Former Harris County Jail detention officers are calling for change to improve safety for both staff and inmates within the facility.
Two former officers spoke anonymously with media about their experiences during their time at the jail, revealing troubling conditions and extreme violence they say far exceeded their expectations.
“What we faced inside those four walls was much worse than what we signed up for,” one former officer explained. Recalling a disturbing incident, he said, “An inmate assaulted another inmate, and when I tried to intervene, he got aggressive with me and spit blood in my eye.”
The officers described a constant atmosphere of violence, with inmates attacking each other and staff alike. “I saw an inmate’s throat get slit while he was just sitting at a table playing cards. Someone walked up behind him and sliced his throat,” one of them recounted. “Ears being bitten off—it’s extremely gory.”
ABC13 obtained video footage from inside the jail showing not only inmates attacking each other and staff but also jailers assaulting one another. The former employees spoke of frequent injuries, including broken bones and severe bruises.
“There’s a certain level of violence you expect in a facility housing people accused of violent crimes, but this far exceeds that,” one officer said.
Many inmates in the Harris County Jail are not facing charges for violent offenses. In fact, 86% of those detained have not yet been convicted of the crimes for which they were arrested.
According to the sheriff’s internal reporting system, 2023 saw alarming levels of violence:
– 1,180 assaults on staff
– 4,081 assaults on inmates
– 4,375 fights
– 1,579 cases of consensual and non-consensual sexual encounters
Despite these staggering numbers, only 71 charges were filed for incidents occurring in the jail from January through October 2023, meaning less than 1% of violent incidents resulted in charges.
“They already have charges against them, so why charge them again?” one former officer said, describing the sheriff’s office’s attitude toward accountability.
The officers pointed to chronic understaffing as a major contributor to the dangerous environment. Employees frequently work 16-hour shifts, six days a week, to cover the gaps. “It’s incredibly dangerous when one or two officers are responsible for supervising over 1,000 inmates,” one officer explained. “Breaking up assaults becomes nearly impossible.”
The Harris County Jail had been out of compliance with state standards for two years, only regaining compliance in August 2023. However, the State Commission on Jail Standards noted that the jail still failed to meet the required staffing ratio of one officer per 48 inmates.
Although the county approved a 12% pay raise in 2023 to attract more staff, the former officers believe the issues go deeper than money.
“Now it’s about clocking in and hoping you don’t get hurt. That’s not what we signed up for,” one said.
The sheriff’s office declined request for an interview but stated in a written response that they refer serious assaults to the district attorney for potential charges. They also noted improvements in staff retention, with fewer detention officers leaving the agency in 2023 and 2024 compared to previous years.
However, the former officers argue that real change requires leadership to take a more hands-on approach. “Nobody wants to work in a place that doesn’t care about its employees,” one said. “Command staff needs to visit the jail more often and see for themselves what’s happening. It’s the only way things will improve.”
