First Inmates Housed in New Jail Addition

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Office Friday transitioned 91 female inmates into the new jail facility located on Elm Street in downtown Tyler. These are the first occupants of the new addition to the Smith County Jail upon its completion and inspection by the Texas Jail Commission, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Larry Smith said this is considered a transition due to the fact the new facility has direct supervision of inmates as opposed to indirect supervision — two totally separate jail operations. In a direct supervision environment, the detention officer is actually inside the jail pod with the inmates.

So far, this transition appears to be working well, according to Smith. He says numerous detention officers have received a great deal of training within the past several months relative to this transition. This was necessary to create additional female housing within the Smith County Jail facilities, according to the sheriff. Prior to the transition the jail had 136 available beds with 140 (includes temporary holding tanks) female inmates incarcerated. Smith says tail has been constantly at maximum capacity of its female housing units prior to this transition.