The Liberty County Jail, despite a closure order from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), continues to operate. Initially ordered to cease accepting new inmates and evacuate all current ones by April 26 due to severe safety violations, the county's appeal on April 25 has allowed it to remain open while awaiting a formal hearing. The TCJS cited "long-standing dangerous conditions" as the reason for the closure, which came into revealing light following a fire in April that sent five correctional officers to the hospital, as mentioned on ABC13. As reported by CW39, this fire was linked to safety issues already on the jail's record.
Among the reported conditions were electrical hazards, described in detail by an inmate who spoke to ABC13 on condition of anonymity. "Wires hanging from the ceiling, side walls. The plugs and outlets were completely gone; there were no lights in the cell whatsoever, no lights in the dorm," he said. In addition to electrical issues, the inmate reported sewage floods that contaminated cells whenever a toilet was flushed, which, posed a serious health risk to the occupants.
This kind of environment not only threatens physical well-being but also undermines any semblance of rehabilitation or orderly detention. The same informant expressed his concern about the mixing of inmates of varying custody levels. "You're actually in there with murderers and child sex offenders," he told ABC13, illustrating the state violation regarding housing minimum custody inmates with those of maximum custody. The resulting culture within the jail walls is one of violence and punishment rather than justice and correction.
The fire marshal's investigation citing a lighting issue igniting clutter further drives home the point that the jail was a tinderbox awaiting a spark. As of now, no hearing date has been set, and Liberty County Jail's doors remain open, continuing to house inmates under conditions decried by advocates and the state alike.
