Harris County has announced plans to hire additional personnel to address ongoing staffing challenges at its detention facilities.
The county will add 150 detention officers and 25 deputies, with a budget allocation of $3 million, scheduled to take effect by the end of 2025.
Harris County Jail has faced ongoing staffing shortages, which have contributed to the facility’s failure to pass several safety inspections.
To manage its inmate population, Harris County has been outsourcing the supervision of approximately 1,400 inmates to other jails, costing the county $58 million this year.
The addition of new detention officers and deputies is expected to reduce reliance on external facilities and lower associated costs.
The county’s commitment to improving its detention operations is reflected in the $3 million investment and the planned expansion of its workforce.