We know that there are many reasons for problems in a county jail, and
we make this award in the spirit of tough love. It is a shout out to local folk
and to the media as well as the staff and sheriff, asking them to take a
second look at the way inmates are treated while held in the local jail—and
to then make positive changes!

Nominate a LOCAL JAIL, not a state prison, not a state jail. Texas has
250 county jails holding more than 70,000 people. Email us:
diane@texasjailproject.org with your nomination for the Texas Hellhole Award,
Winter 09.... about any jail that is dysfunctional or where the officers have
forgotten that the inmates are human beings.

A jail where there is
1. Lack of medical care (for physical or mental illness)
2. Abuse, verbal and physical, from staff
3. Filthy or unhealthy conditions, such as dirty uniforms and towels, overcrowding, too cold, bright lights on 24/7
4. Commissary prices that are 3 times the normal price: especially bad if you are in pain and the only way you can get two Tylenol is to pay $5 or it's freezing cold and they won't accept sweatshirts from a relative but tell you to buy one from commissary for $30
5. No exercise, no reading material, no recreation
6. Undrinkable water, bad food or lack of food

We will present this award to the sheriff over whichever jail appears in the most emails, containing the most convincing information.
Thanks,
Diana and Diane