Hill Country Chronicle

Kerr County Jail has received a state compliance certificate with only a few suggestions on improving operations. 

According to HC Community Journal, Kerr County Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer learned the jail staff was given minimal recommendations about its operations following a two-day, unannounced inspection held Feb. 19-20. It followed a high-profile court hearing for a murder case. 

Given the timing of the inspection coupled with the trial, Hierholzer believes the work put forth by the jail was top notch and an excellent example of the work ethic at the department.

“It was very hectic and we had a lot going on,” Hierholzer said. "But they (jail staff) did an excellent job." 

Unlike inspections in years past, Hierholzer said, the inspections that take place today are much more difficult to pass. Jail suicides have impacted the approach of the inspections. 

Hierholzer credited Kerr County Jail administrator Sylvia Foraker for keeping the daily operations running smoothly. 

“As the jail inspector said, it’s one of the most organized they have ever seen and they would love to have their other administrators do that, so they wanted pictures so they could train the jail administrators coming in to do it the way Sylvia does it,” Hierhozer said.

Foraker has been chosen by the Alamo Area Council of Governments to be on an advisory board to design tests for corrections officers and jails.

Among the areas that were recommended for improvement at Kerr County Jail were the reclassification of inmates — consistently changing the classification of inmates following a disciplinary hearing — and giving the inmates too many items; specifically, empty bottles, bowls, toilet paper, soap and toothpaste.