The Brazoria County Jail’s population has slowly increased over the years, with a recent population spike in 2022 that coincided with an ongoing shortage of state hospital sta . When a jail reaches 90% capacity, it can cause operational issues, according to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Historical jail population
In the release, HHSC stated it is looking to ll about 1,805 vacan- cies in state hospitals and 2,137 across the 13 state-supported living centers, which HHSC says provide “campus-based direct services and support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” Krishnaveni Gundu, executive director of the Texas Jail Project, a nonpro t organization that advo- cates for jail reform, said a large por- tion of occupied state hospital beds are essentially “stuck.” She said up to 50% of occupied beds are being used by individuals who need long- term care, and due to having acute needs, there is nowhere for them to be transferred out. “There’s nowhere for these people to go,” Gundu said. “So if we don’t have a plan to get that population out, it doesn’t matter how many beds we build.” A slowdown in state support due to the sta ng issues is compounded by a gradual increase in the inmate population at the jail. Sebesta said the county jail faced crowding issues in August-September 2022, when it reached up to 1,000 inmates—nearly 90% of the jail’s capacity. Brandon Wood, director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, previously told Community Impact that counties aim to keep their jails under 90% of their capacity because jail beds have certain classi ca- tions that make jail operations di - cult above that level. Wood said he was looking to see legislation this session that would help address jail populations. “There’s always the potential for legislation that deals with crim- inal justice to have an impact on our jail populations,” Wood said. “It can range from increase[s] in penalt[ies], looking at the dollar
120%
The Brazoria County Jail’s total population limit is 1,154.
100%
80%
60%
80% 0 90% 2022 population peak Aug.
40%
The Brazoria County Jail population peaked in late summer/early fall 2022, nearing 90% capacity.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
0
SOURCES: BRAZORIA COUNTY RECORDS, TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS COMMUNITY IMPACT
Commission news release from Jan. 24 states more than 700 state hospital beds are unsta ed “due to workforce challenges.” Sebesta said these sta ng short- ages are slowing the transfer of inmates needing state hospital care out of the county jail system, which the Texas Association of Counties referred to as the largest mental health system in the state in a Decem- ber 2020 legislative issue brief. “The largest mental health facili- ties in the state of Texas are county jails. That is where most of the folks that have mental health issues are being housed,” Sebesta said. State bed shortage The HHSC announced Jan. 24 it is increasing salaries and starting pay at state hospitals to help with “cru- cial sta ng needs” and bring back some of the 700 unsta ed beds.
CONTINUED FROM 1
Sta ng shortages at state hospitals are causing hundreds of beds to remain unsta ed, slowing the transfer of inmates out of the jail system. Vacancies in state-supported living centers 2,137 Sta vacancies in state hospitals 1,805 State hospital beds currently unsta ed 700 SOURCES: TEXAS JAIL PROJECT, BRAZORIA COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT for counties to host each inmate awaiting transfer $51 per day State hospital shortages
nonviolent inmates in need of men- tal health care, Brazoria County Judge Matt Sebesta said. “We’re holding a lot of patients, inmates, that need to be in a men- tal health facility and receiving the things that they need to receive to get them healthy and get them out of jail,” Sebesta said. Sebesta previously said the Inspired Behavioral Health facility would be able to take in up to 16 incarcerated people at a time. A pos- sible contract is tentatively on hold as the company undergoes reorgani- zation, according to County Public Information O cer Sharon Trower. The county’s move toward outside support comes as Texas is facing an unprecedented sta ng short- age across state-run hospitals. A Texas Health and Human Services
FREE ADMISSION Saturday, April 15 4-8 PM Youth competitions 12:30 PM Stage & street performances, Visual Art displays, Chariot Festival, Food, Bazaar, Fun activities for the whole family.
SCAN FOR MORE INFO
Explore Vibrant India Engage with Diverse India Experience Traditional India!
This project is supported by a city of Pearland Cultural Arts Grant program from the City of Pearland Convention & Visitor Bureu.
www.puranava-usa.org - ( 281 ) 402 6585
20
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook