The Bexar County Adult Detention Center has been put back in the state's good graces after a surprise, two-day inspection wrapped up this week with a formal finding of full compliance. Inspectors reviewed operations, maintenance and inmate-care protocols across the jail and flagged two minor issues that officials say were corrected on the spot.
That clean bill of health lands against a stark backdrop. County records show 12 inmates have died in custody so far in 2025 and 13 died in 2024, and the jail was cited for noncompliance once in each of those years before fixing the problems, according to the San Antonio Express-News. The unannounced inspection began Tuesday and was conducted by a five-person team from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Officials said the two minor deficiencies were handled during the walkthrough. Sheriff Javier Salazar thanked the inspectors and credited deputies and jail staff for the outcome in a statement to the paper.
Prior noncompliance and fixes
State records show the facility fell out of compliance in 2024 and again in 2025, prompting county officials to move quickly on the cited issues. KSAT Investigates reported that a July 29, 2025, notice stemmed from incomplete jail logs that did not document required dayroom access for an inmate. In response, the sheriff's office rolled out a new digital documentation form and additional training that inspectors later signed off on.
State oversight under scrutiny
Even as Bexar County touts its latest result, the watchdog over Texas jails is under its own microscope. A June state audit raised broad concerns about the Texas Commission on Jail Standards' ability to effectively police county lockups, citing missed inspections, mishandled complaints and a scheduling tool that miscalculated risk scores for most facilities. As Texas Public Radio summarized from the auditor's report, five counties - including Bexar - missed required limited inspections that help determine how often higher-risk jails should be reviewed.
Capacity pressures and inmate transfers
Behind the compliance wins, Bexar County has been wrestling with crowding and staffing strain. To keep numbers in check, the sheriff's office has periodically shipped "paper-ready" inmates to neighboring counties, a move that has cost millions and drawn criticism from people who say transfers can hide deeper problems rather than solve them. budgeted millions for out-of-county housing as officials work to stay inside state standards while the jail remains under intense local scrutiny.
What comes next
The full inspection report from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards is expected to be released for public review in the coming days. That document could spell out itemized findings on medical care, staffing and documentation. The Express-News noted that the sheriff's office says no follow-up action was ordered. State auditors, however, have warned that repeated failures can lead to remedial orders or referrals to higher authorities, a pattern described in the audit. Texas Public Radio reported that the commission has turned to follow-up inspections and referrals when problems persisted in other counties.
Advocates and some county officials say they will be combing through the forthcoming report to see whether the fixes at Bexar County's jail are meaningful or mostly on paper. For now, county leaders are pointing to the passing grade from state inspectors. The public report will be the test of how solid that victory really is.
