Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby says an agreement has been reached and all paperwork is in order, so now some Newton County Jail inmates are being held in the Beauregard Parish Jail in DeRidder. As of Monday, Burby said eleven inmates were being housed in DeRidder. Meanwhile, Burby is planting a seed which he hopes will result in a larger jail being built in Newton County. The agreement with Beauregard Parish comes after a recent state jail inspection which determined that the Newton County Jail was holding six inmates more than the facility can hold, despite other inmates being housed in the Jasper County Jail. According to Sheriff Burby, it will cost Newton County $60.00 per day-per inmate, plus medical costs, to have them held in Beauregard Parish. Meanwhile, Burby said Newton County will continue to have inmates held in the Jasper County Jail, and as of January the rate will be $45.00 per day-per inmate, plus medical costs. Burby said it is his preference to have his inmates held in the Jasper County Jail, but he also understands that there may not always be enough room. “While Jasper County has assisted us in many different facets over the years, especially regarding our jail management program, Jasper is experiencing the same issues with overcrowding in their facility. Jasper is and will remain our first option when it comes to managing overflow in the jail”, said Burby. A remedy to the problem, says Burby, is for the Newton County Commissioners Court to consider building a larger county jail facility. Burby said “As I toured the Louisiana facility, I thought of how much money Newton County could be saving in the long-term, if we had such a facility. A bigger and updated jail is necessary to alleviate the many issues associated with our current jail situation. I am asking for the public’s support regarding this in the future.”
The following is the full statement from Sheriff Robert Burby:
On December 14, 2023, we executed the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for Jail Services in Beauregard Parish by transporting inmates to their facility to be housed. We now have 11 inmates in the Beauregard Parish facility. I went along on one of the transports to meet with the Warden and his Command Staff, and to look over the facility. On November 28, 2023, the Texas Jail Commission conducted a scheduled on-site inspection at our facility. On the date of the inspection, we had 20 Inmates on site, and 8 inmates housed in Jasper County Jail. The Jail Commission’s final inspection report documented that we were 6 inmates over our capacity and must make the necessary arrangements to reduce the total number not to exceed 14 in the Newton Jail. We have made the necessary arrangements finding a facility to house our overflow when Jasper County cannot. I stand firm in my commitment as Sheriff, to ensure those who commit crimes against our citizens are locked up. During my tenure as Sheriff, we have worked diligently to manage the jail population daily. Jail overcrowding is a major issue throughout the State of Texas, and we find that jail space is limited. This Interlocal agreement will relieve the immediate issue but is not the overall remedy for our problem of jail overcrowding. The cost to house our inmates in Beauregard Parish will be in the amount of $60.00 per day per inmate, plus medical costs. Starting January 1st, 2024, we will pay $45.00 per day per inmate, plus medical costs to Jasper County. Why pay $60.00 when Jasper will be charging $45.00 beginning in January 2024? While Jasper County has assisted us in many different facets over the years, especially regarding our jail management program, Jasper is experiencing the same issues with overcrowding in their facility. Jasper is and will remain our first option when it comes to managing overflow in the jail. There are many moving parts in managing our inmates, for instance, some are waiting to be sent to TDC, ISF, and in some cases, a designated mental facility. We must ensure that logistics are in place to meet those requirements. As I toured the Louisiana facility, I thought of how much money Newton County could be saving in the long-term, if we had such a facility. A bigger and updated jail is necessary to alleviate the many issues associated with our current jail situation. I am asking for the public’s support regarding this in the future.