LIBERTY, TEXAS — Faced with mounting pressure from state regulators and deteriorating facility conditions, Liberty County officials are moving forward with emergency repairs to the county jail after the awarding of a critical contract to White Construction last week. The urgent action comes in the wake of a Second Amended Remedial Order issued by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), threatening full closure of the facility if compliance issues are not immediately addressed.
The TCJS order, dated April 11, cited ongoing and serious violations, including inoperative fire alarm systems with more than 100 trouble alerts, broken or missing locks, a lack of required face-to-face inmate observations, overcrowding, and hazardous living conditions. The order followed a February riot within the facility and an April fire that further damaged the jail’s infrastructure. According to fire reports, the blaze began when a light fixture shorted and ignited a mattress.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Liberty County has opted to appeal the closure order, allowing the jail to remain operational during the proceedings. County leaders have expressed a strong desire to keep the facility functional, citing the importance of having a secure detention center within county lines.
In a special meeting on May 27, the Liberty County Commissioners Court unanimously approved an emergency contract with White Construction to draft repair plans and carry out structural and safety improvements. These repairs are designed to directly address the compliance failures identified by the TCJS and avert a complete shutdown of the jail.
“White Construction has been tasked with both assessing and correcting the most urgent hazards,” said County Judge Jay Knight during the meeting. “Our goal is to make sure the jail meets all safety standards without the need to send every inmate out of county.”
While repairs related to the April fire are nearing completion, county officials continue to transfer inmates to other counties under interlocal agreements. An amendment to Liberty County’s contract with Young County was approved on May 27 to expand capacity for these transfers. Other current agreements include Kerr, Jasper, Johnson, McLennan, and San Jacinto counties.
As of last week, Jail Administrator Heather Urias Guerrero confirmed that approximately 125 inmates remained housed in open and operational dorms within the Liberty County Jail. The jail is still processing new bookings on a limited basis.
Conditions within the jail have drawn intense scrutiny in recent months. According to state reports and news investigations, the jail has suffered from sewage backups, exposed wiring, inadequate staffing, and improperly mixed security levels in inmate housing areas. Some areas were described by inmates and former staff as “uninhabitable” and “dangerous.”
The TCJS has not yet issued a final ruling on Liberty County’s appeal. If the appeal fails and closure is enforced, the county may be required to permanently relocate its entire inmate population and develop a long-term plan for either constructing a new facility or entering into lasting agreements with outside jails.
In the meantime, construction crews are expected to begin around-the-clock work on infrastructure upgrades, with hopes that visible progress and improved compliance will satisfy state inspectors ahead of a possible reinspection.
What Comes Next?
Immediate: Construction and emergency repairs begin this month. Near-term: Continued transfers of inmates and temporary housing expansion in partner counties. Pending: Outcome of Liberty County’s appeal to the TCJS. Long-term: Possible restructuring of jail operations or plans for a new jail facility if compliance cannot be sustained.
