HOUSTON โ Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez is asking a federal court judge to step in if a compromise canโt be reached regarding the release of about 1,000 non-violent inmates from the Harris County Jail.
On Friday, the Sheriff began releasing inmates under Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgoโs order.
According to the countyโs Justice Administration Department, 12 inmates were released under Hidalgoโs order, when state court judge Herb Ritchie issued a counter-order disregard Hidalgoโs directive.
According to data from the Harris County Sheriffโs Office, of the 7,599 inmates currently in jail, 3.2% face misdemeanor charges.
As of our deadline, county officials have not yet said whether there will be an appeal of Judge Ritchieโs order.