Coronavirus Complicates Completion of New Tom Green County Jail

SAN ANGELO, TX – Tom Green County officials are concerned about the affect coronavirus is having on completion of the new Tom Green County Jail.

County Judge Steve Floyd said Thursday that plumbing contractors are at the construction site now at the new facility east of San Angelo near the Roy K. Robb Center testing the plumbing.

Judge Floyd said he received a letter from White Construction the general contactor for the new jail. The letter said because of coronavirus related travel restrictions, getting construction workers is becoming more and more difficult.  

Floyd said in addition to the plumbers, county jailers are onsite training and inmate trustees are buffing floors.

"The Texas Commission on Jail Standards inspectors are waiting on a call to come inspect the new jail."  Floyd said.  Once the inspectors are called, they will travel to San Angelo and perform a three day inspection.  The Commission on Jail Standards will then issue the County a certificate of occupancy.

Tom Green County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Nick Hanna will then oversee transferring inmates from the Michael D. Brown Justice Center across Harris Ave. from the Tom Green County Courthouse to the new jail.

"It'll take all day to move all the inmates from the old jail to the new one."  Floyd said. 

The new jail will have 552 beds and has been under construction for over two years. The number of beds is 103 more than the current jail's capacity of 449 beds.

The new jail facility will have various dormitory wings for different inmates, including female and male dormitories, a solitary confinement wing, a wing for inmates struggling with mental issues, and a wing for 17-year-old inmates. The new facility will also have space for a medical center, booking area, a courtroom, and visitation area.

Floyd said they are hoping to complete the construction and inspection process and occupy the new jail by the end of April.  Construction began in the summer of 2017.