Potter County Commissioners work to address jail overcrowding, seek state help

Yahoo

12-03-2025

The Potter County Commissioners heard an update Tuesday from 47th District Attorney Jason Herring regarding judicial case flow and its impact on overcrowding at the Potter County Jail.
Herring reported that about 11.5% of the 409 felony cases addressed during the year's first 43 working days were dismissed — well below the statewide average of approximately 30%.
'We're proud of that number because it shows we're not charging people unnecessarily,' Herring said. 'We're mindful of jail space and taxpayer resources.'
Commissioner John Coffee asked Herring and Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas about inmate management and expressed hope for state assistance to alleviate jail overcrowding.
"We've recently completed several major county projects, including the new courthouse, law enforcement center, vehicle maintenance garage, and ongoing renovations to the jail booking area," Coffee said. "It's too soon to approach taxpayers with another costly jail expansion. If we can get the state to pick up inmates more quickly, we could delay or possibly avoid additional taxpayer costs."
Sheriff Thomas noted Potter County currently has active inmate housing agreements with Childress, Garza, Smith, Randall, Scurry and Lynn counties, as well as the recently approved Parmer County. An additional agreement with Runnels County remains under consideration, though Thomas cited logistical concerns because of its considerable distance.
'We evaluated Runnels County primarily to satisfy court requirements,' Thomas said. 'But realistically, the distance creates logistical problems for us.'
Commissioners recently explored the state-owned Nathaniel J. Neal Unit — located adjacent to the Clements Unit — as another potential solution for overcrowding. Thomas discussed constraints at the Neal facility, including noncompliance with Texas Jail Standards, lack of air conditioning, and structural challenges due to separate buildings for kitchen, medical, and laundry services.
Coffee acknowledged the Neal Unit could have more than tripled Potter County's inmate capacity, but recent evaluations indicated the facility wasn't a viable option.
'The Neal Unit doesn't meet our requirements," Coffee said. "The state is also considering reopening it, which takes it off the table."
Despite weekly inmate transfers by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDC), the steady influx of new detainees continues to outpace departures, creating constant strain on local facilities and budgets.
'The TDC comes every Tuesday without fail,' Sheriff Thomas said. 'Paperwork turnaround typically takes two to three days, and pickups continue weekly based on this process.'
Chief Deputy Scott Giles further clarified the inmate transfer situation, noting that TDC is typically limited in how many inmates it can take from each county weekly.
'The state usually picks up about 10 inmates from Potter County every Tuesday," Giles said. "However, in emergency situations, TDC can take as many as 40 inmates at one time. We're not quite ready to request that emergency pickup yet, though, because we're trying to hold that option for a potentially more critical situation during summer, when inmate numbers traditionally spike.'
Giles emphasized the county has actively reached out to state officials to expedite the inmate pickup process, but challenges remain.
Potter County Judge Nancy Tanner expressed frustration with the ongoing overcrowding issue.
'I wish I could wave a magic wand and everyone would stop committing crimes," Tanner said. "That would be awesome, but I don't think that's ever going to happen. No matter how many inmates the state takes, we get twice that many coming in on the weekend."
Currently, Potter County houses about 40 inmates in other county jails — a temporary measure incurring significant daily costs.
Coffee highlighted recent state salary increases for corrections officers, suggesting that continued improvements in pay could help alleviate staffing shortages and reopen additional state prison capacity.
'The state has nearly a $24 billion surplus,' Coffee said. 'They should seriously consider raising salaries further to attract enough corrections staff. That could significantly ease overcrowding pressures on counties.'
Commissioners expressed hope that the planned construction of a state mental health facility in Potter County might also help relieve overcrowding pressures in the coming years, but it would not address the more significant problem of lack of beds statewide.
Sheriff Thomas reported the Potter County Jail currently houses 627 inmates, including four women and 19 individuals deemed incompetent. One inmate, declared incompetent for trial, has been in custody for 698 days due to classification issues.
Commissioners reiterated that meaningful solutions will require legislative changes, such as shorter inmate pickup timelines or compensation from the state.
'The process is what it is,' Giles said. 'Without legislative changes, the current situation remains largely unchanged.'
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Potter County working to address jail overcrowding issue with state