The Harris County Deputies association attributes the increase in violence to a number of factors, including overcrowding, understaffing, and the recent passage of a school safety bill that has led to many peace officers leaving the jail for higher-paying jobs at schools.
All eight Harris County Constables are protesting what they see as plans to defund police and are now speaking out through a letter obtained by our political reporter Greg Groogan.
After 18 months of a pandemic, high jail populations, infections and deserting staff, county jailers say the pandemic is brining longtime structural issues at county detention to light.