The Bexar County Adult Detention Center has one of the highest mortality rates among Texas jails, with critics raising concerns about medical care and the county’s use of jail space.
The detention center has roughly 5,000 beds to hold inmates, and frequently becomes overcrowded. When space runs out, Bexar County pays neighboring counties to house some inmates.
The jail has seen more than 90 deaths since 2020, according to recent reporting. Some deaths have involved inmates experiencing medical emergencies, drug detoxification complications or other health issues while the jail continues to face overcrowding and staffing challenges.
Some of the deaths reported, include Reyes Antonio Chaires Jr., who died after being hospitalized amid detox and drug withdrawal complications, Elizabeth Anna Nero is also among those who have died in custody, where she suffered a sudden medical episode.
“Some of these are medical issues,” Salazar said per News4Sanantonio. “Some of these are mental health issues. The root of this problem that I’d love to see addressed is that we are misusing our jail space, as a legal system we are misusing our jail space. We’re not a mental health facility. We’re not a detoxification facility. Unfortunately, there is a sizeable portion of our jail population that this is not the most appropriate place for them.”
Bexar County has budgeted more than $112 million for jail operations and has recently approved $3.7 million to pay Kerr and Burnet Counties to house inmates when the jail runs out of space. The county also spent nearly $20 million this fiscal year on jail overtime and payments to neighboring counties.
According to The San Antonio Observer, Burnet County charges $80 per inmate per day, while Kerr County charges $65.
Earlier this month, the Bexar County Commissioners Court was scheduled to discuss how to address ongoing problems at the jail. The discussion was expected to cover how detainees are housed and ways to improve their health and well-being. However, the item was postponed to the Aug. 4 meeting.
Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody became frustrated after commissioners returned from an executive session and decided to remove the item from the agenda.
“We don’t have a strategy and a gameplan on that front and without having these open discussions…” whether that’s in a work session that’s in open court or whether that’s in task force behind the scenes we don’t know what we’re advocating for,” Moody said. “I can’t go an advocate if I don’t know what our strategy is.”
Commissioners are also considering a jail diversion program that would connect people experiencing mental health crises with care instead of placing them in jail. Jail diversion programs have been discussed as a potential solution to the county’s overcrowding and growing jail costs.
