Kenedy County Commissioners Court met Monday to discuss plans for a possible county jail that would house their inmates and perhaps those of other counties as well.

“We are currently getting information and just looking at all of our options for a county jail,” said Kenedy County Judge J.A. Garcia. “Nothing is definite yet, we have just put in an application for assessment to see if the jail is necessary.”

Adan Munoz, Jr., Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and former Kleberg County Sheriff, met with the commissioners court to discuss and explore all of its options.

“The Texas Commission on Jail Standards is currently working on a Facility Needs Assessment for Kenedy County,” Munoz said.

“The purpose of this study is to determine what the minimum number of beds Kenedy County would need to meet its own agency’s needs for the next 15-20 years,” Munoz said.

Kenedy County inmates are currently booked at the sheriff’s department, then immediately transferred to other counties’ facilities, such as Kleberg and Willacy, depending on whichever jail has open beds.

“Kenedy County is in a unique situation because it shut down its jail years ago, which left no option but to send inmates to other counties, such as Kleberg and Willacy,” Munoz said.

“They attempted to keep their jail open as a lock up but that became more of a liability than anything.”

“We are looking at a possible 72 hour lockup or if we have the need for something more expanded,” said Judge Garcia.

“More than likely Kenedy County will probably show a need for 48 beds, of course Kenedy normally runs from 20-30 inmates a month, but not all of them are long term incarceration,” Munoz said.

Kleberg County officials had previously discussed plans to expand the current county jail to make room for 45 more inmates, however if Kenedy County builds a jail, Kleberg County would have to reevaluate their need for the expansion as well.

“Klebergs’ main problem is female space,” he said.

“Females cannot be housed within sight or sound of the male inmates,” Munoz said.

“Their jail space is not suitable to house more females then they currently hold which is around 6 or 8,” Munoz said.

“The documents we have received at our agency as preliminary plans call for 36 beds strictly for females,” according to Munoz.

He also said, “Besides, Kleberg housing inmates for Kenedy on a courtesy basis does not make sense. If they house for Kenedy but ship their own inmates off because of no space, then what is the advantage?”