County Liability

With the current jail facility, Rusk County is exposed to increased liability due to safety issues including the following:

• Inadequate facility poses safety concerns to staff and their ability to move inmates in a safe manner, to monitor inmates appropriately, and to perform their duty to protect inmates from each other.

• Inadequate facility poses safety concerns to to staff and emergency responders dealing with an inmate having a medical issue or mental health crisis.

• Inadequate space to properly house individuals on suicide watch.

• Rusk County is responsible for the care of the inmates in its custody. When inmates have to be housed in other counties, they are still in the custody of Rusk County, however, the County loses direct control over the care of its inmates.

• Identified reoccurring DOC violations that can't be addressed with the current facility could result in legal action.

 

​Learn more about other safety risks within the existing jail that could present liability to Rusk County.