Texas Commission on Jail Standards
What is the Texas Commission on Jail Standards?
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) is the only state “regulatory” agency for county and municipal jails in Texas. The Commission is made up of nine commissioners appointed by the Governor, an Executive Director, and staff. According to TCJS, their mission is to “ensure the health and safety of the thousands of individuals who are arrested and incarcerated in our county jails.” While TCJS can inspect jails for compliance, the state agency lacks strong enforcement mechanisms and has little to no legal authority to force corrective measures.
Jail Minimum Standards
The agency’s primary role is to establish and inspect the 240 Texas county jails for minimum standards which are outlined in the Texas Administrative Code. The agency is mandated to investigate complaints of violations of minimum standards and custody deaths. Jails that are found non-compliant are reported on the agency’s website until they’re back in compliance. Texas Jail Project records and archives all non-compliant inspection reports on our site here.
Data and Committees
TCJS is also required to collect and publish data such as monthly population, pregnant population, incarceration rates, staff turnover rates, etc.
When directed by the legislature, TCJS creates committees to create new rules for jail operations and study and make recommendations on specific issues such as the detention of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Inspections
Based on the Sunset Commission’s recommendations, TCJS, beginning in 2022, has initiated major changes to its inspection process.
TCJS will change from an annual on-site inspection model to a 24-month cycle. This means some jails may not be physically inspected for two years at a time. The inspection schedule for jails will now be based on a “risk assessment matrix” which factors historical data points such as custody deaths, complaints, serious incidents, past non-compliance, mental health screenings, and other jail operations findings.
We will continue to update this page as the agency moves through a process of defining and establishing new guidelines for inspection of jails and re-inspection of non-compliant jails. Please contact us if you would like to submit comments on proposed revisions of rules and minimum standards before they’re adopted by the agency.
Public Meetings
TCJS holds a public meeting on the first Thursday of every quarter (i.e. February, June, August & November). At these meetings, members of the public can address the commissioners through public comment. These meetings are live telecast and recorded.
Members of the public can also file requests with the agency for changes to rules and minimum standards by emailing the director at brandon.wood@tcjs.state.tx.us
Sunset Commission
Like all state agencies in Texas, TCJS is reviewed by the Texas Sunset Commission every nine years to review its performance, effectiveness, and need as an agency. The review engages TCJS and stakeholders to analyze the agency’s successes and failures.
2019
TCJS’ most recent Sunset Review began in 2019. Under Director Brandon Wood, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards took a close look at its mission and role in the fall of 2020 and issued a self-evaluation report. The 2019 Self-Evaluation Report is nearly 100 pages of information, details, and data about jail operations. Five major issues identified by the agency as “damaging to its mission” are detailed on Pages 83-87 and listed below.
Unsurprisingly, the issue areas that TCJS are problems central to Texas Jail Project’s advocacy: jail custody deaths, repeat violators, and information cover-ups. You can read Texas Jail Project’s response to the TCJS self-evaluation report and Sunset Commission’s recommendations here.
HB 1545
As a result of TCJS’ self-evaluation report, HB 1545 was filed in the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (2021). The bill attempted to address some of the most persistent issues:
Issue 1: Facilities Unable to Maintain Compliance
Issue 2: Death in Custody Investigations
Issue 3: Inmates with Mental Health Issues or Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Issue 4: Access to Medical Records
Issue 5: Veterans in the Criminal Justice System and County Jails