Harris County to Hire 150 More Detention Officers and 25 Deputies to Alleviate Overtime Requirements
The Harris County Jail in downtown Houston. Taken on Dec. 19, 2023.
Harris County will hire 150 more detention officers and 25 deputies in a move to alleviate mandatory overtime requirements in the chronically overcrowded and understaffed Harris County Jail.
County budget staffers say the move will be the first step in enabling the county to bring back hundreds of inmates whose supervision has been outsourced to other jails.
The Plan
Commissioners last week approved $3 million in funding to pay for those positions through the end of 2025. The move is expected to create operational efficiencies, reduce overreliance on mandatory overtime and bring the Harris County Sheriff’s Office jail staffing numbers closer to what is needed to fill all posts, according to county documents.
Why Overtime is a Concern
“These are positions and posts that are currently being staffed through mandatory overtime,” said Daniel Ramos, executive director of the office of management and budget for the county. “Given the amount of mandatory overtime we’ve asked our employees to work, it’s becoming unsustainable.”
Outsourcing: A Costly Solution
The Harris County Jail has repeatedly failed state safety inspections as the facility has grappled with persistent staffing issues and overcrowding. The county has invested millions of dollars into outsourcing detainees to private facilities outside of Harris County to alleviate issues. However, Ramos said that outsourcing is “the single most expensive thing that this county does.”
The Cost of Outsourcing
The county is on track to spend more than $58 million on outsourcing around 1,400 inmates this year.
A Step in the Right Direction
The $3 million in funding will provide enough court coverage for afternoon dockets, which will help efforts to reduce the county’s growing jail population and reduce the number of inmates that are being outsourced.
“Every person we can bring back is a significant savings for the county,” Ramos said.
Current Compliance Issues
The Harris County Jail is currently out of compliance with state standards for one issue. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has the county’s plan of action and are waiting for the county to request a reinspection, Phillip Bosquez, assistant chief of detention operations comments with the sheriff’s office said.
Future Plans
Though the addition of more than 100 new detention officers is expected to alleviate overtime requirements, the county may need an additional round of another 150 detention officers to staff the jail and bring back all inmates that have been outsourced.
Tonya Mills, the head of justice innovation at the county administration office, said that could cost the county more than $27 million in total.
“It’s about 13.7 million in annualized costs for 150,” Mills said. “The first 150 we know is going to be dedicated to eliminating the overtime, or dramatically reducing the overtime and maybe be able to bring a few people back but it will not allow us to staff all posts and bring everybody back.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Harris County hiring more detention officers and deputies?
A: The county is hiring more detention officers and deputies to alleviate mandatory overtime requirements and bring back hundreds of inmates whose supervision has been outsourced to other jails.
Q: How much funding was approved for the new positions?
A: Commissioners approved $3 million in funding to pay for the new positions through the end of 2025.
Q: What is the current state of the Harris County Jail?
A: The Harris County Jail has repeatedly failed state safety inspections and is currently out of compliance with state standards for one issue.
Q: What is the cost of outsourcing inmates to private facilities?
A: The county is on track to spend more than $58 million on outsourcing around 1,400 inmates this year.
