Counties would need state approval before sending prisoners out of state
What it does
HB 181 would set standards for any county contract that houses prisoners in a correctional facility in another state, whether the partner is another state, a jurisdiction in another state, or a private vendor. A county would have to submit the contract to the Commission on Jail Standards for approval before signing, and a contract without approval would be void. The receiving facility and its operations would have to meet or exceed the commission's minimum standards, the sending county would inspect receiving facilities at least every six months, and escapes, injuries, and deaths would have to be reported.
What it means for your community
Counties that move prisoners out of state to save money would add a state review before the contract starts and reporting after it begins. Prisoners with a record of violence involving a deadly weapon, a pattern of violence while confined in Texas, or an escape would not be eligible for transfer without a waiver from the commission. The sending county could still end the contract with 90 days' notice, and the commission could direct it to end.
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