By Bill Brown, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-826429.mp3
Dallas, TX – Next week, state inspectors will be in town to look over the Dallas County Jails. The troubled jail system has failed to pass muster for the last five years. The big test comes as the county is opening a new jail tower the sheriff calls one of the best in the nation. KERA's Bill Brown has more
More are being moved in almost every day, inmates from Dallas County's jails being brought to the new 65 million dollar South Tower at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. Eventually, the 4-story building will house 2300 prisoners.
Ask Sheriff Lupe Valdez about the new jail and she beams with pride. She's trying a system never before used in this county. It's called direct supervision, in which a jail officer is stationed inside a the pod where the prisoners live.
Valdez: "It's not only more humane, but it's also cost-effective. It saves a lot of taxpayers' money, space and everything else. It means we'll be able to do a lot more with a lot less."
Not so new and shiny are the county's two aging jail towers. Inspectors said some areas were dirty, medical care was poor, and the smoke removal systems were often broken. Now, Sheriff Valdez says a lot of hard work has corrected all those problems. She insists, when the inspectors show up next week, she won't be worried.
Valdez: "I think the Department of Justice said it best, that they have never seen such a quick turnaround and such a great improvement in such a short time. Do you think it's gonna pass this time? I think so. I think we're gonna do quite well."