Fix the jail
But takeover by state is not the way.
Five suicides in two years at the Harris County Jail, including two in one month. A failed inspection that cited unsanitary conditions. A history of placing inmates in jails as far away as Louisiana.
Is this acceptable? No, and the problems have justifiably shaken confidence in the local officials, especially Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who run the jail and pay its bills.
State Sen. John Whitmire, the Houston Democrat who chairs the Senate’s criminal justice committee, has threatened state intervention if conditions don’t improve. A state inspection in November found bug-infested cells and lukewarm food, but what triggered his alarm was the Jan. 16 death of inmate Tracy Whited, who hanged herself in her cell after she couldn’t post $1,000 bond on two misdemeanor charges.
“I am looking to see a sense of urgency from Ed and from the county judge,” Whitmire told the editorial board. He said on Monday he’s not seen it.
Whitmire is right to raise concerns. Gonzalez, County Judge Lina Hidalgo and the commissioners must make improving conditions at the jail an urgent priority. “When you deprive someone of liberty, you have a special duty to protect them while they are in your custody,” Whitmire said.
Still, a state takeover isn’t the way to do it. Running the jail is the job voters gave Gonzalez. If they don’t like his performance, they can fire him in 2020.
“I have skin in the game. This is my role and my responsibility,” Gonzalez told the editorial board. “I admit there’s challenges we need to work through. But I tell you … our jail system here locally is not broken.”
Evidence supports that. One suicide is too many, but the Harris County Jail is not an outlier, according to Chronicle reporter Keri Blakinger’s analysis of state data: Harris’ suicide rate ranks sixth among Texas’ 10 biggest county jails. Gonzalez said his team will soon be working with a suicide prevention expert, and is open to expert advice on other reforms. Some have been made already. Whitmire said state inspectors have concluded that the sanitation issues have been resolved. Gonzalez has said he’s no longer housing inmates out of state.
Other issues — including camera surveillance of all at-risk inmates — remain a work in progress. Pending bail reform should eventually reduce the number of defendants jailed, lead to fewer defendants will be jailed while they wait for trial, making improvements easier.
Hidalgo and county commissioners should use their power of the purse to keep jail reform atop Gonzalez’s to-do list. If they don’t, voters can fire them, too.
Whitmire’s pressure is helpful and county leaders should take it to heart. Inmates are counting on it with their lives.