Lewis, have publicly protested against this and have been joined by former inmates such as Carl Daniels.
Daniels explained, “Back-to-back double shifts [are] not good for anybody. You get fatigued. You get tired. You get cranky.”
Additionally, over 400 inmates mentally “incompetent to stand trial” have waited well over 100 days, and in some cases over two years, to be admitted to state psychiatric institutions. When the inmate remains in prison awaiting trial for longer than the maximum sentence for the charged crime, they are released.
Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot explained, “They just take them to the door and let them out. … They may or may not have gotten case management or medication they need.”
Additionally, hundreds of inmates are waiting extended amounts of time for trial, leading to a pressing backlog of cases and putting further strain on the system. The backup is costing Dallas taxpayers an estimated $3 million a month.
Over the last two years, the jail failed two inspections conducted by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for problems such as insufficient inmate observation, inoperable doors, improper laundry procedures, and the presence of synthetic marijuana. In June, however, the jail successfully passed a new inspection.
Nevertheless, recent national events have caused increased concern. Late last month, federal officials assumed control over a county jail in Mississippi in response to ongoing issues similar to those experienced in the Dallas County Jail.
U.S. Southern District of Mississippi Judge Carlton Reeves issued an order explaining, “After ample time and opportunity, regretfully, it is clear that the county is incapable, or unwilling, to handle its affairs. … Additional intervention is required.”
As the issues plaguing the Dallas County jail continue, something similar could happen if county officials do not resolve the ongoing problems.
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