Facing mounting financial strain, Trinity County weighs closing its jail

TRINITY COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — After months of struggling with overcrowding and plumbing issues, an East Texas commissioners court will decide whether to close or maintain the county’s jail.

In November 2025, a bond to build a new Trinity County Jail failed to pass voter approval, which would replace the current jail that continues to face plumbing and capacity issues. Since that time, the county has partnered with neighboring agencies to accommodate inmates; however, escalating budget costs may lead to the indefinite closure of the jail.

The Trinity County Commissioners Court met on Tuesday to consider all funding and alternative jailing options before next week’s final decision. In an hour-and-a-half-long meeting, the commissioners court, Sheriff Woody Wallace and several community members came together to exhaust all options.

Precinct 1 Commissioner Tommy Park stated that the key consideration is whether the jail will result in savings or additional expenses. He emphasized that a decision is necessary as the budgeting process for the upcoming fiscal year nears, with costs starting to surpass the anticipated figures.

According to Park, the budget allocated for jail maintenance this fiscal year was approximately $10,000. As of Tuesday, the total expenditure has reached around $23,000, with an additional $1,896 still pending. The commissioners’ court noted that in previous years, the total budget spent on the jail was about $25,000.

In December 2025, the jail was out of compliance with the state, housing 13 inmates when it could only house a state-approved seven. At the time, the jail was also facing infrastructure issues of a backed-up sewer that was causing flooding throughout the jail.

Inmates were temporarily relocated to the Jasper County Jail and Trinity County secured a contract with Angelina County to house inmates as the facility was inspected and repaired. The contract, approved in January, costs the county an approximate $3,000 per day to house the inmates.

“I know we can hash out the numbers and how much we want to save or not save, but there are a lot of other things we gotta think about and that’s where we all gotta put our heads together — the sheriff, auditor, us, the judge,” Park said on Tuesday, addressing the commissioners court. “Bottom line is if we close this jail down, it’s never gonna open back up. I don’t necessarily know if we want to open it back up. It’s almost a hundred years old.”

In the special meeting, the commissioners court discussed several options — from utilizing the City of Trinity Police Department to continuing the contract with Angelina County. Ultimately, each decision would cost the county, as police officers and department staff would need to be jail certified and jailers would still be needed to transport inmates to and from other county jails.

Sheriff Woody Wallace, who has been outspoken on the jail’s issues, raises concerns of short-term versus long-term resolutions. He brought the question to the commissioners: “So the issue here is do we continue maintaining a building that’s almost a hundred years old? I would love not to. I think it’s pitiful that we have to do it.”

In the special meeting, Wallace agrees with commissioners that the current situation of maintaining a building as old as the jail or transporting inmates across county lines is not cost-effective, but that a jail is a necessity regardless.

Wallace cites that having an operating jail is a county’s obligation to serve its citizens and inmates. He also said it works as a means of controlling crime.

“The county is not in business to ‘save money’ — it’s in business to provide the service to the citizens,” Wallace told the commissioners court. “We have to provide a service to citizens and one of the statutory obligations of this court is to provide the sheriff with a jail. You can do that with a contract across the line, that’s not a problem, but you also have to meet the demands inside the county that we’re dealing with on a daily basis.”

After hearing the sheriff’s remarks and community input, the decision to close or otherwise maintain the county jail will be made on April 14 at 9 a.m. in a regular commissioners court meeting.