Zavala County, Texas Jail Fails Inspection – Listed as Non-Compliant by TCJS
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards recently listed the Zavala County jail, in Texas, as being non-compliant. The TCJS inspector noted a number of issues in a written report.
The TCJS inspector noted that there was no two-way voice communication between prisoners and staff. This is a minimum jail standard in Texas. Apparently, Zavala County jail administration failed to add an intercom to the recreation yard as TCJS recommended in a technical assistance memorandum during the 2018 annual inspection. Further, the TCJS inspector noted that the fire panel was last inspected on January 10, 2018. This placed the inspection 102 days past-due.
Finally, the TCJS inspector noted that preventive maintenance had to be conducted to ensure a safe, secure, and sanitary facility. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards inspector noted, when walking through the jail, that there were multiple lights out in the halls and inmate living areas, including security lights. The TCJS inspector also noted that there were broken windows and paint chipping in many areas of the jail. Also, the toilet-sink combos were leaking in the west cell.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone