Hammack Quick to Give Credit to Staff for Tidy Jail, LIVINGSTON, February 19, 2009 - On February 12, 2009 the Texas Commission on Jail Standards conducted its annual inspection of the Polk County Jail, which passed the inspection. The Texas commission on Jail Standards sets rules and procedures establishing minimum standards for the construction, maintenance, and operation of county jails; for the custody, care, and treatment of prisoners; for the number of jail supervisory personnel; and for the programs and services to meet the needs of prisoners.
The Commission also provides consultation and technical assistance to local officials, reviews and comments on plans for the construction and major modifications or renovations of jails, performs annual juvenile justice survey to determine that juveniles have been removed from county jails. The commission also inspects county jails to assure compliance with standards, and reviews reports submitted by County Sheriffs. When the commission finds where minimum standards have not been met, the Commission will set a time period to have the situation corrected. When a jail has been found in non-compliance and the situation has not been corrected, the commission has the authority to shut down a jail and have its prisoners moved to an acceptable facility which would be a substantial cost to the tax payers. Sheriff Hammack credited the passing of the annual inspection to the hard work of the administration and staff of the Polk County Jail.
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