Falls County, Texas Jail is Still Non-Compliant in 2025
The Falls County Jail in Texas has been grappling with persistent noncompliance issues, as evidenced by multiple reports from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) over the past year. These reports highlight a range of deficiencies, many of which have been recurrent despite previous citations.
December 2024 Noncompliance Report
In December 2024, the TCJS issued a notice detailing several violations at the Falls County Jail. Key findings included:
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Inadequate Classification Audits: The jail administration failed to provide a current annual classification audit, a deficiency also noted during the March 2024 inspection.
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Medication Distribution Failures: Medication Administration Records for December did not demonstrate that medications were dispensed according to physicians’ written instructions.
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Insufficient Staff Training: The administration could not furnish training documentation for new staff and provided only one hour of training for existing staff, repeating a deficiency from March 2024.
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Incomplete Inmate Screening Forms: A review of ten inmate medical files revealed that four screening forms were incomplete, missing critical information such as dates, times, and comments for affirmative answers.
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Delayed Mental Health Notifications: Staff did not notify magistrates within the required 12-hour window when inmates exhibited signs of mental disabilities or suicidal tendencies, as mandated by law.
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Irregular Observation Checks: Observation checks in holding cells and areas housing potentially suicidal or mentally ill inmates were conducted at one-hour intervals instead of the required 30-minute intervals.
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Unlicensed Personnel: Some staff members operated without valid Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) jailer licenses, with instances of expired licenses and unlicensed individuals performing jailer duties.
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Unsanctioned Food Preparation: Inmates were observed preparing food in the kitchen without supervision from a staff member or contract employee, contravening established protocols.
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Neglected Inmate Grievances: The jail’s grievance system was ineffective, with grievances not receiving interim responses within 15 days and investigations not concluded within 60 days.
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Lack of Physical Exercise: Documentation indicated that inmates were not provided with the mandated one hour of supervised physical exercise at least three days per week.
These issues are comprehensively detailed in the TCJS’s December 2024 Noncompliance Report.
October 2024 Noncompliance Report
Earlier, in October 2024, the TCJS identified additional violations, notably:
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Staffing Shortages: On October 11, 2024, the jail did not meet the required 1:48 jailer-to-inmate ratio, operating with only one jailer overseeing 56 inmates.
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Unlicensed Personnel in Control Rooms: Personnel without TCOLE jailer licenses were assigned to dispatch/control rooms and supervisory roles within the jail.
These findings are outlined in the TCJS’s October 2024 Noncompliance Report.
March 2024 Noncompliance Report
The March 2024 inspection revealed 14 distinct issues, many of which resurfaced in subsequent reports. These included outdated facility infrastructure inspections, delayed routine observation checks, and inadequate mental health training for staff. The full details are available in the March 2024 Noncompliance Report.
Administrative Response and Future Plans
In response to these ongoing issues, Falls County Sheriff Joe Lopez expressed disappointment with the jail’s performance but emphasized proactive measures to address the deficiencies. He highlighted that many problems stem from understaffing due to lower pay compared to surrounding counties and mentioned efforts to secure state-funded grants to improve employee compensation and recruitment.
Additionally, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards has included Falls County in its agenda for remedial orders, indicating a continued focus on bringing the facility into compliance.
The persistent noncompliance of the Falls County Jail underscores the critical need for systemic reforms, enhanced training, and adequate staffing to ensure the safety and well-being of both inmates and staff.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone