Tarrant County could cancel private jail contract Wednesday after failed state review

Tarrant County commissioners are considering the cancellation of a contract with a private jail company used to accommodate the county’s overflow inmate population. The private jail, situated approximately four hours west of Fort Worth in Garza County, was found to have failed multiple Texas jail standards during a recent review. Furthermore, the jail’s administrators neglected to inform Tarrant County officials about the concerns, according to Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare.

O’Hare expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of notification from Management and Training Corporation (MTC), the Utah-based company that operates the Giles W. Dalby Correctional Facility in Garza County. He stated that neither he, the sheriff, nor the county administrator were informed, and the county learned about the issues through the media, which he deemed unacceptable.

During their meeting on February 6, the Tarrant County Board of Commissioners voted to send notice to MTC indicating the county’s intention to terminate its contract for housing prisoners at the Dalby facility.

Since August 2022, Tarrant County has paid MTC approximately $40 million for accommodating overflow inmate populations at Dalby. A review conducted by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards in December revealed deficiencies in six categories at the Dalby jail, including Life Safety, Health Services, and Supervision.

If commissioners decide against outright contract cancellation, they may consider extending the contract until December of this year. By that time, renovations at another county jail facility on Cold Springs Road in Fort Worth are expected to be completed. The renovated facility would then be utilized to house overflow inmates.