Kenedy County only showed a need for a 13- bed jail according to a report prepared by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards recently sent to county officials.

Kenedy County officials had requested that TCJS conduct a Facility Needs Analysis to determine if there was a need for a possible county jail that would house their inmates and those of other counties. The report emphasized that it is based on a 20-year proposal beginning in 2009

Kenedy County closed their 7-bed lock up in 2001. The county has to house their inmates in Kleberg County.

The need for a 13-bed jail was the recommendation by TCJS based on information maintained by the Commission, the Texas Data Center, and the U.S. census Bureau and the Kenedy County Sheriff’s Office.

Adan Munoz Jr., Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, met with the Kenedy County Commissioners Court in early October to discuss and explore all of its options.

The recommendation also stated “the design professional should also take into account future planning and construction needs based upon past and predicted future female incarceration rates (typically 15 percent and classification variances of all inmates. There is an indication that female incarceration rates will continue to increase throughout the state.

“Our needs analysis only showed a need for 13 beds. Unless their demographics and/or arrests increase that would be their needs for, not only, the next five years, but longer than that,” said Munoz.

“Kenedy County’s close proximity and working relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement is what, in reality creates the needs for 13 beds. Now as that partnership is extended or enhanced, then Kenedy County could see the possibility of needing more beds than the Facility Needs suggest if that were ever to occur,” Munoz stated.

The average peak population was 11 inmates for Kenedy County during the last 12 months while the average daily population was three.

The report stated their recommendation more specifically: (1.). Choose a site sufficient for growth; (2.) design a jail that is truly expandable; (3.) provide adequate service and support space in initial design to allow for future expansion.

“This, in our opinion, is the most feasible and economical approach to your incarceration needs,” the report stated.

Munoz noted that it takes the same amount of personnel to staff a 13-bed lock up or a 48-bed jail.