For the second time since its opening a year and a half ago, the Brazos County Jail passed the latest surprise state inspection with flying colors.
Sheriff Chris Kirk says no problems were found and some compliments were given following the two-day look. Kirk says the inspector noted the absence of graffiti and the only complaint from an inmate was a microwave that wasn’t working.
Chris Kirk visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Additional information courtesy of Sheriff Chris Kirk:
On Wednesday, April 11th Sheriff Chris Kirk met with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards Inspector Robert Green after Inspector Green had completed an unannounced two-day inspection of the Brazos County Detention Center. Inspector Green reported that he had found the Brazos County jails to be in compliance with all Texas Jail Standards and that he would authorize the issuance of a Certificate of Compliance from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
The inspections are conducted annually in every Texas jail to make sure they are in compliance with VTCA, Local Government Code, Chapter 351 and Texas Minimum Jail Standards. The two-day inspection included a/an:
- Test smoke alarms & smoke evacuation systems;
- Perform fire drill to include timed response with air pack, extinguisher & hose;
- Test alert system in each cell;
- Review of site security;
- Review of life safety preparation and performance;
- Review of staffing levels;
- Review of inmate admission, classification and release;
- Review for sanitation and personal hygiene;
- Review of medical services and records;
- Examination of records on required jail activities, such as recreation, visitation, and correspondence;
- Review of inmate commissary, visitation, and religious practices;
- Interview with inmates; and
- Review inmate grievance and discipline procedures.
The Brazos County Detention Center is located at 1835 Sandy Point Road in Bryan and currently has a capacity for 1,088 inmates, that includes 212 beds for Minimum Security and 877 beds for Maximum Security. The jail population at the time of the inspection was 603 inmates. The inmate population in the Brazos County Jail on April 11th, 2012 was 539 inmates. The Sheriff’s Office employs 168 staff to operate the jail and has an annual budget of $10.4 million for jail operations.
This inspection is a milestone for the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office in that it is the first annual inspection by the Texas Jail Commission for the Brazos County Detention Center since we opened the new 139,000 sq.ft. jail facility in September, 2010. With the opening of the new facility the Sheriff’s Office embraced a new operations strategy of direct supervision, where a detention officer is assigned to a post within a 64 bed dormitory style cell to directly oversee those inmates. We have found this strategy to be conducive to a more controlled environment which is safer, quieter, and provides more positive interaction between the staff and inmates. Also, we have adopted IBM, Inmate Behavior Management philosophy, which is designed to reward the good behavior of an inmate with a less restrictive environment giving them more opportunities to participate in constructive activities. Those inmates whose behavior fails to meet our expectations face the consequence of housing restrictions and loss of privileges.
Sheriff Kirk states: “The successful completion of this unannounced inspection is a real testament to the diligent efforts of our jail staff. I would like to commend each of our jail officers for the role that they play in making sure that we operate a safe, secure and efficient jail. I am proud of the demonstration of compliance to standards and pledge that the Brazos County Jail will continue to meet or exceed the standards established by the State.”