AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Potter County Commissioners’ Court is getting an update on the Potter County Detention Center and how the county can fix the overcrowding.
The Potter County Commissioners were presented with different options when it came to moving forward on the jail, and what the impact of each would be: Do nothing, expand the current jail, or construct a new jail.
Do nothing:
If the county were to do nothing, this would require the continued housing of inmates out of the county at a cost that could fluctuate. Currently, that cost exceeds one million dollars per year and does not include transportation and medical. Inmate out-of-county housing costs could increase since it will be driven by the actual number of inmates in custody. There is no guarantee that beds will be available in other counties to house Potter County inmates.Additionally, the maintenance costs and need to update mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and security electronics at the jail will increase as the current jail continues to age.
Expand the jail:
If they expand the current jail, they are limited to 96 to 144 bed addition to the jail, based on the physical space requirements, and there being only one logical direction the jail expansion can occurThis will also require replacement of the security electronics system, replacement of the HVAC, and numerous other mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that are made difficult by the nature of the construction of the facility. Replacement of the underground cast iron plumbing, although needed, is cost-prohibitive. It would take approximately two and a half years to execute at a probable cost of 47 million dollars.
Construct a new jail:
TCJS, in its November 25, 2025, updated FNA, recommended, at a minimum, that 624 beds should be considered for the Potter County jail. As of November 26, 2025, the total number of inmates was 572.
The proposed jail will need to be sized based on the 1:48 staff to inmate ratio and for sufficient growth beyond the end custody numbers.The recommendation is that if the county chooses to construct a new jail that there should be a total of 672 beds, with further consideration for 720 beds. A new 672 bed jail, properly designed to accommodate all requirements of a modern jail, be expandable and have a 70-80 year lifetime, if properly maintained, should be considered. To construct a jail of 672 beds, it will take four years and at a probable cost of 202 million dollars…