State inspector on Bexar County Jail: Best inspection in 10+ years

No deficiencies cited by state inspectors

For the first time in recent memory, the Bexar County Jail passed its state inspection with no discrepancies.

The jail was inspected last week and some minor problems were corrected on the spot, but no deficiencies were cited.

Brandon Wood, of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, wrote in a letter to Sheriff Susan Pamerleau that the jail staff is an example of "dedication and professionalism."

He also wrote that "Bexar County should be proud."

"To get through that with no discrepancies at all, that's a tribute to the great people that are working at the jail," Pamerleau said.

In an email to KSAT 12, Wood reiterated the remarks in the letter, saying the commission would "like to recognize the effort and dedication demonstrated by the Sheriff and her staff."

"The inspector said this was the best inspection they had seen at the Bexar County Jail in over 10 years," Pamerleau said.

Bexar County is more used to receiving inspections using phrases such as "deficiencies exist, areas of noncompliance" and "corrective measures."

Past deficiencies have included a jail that was over the approved capacity, intercoms that were inoperable and toilets that did not work.

The Republican sheriff even got high praise from a Democratic colleague.

"It's just been a world of change with her coming on board and I've never had a report from the jail commission that went to the extent they did in complimenting what we did," said Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff.

Pamerleau gave credit to her predecessor, saying improvements started here before she took office.

"This didn't just happen over the last 88 days," Pamerleau said.

The sheriff said jail inspectors check 690 separate items and that she wants the jail to be ready for inspection every day.

On a humorous note, she said inmate complaints were down, yet one inmate told an inspector the food was bad.

Pamerleau said she responded to the inmate's complaint.

"We're going to feed you nutritious food but we don't want to make it so good that you want to come back here just for the food," Pamerleau said.

County jails are inspected once a year.

For a list of recent stories Brian Mylar has done, click here.