Harris County jails get some attention

More news on the overcrowded Harris County jails.

Crowding and unsanitary conditions in the Harris County Jail have spurred a group of community leaders, clergy members and civil rights advocates to request a meeting this week with county officials to seek solutions.

“We know it’s not supposed to be comfortable for people who are incarcerated, but it is supposed to be humane,” Yolanda Smith, executive director of the Houston chapter of the NAACP, said Tuesday.

Smith and other community leaders expect to meet Friday with county criminal justice officials and judges to discuss ways to limit the number of people placed in jail and help probationers stay out.

Yes, well, you might want to talk to Governor Perry about that.

County Judge Robert Eckels said he is aware of the problems and will work with other officials to fix them. Public safety is paramount, he said, and the county will consider streamlining the booking process and the bonding-out system to help move people with misdemeanor arrests through the jail more quickly.

County leaders are scheduled to meet with the state commission Aug. 4 to discuss the problems.

That’s all fine as far as it goes, but I doubt that “efficiency” is a sufficient solution. I believe Harris County is going to have to admit that it needs more jailers, at least enough to fully staff the whole system so that the currently idle cells can be used. The money is there, Judge Eckels, and so is the need to spend it. Don’t overlook the obvious.

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3 Responses to Harris County jails get some attention

  1. Charles Hixon says:

    As far as “efficiency” goes, Peter Drucker said that doing the right thing is more important than doing things right. Doing the right thing is effectiveness; doing things right is efficiency. Focus first on effectiveness (identifying what is the right thing to do).

  2. Cherry says:

    I would like to know,how long the inmate Marshall Joseph,was sentenced to,if you would let me know. Spn# 01887115

    Thanks

  3. Ramonna says:

    I would like to say that those convicted of a sex offender crime to a child under 14 should not serve any time if he did not sleep with the child,but the girl could have lied about her age,as most young girls do ,do.We should punish the young girls as well as the men. thanks.If you have any comments please contact me @ [email protected]

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