Survey of Texas Jails

The Governor's Committee and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards conducted a survey on ADA compliance in Texas county jails. The Governor's Committee received responses from 245 jail facilities in the 200 counties that responded to the survey. Sixty-eight percent have provided reasonable accommodations to employees such as providing proper parking, restroom facilities, and work stations. Thirty-five percent reported having renovated or constructed jail facilities since 1994. Of that number, 43 counties reported filing plans with TDLR, and 27 received a certificate of compliance with the TAS. Only 22% of the counties surveyed have a transitional plan in place to remove architectural barriers in jails, although 79% of jails reported having plans in place to accommodate inmates with disabilities. Overall, six and one-half percent of Texas jail cells meet proposed federal access requirements.