The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) currently lists Brooks County Jail in Texas as a Non-Compliant Jail on the TCJS website. A Notice of Non-Compliance was issued on September 5, 2023. It specifies the minimum jail standards the jail was cited for in a jail inspection report issued on August 30, 2023. TCJS inspectors allege that the Falfurrias, Texas, jail violated 2 minimum jail standards.

The address of Brooks County Jail is 901 County Road 201, Falfurrias, TX 78355. The jail has a housing capacity of 652 detainees. Details on alleged noncompliance follow.

Rule §263.55- Inspections, Maintenance, Testing

Brooks County Jail was found to be non-compliant with the following rule in the chapter on Life Safety Rules, subchapter E. Rule §263.55– Inspections, Maintenance, Testing states: All life safety equipment shall be inspected, maintained, and tested by persons qualified to do so (whether under vendor contract, by state or private agency or otherwise) in order that such equipment shall be safe, secure, and fully operative at all times.

• Inspection of the fire panel revealed that it was “red tagged” on July 28, 2023, indicating that there is a faulty smoke detector in the property storage area, resulting in the system remaining in trouble mode.

Rule §273.5(a)(1)- Training

Brooks County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §273.5(a)(1)- Training, which is in the chapter on Health Services, as follows: Training. Provisions for staff training (including frequency and duration) on the procedures for recognition, supervision, documentation, and handling of inmates who are mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal. Supplemental training should be provided to those staff members responsible for intake screening.

• Jail Administration at Brooks County Jail was unable to produce documentation that staff had received two (2) hours of suicide/mental health training in 2022 or 2023 in accordance with the facility’s operational plan.