Harris County Jail fails inspection (again)

Inspectors from the State Commission on Jail Standards flunked the Harris County Jail for the fourth time in its last six inspections. During the one week review, commission members found broken intercoms, too many broken toilets and courthouse holdover cells packed beyond capacity.

"An inmate should be able to press the intercom and communicate with the officer controlling the floor. When an officer cannot hear an inmate in need that is a life safety issue." -- Adam Munoz, executive director, Commission on Jail Standards

New Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia placed the blame on his department's lack of authority over maintenance crews working on the facilities. The county now has 30 days to submit a plan to fix the problems in a "reasonable" time.

Harris County currently houses over 10,000 inmates at the jail.