TEXAS COMMISSION ON JAIL STANDARDS
JAIL INSPECTION REPORT
Facility Name: Waller County Jail Date: December 19, 2018
Item Section Paragraph Comments
1 263 .41 Training of staff for emergency situations shall be provided immediately upon employment
and no less than each calendar quarter for all jail personnel to include fire, emergency,
evacuation drills, and location and use of equipment.
During the review of training records, four jailers did not have documented proof that
they received training for the 3rd quarter of 2018.
2 265 .3 Inmates confined in a holding cell or detoxification cell shall be observed by facility personnel
at intervals not to exceed 30 minutes.
During the review of 30 minute face-to-face observation logs, it was determined staff
exceeded the 30 minute rounds by as few as 1 minute up to 23 minutes.
3 271 .1(a)(1) Each sheriff/operator shall develop and implement an objective classification plan approved by the Commission
by January 1, 1997. The plan shall include principles, procedures, instruments and explanations for classification
assessments, housing assignments, reassessments and inmate needs. Plans utilizing an approved objective
classification system shall be submitted and approved by the Commission. The following principles and
procedures shall be addressed:
(1) inmates shall be classified and housed in the least restrictive housing available without jeopardizing staff,
inmates or the public, utilizing risk factors which include any or all of the following:
(A) current offense or conviction; (B) offense history; (C) escape history; (D) institutional disciplinary history;
(E) prior convictions; (F) alcohol and/or drug abuse; and (G) stability factors.
During the review of classification documentation, it was discovered three inmates
were not classified properly on the initial assessment.
4 271 .1(b)(3) Custody Reassessment/Review. A custody reassessment shall be conducted within 30 - 90
days of the Initial Custody Assessment and immediately upon any disciplinary action and/or
change in legal status which would affect classification. A documented classification review to
determine the necessity for a complete reassessment shall be conducted every 30 - 90 days
thereafter.
During the review of classification documentation, it was discovered one inmate was
not re-assessed within the required 30 - 90 days of the initial assessment.
5 275 .1 Every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day.
Facilities shall have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all
inmates by jailers no less than once every 60 minutes. Observation shall be performed at
least every 30 minutes in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal,
mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined.
1.) During the review of 60 minute face-to-face observations, it was determined staff
exceeded the 60 minute rounds by as few as 1 minute up to 153 minutes. 2.) During the
review of 30 minute face-to-face observations in areas where inmates are known to be
assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior
are confined, it was determined staff exceeded the 30 minute rounds by as few as 1
minute up to 74 minutes.
Shane Sowell, T.C.J.S. Inspector
