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Why bother inspecting jails if the state can't enforce the rules? Jail Standards Commission Sunset bill up this week

The Dallas County Jail just failed its seventh straight annual jail inspection this week. The Montague County Jail failed its last inspection, exhibiting conditions later described as "Animal House meets Mayberry."Texas jails get inspected, they fail, but the problems never get solved. Bottom line: The Texas Jail Standards Commission is powerless to enforce its own rules.With the agency up for "Sunset" review this session, 2009 should be Texas' best opportunity to strengthen the agency's regulatory authority, but such changes weren't included in the Sunset bill that was filed. The senate version (carried by Robert Deuell) will be heard in the Senate Government Organization Committee on Wednesday, April 1. (That committee is chaired by Sen. Rodney Ellis, who will have a busy week with many of his innocence-related bills up in committee the day before...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on March 29, 2009 (boomark / email).