BREAKING: Texas Commission on Jail Standards conducts unannounced inspection of Hays County Jail after complaints from county judge

Hays County Sheriff Gary Cultler announced that the Hays County Jail passed an unannounced on-site visit following a recent spate of complaints via social media by Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra.

“Judge Becerra expressed concerns about the living conditions within the jail facility in several social media posts beginning late last week,” Sheriff Cutler said. “Unfortunately, Judge Becerra would not share those specific concerns with anyone in the Sheriff’s Office, including the Captain in charge.”

Sheriff Cutler said, without knowing the items in question or any evidence of problems, he and his staff were unable to address and correct any alleged issues.

When the county judge requested a tour of the jail, Sheriff Cutler informed him that due to the ongoing construction and renovation project as well as COVID-19 protocols, he would not be allowed to walk through the facility.

“With no knowledge of the safeguards we have in place to address issues arising in the jail, Judge Becerra chose to circumvent our internal processes to investigate his concerns and contacted Texas Commission on Jail Standards directly,” Sheriff Cutler said.

An inspector from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, the agency that oversees county jails to ensure standards of construction and operations, showed up this morning, March 16, for an unannounced on-site visit. Upon completion, the inspector determined that no technical assistance was required, and the Hays County Jail was found to be 100 percent in compliance with all minimum standards as required by the state agency.

Sheriff Cutler added; “While I was not surprised about the outcome of the site visit, I am grateful to the hardworking men and women of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, who take care of the facility and its residents, for their continued dedication to meeting all jail standards”.