San Patricio County’s sheriff told the Commissioners Court on Sept. 29 that the county jail is operating well over capacity and that the problem is worsening.

“Yes. We are very full and that we're probably 40 over capacity,” the sheriff said, adding that the county has placed inmates in other jurisdictions including Gonzales and Wilson counties as it seeks beds. The sheriff said an unusually high share of transports are for medical reasons, including frequent seizures and other conditions that require hospital trips and deputy escorts.

Court members discussed the difficulty of housing and transporting inmates and the long lead time for building a new facility. When asked how long construction would take, the sheriff and other officials estimated about two years from the time bids and engineering proceed to completion.

County leaders said they have held meetings with local judges about the problem and that planning is underway to identify options for space and financing. No formal action or timeline for voting on a construction contract was taken at the meeting; court members discussed planning steps and the need to move quickly.

The sheriff said medical needs and frequent hospital transports add staffing and transportation costs; deputies have in some cases accompanied inmates to San Antonio, increasing workload and expense. The court did not release a cost estimate or financing plan at the meeting.