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The Cameron County Sheriff’s Office is blaming under staffing due to low pay for two notices of non-compliance it received from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito.
The notices are for Friday, June 2, when the population at Carrizalez-Rucker was 823 inmates under the supervision of 14 jailers for a ratio of 1:59 to 1, and for Sunday, June 4 when 828 inmates were under the supervision of nine jailers, for a ratio of 1:92 to 1, according to a post on the sheriff’s office Facebook page.
The state standard is 1:48 to 1, the post states.
“The root cause of this challenge lies in the relatively low salaries offered to correctional staff, which are notably lower than those in neighboring counties such as Hidalgo. The insufficient compensation has resulted in difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel, putting a strain on the overall efficiency and safety of the jail system,” the post states.
“It is imperative to address this salary disparity to ensure the smooth operation of the Cameron County jail system while remaining in compliance with the prescribed standards,” the post further states.
The Facebook post, dated June 14, states that the Cameron County Jail System has consistently sought to be in compliance with state standards and would be except for the compensation issues, which have been a challenge for a number of years.
“Together with the Cameron County Commissioners’ Court, we aim to create a sustainable solution that prioritizes the well-being of both the staff and the inmates, ensuring a well-functioning and compliant Cameron County Jail System for the benefit of the entire community,” the post concludes.
