LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – The state has officially ordered Liberty County Jail to shut down its facility due to reported “non-compliance issues” within the jail.
On Tuesday afternoon, Captain David Meyers with Liberty County Sheriff’s Office provided KRPC 2 with the following statement:
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“The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has issued a Second Amended Remedial Order addressing non-compliance issues in the jail and ceasing all operations. The Order will become effective 15 days after the date of service. Liberty County will use this time to take necessary steps to bring the Liberty County jail back into compliance with jail standards. At this time, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office is working diligently to relocate all inmates to other contracted facilities so that we may facilitate repairs. Liberty County takes this issue seriously and will work closely with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to ensure the health and safety of staff, inmates, and the community moving forward.”
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards held an emergency meeting regarding the state of the jail last Friday, during which, several recent incidents at the facility were discussed.
Back in early April, a fire broke out in the facility, forcing inmates to be evacuated. After reports initially speculated about the origin of the fire, it was eventually determined to be caused by a faulty light fixture.
Earlier this year before the fire, the jail had a failed fire inspection. In January, state inspectors found that “several sinks, toilets, showers and light fixtures that were damaged or inoperable.”
RELATED: What started the Liberty Jail fire? A faulty light fixture, officials confirm
And just a few months before that, inmates at the jail attempted a takeover during a contraband check.
At least four or five inmates that Lt. John Bennet with the Liberty Co. Sheriff’s Office described as “instigators” were being hostile half an hour into the checks. Those inmates then reportedly tried to “take over” the jail dorms by smashing windows and refusing to let guards in.
MORE: Liberty County Jail inmates charged for participating in riot
During Friday’s emergency meeting, issues with observational checks from a report in 2023 were referenced.
Officials also discussed an overcrowding complaint from January of 2024, where three inmates were housed in a cell made for a single occupancy, and other inmates were being confined in holding cells for longer than 48 hours. Minimal custody inmates were also being housed with maximum custody inmates.
In January 2025, another special inspection of the jail was conducted, and the following issues were discovered: inadequate staffing levels, failure to conduct face-to-face inmate observations, overcrowding in inmate housing areas, missing documentation regarding suicide watches, inoperable cell locks, and a fire alarm control panel that had more than 100 identified system troubles.
Later in February, these issues were reviewed, and the county provided information on its efforts to improve staffing and jailhouse standards.
