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Harris County leaders unanimously approved $7.4 million to go toward improvements at the Harris County Jail on Tuesday, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported.
The vote came about a week after inspectors from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) released a report with unfavorable findings on the facility.
According to KPRC, $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and $4.4 million from the county’s general fund will be spent on the improvements.
The station reported that Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez discussed the concerning situation at the jail with the county commissioners and County Judge Lina Hidalgo.
Gonzalez asserted that his agency needs all the help it could get.
Per Houston ABC affiliate KTRK, Hidalgo told the sheriff the county foresees more deficits, but the jail itself is an urgent matter.
“I'll concede it's not the most financially responsible decision, but it's a necessary one,” she said, KTRK reported.
Houston FOX affiliate KRIV reported that the state gave its largest county 30 days to bring the jail to adherence.
State Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston) said the TCJS report gave him no choice but to speak out, Houston Daily reported citing KRIV.
"I don't run Harris County, but I do feel a responsibility to sound the alarm that we cannot continue to function with an out of compliance jail,” Whitmire, who chairs the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice during the ongoing 88th session of the Texas Legislature, said.
The senator and Houston mayoral aspirant claimed that jailers have apparently lost control of the inmates.
The alleged slew of problems at the jail prompted the HCSO official tasked with overseeing the facility to resign earlier this year.