1. Sheriff: More staff needed to keep inmates in county

The new portions of the Smith County Jail are officially occupied with inmates, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said in a news release.

The county transitioned 91 female inmates into the new portions of the jail on Friday after its completion and inspection by the Texas Jail Commission.

The move was necessary to create additional female housing within Smith County Jail facilities, Smith said in the release.

“So far, this transition appears to be working well,” the release read. “Numerous detention officers have received a great deal of training within the past several months relative to this transition.”

The $35 million jail renovation project was approved by Smith County voters in 2011.

The project added a $28 million, three-story, five-level building adjoining the existing downtown facility, and expands the county’s high-risk capacity by 384 beds, and the justice system’s total inmate capacity to 1,139.

The project also included upgrades to the intake and book-in areas, visitation systems, kitchen and renovations to the original jail building.

Twitter: @TMTFaith