The Texas Commission on Jail Standards says it will conduct surprise visits at Cameron County jails amid staffing and overcrowding problems.
The announcement comes after detention centers in the county were found to be in violation of an October order which sought reductions in the inmate population and staff increases, TCJS officials said.
"We are going to have to know that they are staffed up to the necessary numbers," TCJS executive director Terry Julian said to The Brownsville Herald. "We will see what is actually there on the floor."
Cameron County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa said the county is trying to comply with the agency's requests.
The TCJS, which is in charge of ensuring that all county jail facilities conform to minimum standards of construction, maintenance and operation, found deficiencies in county jails dating back to November 2002.
If the surprise visits uncover problems, the county will be ordered to reduce its inmate population, through transfers or releases, until enough staffing is available.
At the Carrizales-Rucker Detention Center, for example, Hinojosa said the inmate population has been reduced by working with judges. Also, work schedules have been revise to have enough officers on duty.
But in the 128 days since the order was issued, the facility was overcrowded on 94 days, according to county and state records.
Hinojosa said he would ask county commissioners to hire additional workers.
Meanwhile, the TCJS said it plans to meet with Willacy County Commissioners to discuss widespread plumbing problems and female overcrowding found during a Jan. 6 inspection of the Willacy County Jail in Raymondville.