GROVETON — Trinity County has lost its ability to house more than seven prisoners in the county jail, and Sheriff Woody Wallace has placed the blame at the feet of the County Commissioners Court.
“This outcome is the direct result of continued inaction by the County Commissioners, despite repeated warnings about the consequences of delay from both the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and my office,” Wallace said. “This is not just a bureaucratic issue — this is a financial burden on our residents and a risk to public safety, staff and inmates alike, that could have been avoided.”
However, County Judge Danny Martin, in a press release on Tuesday, said there is a specific process for an election, and the county is doing what is required by law.
Currently, the jail is allowed to house only seven inmates, but in 2024, was granted a variance from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to house up to 15. However, on Thursday the variance was withdrawn, and Wallace said the TCJS cited a lack of progress by Trinity County Commissioners toward addressing the jail’s overcrowding and capacity needs.
In the meantime, the county houses prisoners in jails in surrounding counties, which Wallace said costs taxpayers between $16,000 and $20,000 per month in housing fees.
He also said expenses for inmate transport, access to legal counsel, and overall jail operations are all increased.
TCJS member Ben Perry, who also is a McLennan County Commissioner, told Wallace, “We all know what the most expensive part of your budget is. I encourage y’all to find common ground, as the alternative can be quite expensive as well. If it gets too out of control and gets too far down the road, you guys are really going to have some issues. I am going to plea with you guys to get some common ground and work together on this.”
Wallace said that a decision to build a new jail should rest with the people of the County, but the Commissioner Court’s reluctance to move forward denies residents the right.
Martin said that it’s the county’s intention that in November there will be a bond election.
Martin said that in September 2024, the Jail Committee, comprised of Wallace, District Attorney Bennie Schiro, County Attorney Colton Hay, Commissioners Neal Smith and Steven Truss, Don Hamilton, Sam Shanafelt, Julie Merchant and Ricky Hortman, presented their findings to the court and offered a recommendation, which was to call for a bond election.
However, Martin said there is a two-week window in August for Commissioners’ Court to call for a bond issue to be placed on ballots in the November election.
According to Jonathan Frels, bond counsel with Bracewell LLP of Houston who is advising the county, after the election is called, a representative from U.S. Capital Advisers will coordinate and attend town halls in Trinity County sometime in October.
