JASPER, Texas – A limited compliance inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards resulted in a notice of non‑compliance for the Jasper County Jail, citing three specific violations. The notice, issued on September 23, details errors in inmate classification, housing practices and security‑round documentation.
Violations identified
The commission’s review found that nine of the 25 inmate classification files examined were scored incorrectly. One inmate was housed in a location that did not match the inmate’s classification, and the facility failed to keep minimum‑ and maximum‑custody inmates consistently separated.
In addition, the jail conducted classification audits on a quarterly basis rather than the monthly schedule required by its approved operational plan. The report also highlighted that 1,554 cell‑check rounds logged for August were recorded from one minute to several hours after the actual checks, with some discrepancies possibly linked to electronic equipment malfunctions.
Sheriff Havard’s response
Sheriff Chuck Havard addressed the findings in a press release posted to the department’s social‑media channels. He acknowledged the late security rounds and said staff would revert to pen‑and‑paper logs to ensure timely documentation of security checks.
“Additionally, I have implemented more supervisory audit checks to ensure these security checks are being done in a timely manner,” Havard wrote.
Regarding the audit schedule, the sheriff confirmed the jail will shift from quarterly to an annual audit, accompanied by an updated operational plan designed to bring the facility back into full compliance.
Havard also explained the housing error, noting that a lower‑security inmate was unintentionally placed with a higher‑security inmate. “This was an error made unintentionally,” he said. “We will ensure our supervisors are checking and double‑checking each inmate’s classification status to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Infrastructure upgrades and next steps
The sheriff emphasized that the county jail is currently undergoing a major expansion and that outdated equipment is being replaced. He said these improvements, combined with the immediate corrective actions, should bring the jail into compliance with all commission rules moving forward.
“I have taken immediate steps to correct these issues and we expect to be in compliance with all commission rules moving forward,” Havard wrote. “I want to thank Inspector Perez for her assistance and guidance.”
What this means for the community
Jasper County residents rely on a safe and well‑managed correctional facility as part of the broader public‑safety infrastructure. By addressing the commission’s findings promptly, the sheriff’s office aims to maintain confidence in local law‑enforcement operations while upholding the standards set by the state.
County officials have not indicated any further disciplinary action pending the implementation of the new audit schedule and equipment upgrades. The commission will likely conduct a follow‑up inspection to verify that the corrective measures are effective.
Community members who have questions about the jail’s operations or the recent inspection are encouraged to contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office directly.
Original reporting: KLTV 7 Tyler (news) — read the source article.
