HOUSTON, Texas — Harris County Commissioners Court has approved a $38 million contract to continue outsourcing more than 1,000 inmates from the Harris County Jail to private detention facilities in Beaumont and Louisiana through 2027, aiming to ease overcrowding.
Officials said the move is necessary as the jail works to fully comply with a state remedial order that previously reduced its capacity. Assistant Chief Phillip Bosquez of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said additional inspections are expected, and once completed, the order could be lifted—freeing up around 700 beds.
The jail was recently found to be in compliance with state standards for the first time in over a year, but authorities say continued outsourcing remains necessary in the short term.
The contract renewal drew criticism from families of inmates who died while held in private facilities, particularly those operated by LaSalle Corrections in Louisiana. Two lawsuits filed this year allege negligence in inmate deaths, including claims that detainees suffering from severe infections were denied proper medical care.
“I beg this court… please do not renew the contract with LaSalle,” said the mother of one inmate who died, calling the agreement an irresponsible use of public funds.
Meanwhile, Sean Teare reported a decline in the county’s criminal case backlog, which has helped reduce the jail population. Officials say that, alongside compliance efforts, the county aims to gradually reduce outsourcing—including plans to stop sending about 600 inmates to a Louisiana facility by 2027.
“We want to get them within the Houston bubble,” Bosquez said, emphasizing the long-term goal of housing inmates closer to home.