Nueces County Jail Noncompliance with Jail Standards Continued

The inspector’s comments about the citation for noncompliance with Rule §259.138(3)-Holding Cells-Cell Size follow:

• On the dates of inspection, there were multiple holding cells with more detainees being confined than the authorized capacity posted outside the doors of the cells. A discussion of the matter with the Nueces Jail Administration in Corpus Christi, Texas, revealed that they have periodically had to deal with overpopulation issues since May 22 but had never conveyed this information to their inspector or anyone at the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) until the arrival of the inspector for the yearly inspection.

Rule §275.1- Regular Observation by Jailers. This minimum jail standard is in the chapter entitled Supervision of Inmates. The Nueces County Jail was cited regarding the specification that a capability of two-way communication between inmates and jailers, bailiffs, licensed peace officers, and designated staff must be maintained at all times.

• The inspector with TCJS notes that 39 inmate beds are out of commission because of broken intercoms and stated that the issue directly relates to overcrowding issues in the intake area.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, and Part 13 of this ongoing series.

With the goal of providing helpful resources to local Texas inmates held in county and municipal jails, this website was established. It is never an intention to imply that wrongs have occurred on the part of organizations or persons.

–Guest Contributor