Liberty County Commissioners Court will hold a special-called meeting at 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 14, to discuss potential litigation between Liberty County and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
The meeting follows a recommendation by the Jail Commission that Liberty County relocate approximately 100 inmates to jails in neighboring counties while repairs are made to the county jail on Beaumont Avenue in Liberty.
According to Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader, the aging facility is facing numerous problems, including broken doors, faulty locks, faulty smoke detectors, malfunctioning automatic door openers, and issues with the jail’s fire panel.
“They want us to get the 100 prisoners out so we can get the dorms repaired,” Rader said, adding that the inmates are damaging the facility intentionally as fast as repairs are made.
“The inmates destroy the building. If we were allowed by law to put cameras in common areas, we might be able to stop a lot of it, but it’s not allowed,” he said.
The jail is located in a heavily residential area, so concerns over faulty locks and doors extend beyond the sheriff’s office to nearby residents. Security at the facility has come under increasing scrutiny following a string of recent incidents.
On Feb. 27, inmates sparked a riot that resulted in a tense standoff with law enforcement. Seven individuals were ultimately charged for their roles in the disturbance, which began in two dormitory units. Inmates barricaded doors, broke windows, and resisted officers’ efforts to restore order.
While authorities were able to quickly regain control of one dorm, the second—where the seven charged inmates were located—held out longer. The situation ended after approximately 30 minutes, when deputies introduced chemical agents through a small opening in the barricaded door, forcing the inmates to surrender.
Earlier this week, on Monday, April 7, a fire broke out in the jail, prompting a swift response from correctional officers, sheriff’s deputies and the Liberty Fire Department. The fire was attributed to a malfunctioning ballast in the ceiling lighting system.
On Thursday, April 10, a second fire was reported. This one was reportedly set intentionally by an inmate using wiring removed from a light fixture and toilet paper. The fire was contained to a single cell in the segregated portion of the jail. The inmate is now facing additional charges.
Also on the agenda for Monday’s meeting is a proposed amendment to the master contract for architectural services between Liberty County and Burns Architecture, LLC. The firm is responsible for the design of the new Liberty County Law Enforcement Center on SH 146, as well as the Northwest Annex in Colony Ridge, south of Plum Grove.
Monday’s meeting will take place in the County Court at Law courtroom on the second floor of the Liberty County Courthouse. The meeting is open to the public.
So much corruption in liberty and it’s all coming to light little by little