Jack Harwell Center not in compliance
According to a Texas Commission on Jail Standards website, inspectors cited deficiencies in corrections officers training and certification, as well as inmate health services.
The Bureau of Prisons removed nearly a hundred female federal prisoners of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of the Department of Homeland Security to another privately operated facility located at Hutto near the Williamson County community of Taylor when it was discovered they were walking and living in raw sewage standing in their cells due to the clogging of the toilets.
Two jail standards inspectors made the following notations in inspection reports and posted them on the commission's website.
Corrections Officer Training and Licensing
Personnel employed or appointed as jailers or guards of county jails shall be licensed as per the requirements of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under the provisions of the Texas Administrative Code, Title 37. Personnel employed or appointed as jailers or guards at facilities operated under vendor contract with a county or city shall be subject to the same qualifications, training, and testing procedures as county jailers.
"A review of TCLEDDS and information received by inspectors St. Amant and Mikesh revealed that Officer Wilmer Davis is not licensed per requirements of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Documentation received by inspectors St. Amant and Mikesh revealed Officer Davis has been employed by the Jack Harwell Detention Center since August 7, 2011."
Health Services
The owner/operator of each facility shall provide medical, mental, and dental services in accordance with the approved health services plan. These services may include, but shall not be limited to, the services of a licensed physician, professional and allied health personnel, hospital, or similar service.
"On the day of the inspection 6 out of 10 files reviewed by Inspector Mikesh revealed that the Jack Harwell Detention Center is not acting on all sick call requests in a timely manner, there were a few instances where it took as long as 7 days."
The Harwell Center was erected at a cost to taxpayers of about $50 million with municipal revenue bonds issued by a public service corporation formed by the McLennan County Commissioners Court.
The McLennan County Sheriff's Department removed prisoners from its own lockup next door on Highway 6 to the new facility, along with prisoners of the Federal Bureau of Prisons held at the Courthouse Annex Jail in downtown Waco to fill the new detention center with prisoners in order to allow the jail contract with CEC, Inc., to cover the debt service on the revenue bonds.
How can that be since the sheriff is contractually obligated and to perform two on-site inspections a month? Were the inspections not performed in August, September, October and November? The Sheriff even receives a $12,000 a year stipend to compensate him for these responsibilities. A link to the documents on the Commission website would be nice.
ReplyDeleteThe inspector's comments have been published ver batim. - The Legendary
ReplyDeleteDidn't the Sheriff and his Chief Deputy give that place to CEC so they wouldn't have to do their job? I can see why McNamara wants to wrest control away from CEC now. As a taxpayer and person who's helping foot the bill for this place, the failings of the current adminstration in the Sheriff's Office to do their job will certainly be a deciding factor when I cast my vote. Hasta la vista Lynch and your boy Plemons!!
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