Tarrant honors Carroll ISD, faces pressure over jail deaths and more county news
Tarrant County commissioners had a packed agenda this week, from mounting concerns over jail deaths to changes in meeting schedules and employee holidays. Public pressure intensified as residents demanded accountability from county leaders.
Here are key takeaways:
- Commissioner Matt Krause, a Republican from Keller, agreed the 80 deaths in county jail custody since 2017 are concerning. He said his office is committed to finding answers about the four deaths that occurred since the last comissioners court meeting on June 9.
- A crowd of 60 people rallied outside the Tarrant County Jail in downtown Fort Worth Tuesday morning, with speakers reading the names of 80 people who died in custody or shortly after release since Sheriff Bill Waybourn took office in 2017.
- Tarrant County Commissioners voted to continue meeting only once a month despite repeated calls from public commenters for more frequent meetings to handle county business.
- Tarrant County commissioners recognized the Southlake Carroll school district during their meeting Tuesday for the district’s role in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that state bans on transgender women and girls competing in female sports do not violate Title IX.
- Cesar Chavez Day was removed as a paid employee holiday for the first time in 15 years, replaced by Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Employees will still have 13 holidays total.
- Sheriff’s office spokesperson Robbie Hoy said there have been 77 in-custody deaths, fewer than other urban Texas counties, and identified cardiac disease as the leading cause among inmates with pre-existing conditions.
- Four Democratic candidates for county offices described the jail system as a humanitarian crisis and called for a new sheriff, arguing the Republican majority on the Commissioners Court has neglected the issue.
- The Texas Commission on Jail Standards found zero deficiencies in its earlier review of the Tarrant County Jail, but four deaths occurred in the 11 days following the June 9 commissioners court meeting.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.