MUCH OF THE AUSTIN COUNTY JAIL CLOSES DUE TO STAFFING

Frank Wagner June 30, 2014

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Officials with the Austin County Sheriff’s office say they have had to closed down much of the county jail and send prisoners to Fort Bend County due to a staffing shortage.

Sheriff Jack Brandes reported to the Austin County Commissioners that much of the staff was able to get better pay in other counties, including Washington County and they were taking the jobs.

Brandes said the newer part of the jail, with 50 of the facilities 87 beds, had to be closed.

Brandes says it takes a minimum of 16 jailers to keep the full jail in operation and 12 to operate the 27 bed older portion of the jail. The Sheriff said further that the jail is no longer taking class C misdemeanor offenders.

The crux of the problem, according to Brandes, is the low pay for jail staff and that until last week, there was no overtime pay.

He said the Austin County Jail has become a training ground for neighboring counties where the pay is higher. A jailer in Austin County earns $32,879 a year. Washington County pays roughly the same but they have been getting overtime for years.

Brandes explained to the Austin County Commissioners that the compensation plan allows the jail staff to work 84 hours every two weeks. The must then work an additional two hours before they can get overtime.

Salaries are set by the county commissioners. County Judge Carolyn Bilski said money is tight and increasing salaries could be difficult. She said she was confident they could work together for a solution but notes that there may be more than just salaries involved when you dealing ‘with people who are not in their best condition.’