Potter County weighs $200M jail as overcrowding costs taxpayers $1M a year

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Nearly a year after the Potter County Jail failed a state inspection due to overcrowding, county leaders are debating how address a growing inmate population, a problem that has already cost taxpayers about $1 million over the past year and could lead to a jail project exceeding $200 million.

The jail, which has about 600 beds, was cited during a routine inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards after records showed the facility exceeded capacity on 101 days over a one-year period.

According to Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas, the issue was not related to maintenance or safety conditions inside the building, but to overcrowding…

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS