Posted on 08/28/2007 10:24:42 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
OLMITO — The Cameron County Sheriff’s Department received approval on Monday to move nonviolent offenders into an army-style tent at the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center.
Adan Muñoz, director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, said he faxed over a letter to the sheriff’s department and county judge on Monday giving approval to open the facility after he received photographs indicating the problems had been corrected.
“It got approved by the city of Brownsville, so if the city of Brownsville is good with it, that’s what I have to rely on,’” Muñoz said in a phone interview from Austin.
The approval came four days after sheriff’s officials were told an exposed electrical wire inside the tent needed to be covered before the TCJS would approve it for use. Late Monday afternoon, the sheriff’s department moved 11 inmates inside the tent, which was constructed to house 32 inmates.
Inside plastic bags, each carried their personal belongings, such as books and Bibles that they later placed inside plastic storage containers.
Sheriff Omar Lucio said Cameron County is the first in the state to use such a tent.
“It’s history,” the sheriff said.
Inmates in the tent chose to be there, Lucio said, adding that some who wanted to stay in the tent could not qualify because of the offense they committed.
“These are the people that are out there working in the community. These are good people…everybody makes mistakes,” the sheriff said.
Luis Sanchez, 27, of San Benito is one of the new tenants of the tent. Sanchez, who is serving time for failure to pay child support, will spend the remaining 20 days of his 80 days sentence inside the tent.
“It’s better than being inside. We have more freedom out here and we are away from all the gang members,” Sanchez said. “We are not criminals. We are just here for little misdemeanors. I think it’s going to be pretty fun being out here, trying something new.”
One guard will watch over the 11 inmates who will use the tent mainly for sleeping purposes, authorities said. The remaining time will be spent working in the farm area and other parts of the county where their help is needed.
A recreation hall and bathroom facilities are located adjacent to the tent. The entire area is fenced in so even if someone tried to escape they could go anywhere, Capt. George Garcia said.
Muñoz said the TCJS will do routine and surprise checks at the facility to ensure it remains in compliance.
“That will be part of our facilities that we will have to inspect now,” Muñoz said.
The tent was initially erected in December 2006; state officials asked Lucio earlier this year to take it down after they say he failed to ask for permission from the TCJS.
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Why in Odin's Beard are we footing the bill to incarcerate people for such piddling offenses??? Is he bunking with the guy serving 120 days for tearing the label off of his mattress???
Why don't they just attach his wages? He's probably working "under the table".
Wonder if he gets visitation with the children? There are two sides to every story.
I wonder if that's what Capt. Garcia really said...
Good editors are hard to find these days.
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