Jail population, outsourcing costs grow over recent weeks

The most recent jail report showed that both outsourcing costs, peak population and average population totals have grown over recent weeks.

During Hays County Commissioners Court meetings, County Judge Ruben Becerra updates the community on the Hays County Jail population and outsourcing costs.

The most recent report covered the week of June 9 to 15. Compared to two weeks prior, the report showed a $2,504 growth in outsourcing costs, peak population grew by 12 inmates and average population grew by six inmates.

“Our Sheriff sends my office the jail report every week, and I get the privilege of reading it to inform the public,” Becerra said. “Our current maximum jail capacity is 410 inmates. Jail Standards recommends holding approximately 10% of that capacity open, which lowers our capacity to 368.”

Becerra said the jail’s daily average was 544 inmates, and the peak was 555 inmates on June 12. When reported for the week of May 26 to June 1, Becerra said the jail’s daily average was 538 inmates and the peak was 543 inmates on May 29.

“The estimated cost for outsourcing those inmates this week is $166,091,” Becerra said. “The average number of outsourced males is 245 and females are nine. This week’s inmates were housed in the following counties: Comal, Haskell and Maverick.”

Outsourcing costs for the week of June 9 to 15 are up $2,504 from the week of May 26 to June 1, which was $163,587 at that time.

According to the Vera Institute Hays County Jail Dashboard, which was updated on June 23, 517 people or 92% of the jail population had a felony as the most severe charge, 7.7% had misdemeanors as the most severe charge and 0.2% had hybrid or unspecified charges. For custody type, 429 people or 77% of the jail population were held pretrial, 86 people or 15.4% were sentenced, 49 people or 8.8% of the population were pretrial U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 42 people or 7.5% were held for a parole violation, one person or 0.2% were sentenced ICE and one person or 0.2% were not in any of those categories.

As for pretrial length of stay, the Vera Dashboard showed 45 people or 10.5% were held for less than a week, 77 people or 17.9% were held for one week to under a month, 79 people or 61.2% were held from one month to under six months, 24 people or 18.6% were held from six months to under one year and five people or 3.9% were held from one year to under three years.

The race, ethnicity and gender of inmates is also listed in the Hays County Jail Dashboard. There were 290 Hispanic white men or 51.9% of the jail population, and Hispanic white men make up 18.8% of the resident population. There were 137 non-Hispanic white men or 24.5% of the jail population, and non-Hispanic white men make up 25.8% of the resident population. There were 62 non-Hispanic Black men or 11.9% of the jail population, and non-Hispanic Black men made up 2% of the resident population. There were 31 non-Hispanic white women or 5.9% of the jail population, and non-Hispanic white women made up 18.7% of the jail population. There were five Hispanic Black men or 0.9% of the jail population, and Hispanic Black men make up 0.4% of the resident population. There were five non-Hispanic Black women or 0.9% of the jail population, and non-Hispanic Black women compose 1.8% of the resident population.