Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Montgomery County Commissioners Court on April 9 dug into what could come next for the Montgomery County Jail. Commissioners moved with contingencies to look into building a new jail, and during discussion, got a deeper look at what o cials said is becoming a more urgent issue as the county grows and the 40-year- old jail continues to age. Sheri Wesley Doolittle told commissioners the county has made short-term changes to ease crowding. But he said those steps do not solve the county’s larger jail capacity and infrastructure problem. “We are in real trouble here,” Doolittle said. Montgomery County reviews jail expansion
Montgomery County Jail timeline
Why now?
Sheri Wesley Doolittle traced the county’s jail planning back years, with multiple studies conducted. 2005 Sheri Tommy Gage commissioned a Texas Commission on Jail Standards study projecting a need for 2,352beds by 2025.
Representatives from engineering rm HDR told the court the county’s long-range jail planning shows a need for about 2,352 beds by 2040. Consultants and county o cials described the current jail as outdated and di cult to operate. Doolittle said the county continues spending money just to keep it functioning. According to the presentation by HDR, the jail is nearing or at an unsustainable operating point, has poor sightlines that increase safety risks for sta and inmates, and faces recurring structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing issues. Planner Paul Vlnar said the facility is in poor condition and called it a challenge both physically and operationally. He said the jail is a 24/7 opera- tion that puts constant strain on building systems. Commissioners also discussed how population growth is adding pressure. County Judge Mark Keough said Montgomery County could reach 1 million residents by 2030.
2006
2007
The county built the Joe Corley Facility with 1,000 beds for $44 million . The county sold the Joe Corley Facility for $65 million and hired Broaddus Planning to conduct another jail needs assessment after immediate overcrowding followed that sale. That 2013 study found a minimum of 2,200 beds would be needed by 2032 and estimated a new jail at $202 million.
2008
2013
2014
SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: THIS TIMELINE IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE.
Montgomery County Jail breakdown
2,352
What they’re saying
1,317
“Build for what we need and plan for what’s to come. We can’t let
“I think we would be negligent if we don’t prepare for what’s coming and what’s already here.” WESLEY DOOLITTLE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF
380
it go this long.” ROBERT WALKER, PRECINCT 1 COMMISSIONER
Original inmate capacity
Rated beds* as of April 2026
Beds needed by 2040
*RATED BEDS ARE THE NUMBER OF BUNKS THAT MEET STATE REQUIREMENTS. SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT
Proposed location of new Montgomery County Jail
Stay tuned
1484
reliance on aging infrastructure, per consultants and Doolittle’s presentation. The proposed site of a new jail is next to the Montgomery County Mental Health Facility. The court also reviewed the nancial scale of the options. Budget O cer Amanda Carter said a rough calculation for a bond to support Option A would have a tax impact of about 3.5 cents, or roughly $106, based on a 25-year projection.
Commissioners moved with contingencies to look into building a new jail, which was presented by Doolittle as Option A. Building a new jail would take around 4 1/2 years, between planning, design, construction and moving into the new facility. A new jail facility would include a detention center designed to current jail standards and would provide more long-term exibility, improved sta ng e ciency and avoid
336
MIKE MEADOR PKWY.
STEWARTS CREEK
$976.8M total project cost
2,352 -bed facility
N
SOURCE: MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT
9
TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook