The Falls County jail, in Marlin, Texas, is now listed as being non-compliant by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. The jail failed an inspection which occurred on or about December 8, 2020.
The Falls County jail violated a minimum standard regarding having a commissary. During the May 11, 2020 inspection of the Falls County jail, the inspector noted that the most recent commissary audit could not be provided for review. Technical assistance was provided, including that a copy of the most recent commissary audit was to be mailed to the inspector within 30 days. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards executive director sent a letter to the Falls County Sheriff reaffirming this requirement. Nevertheless, a commissary audit was not provided to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Falls County officials were requested to attend the quarterly Texas Commission on Jail Standards meeting held on November 5, 2020, where an order to produce a commissary audit was established. The deadline was then December 5, 2020, with a warning that a notice of non-compliance would be issued to the Falls County jail if it failed to comply with the requirement. Nevertheless, as of December 8, 2020, the Falls County jail had failed to comply with the directive by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Hopefully, the Falls County jail will take its obligations seriously and comply with requirements of the TCJS.