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Commissioners hire attorney to assist in jail issue

By Scott Harvey

Hopkins County – Hopkins County Commissioners Thursday morning approved the hire of an attorney to assist in the development of a long-range plan for the county's jail.

Jim Allison, of Allison/Bass Associates, LLP, out of Austin, specializes in legal processes for the County Judges and Commissioner's Association of Texas. Hopkins County has been ordered by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to develop a long-range plan for their jail facility by August.

That plan may include a possible regional jail concept and the possibility of privatizing the facility, both of which were discussed during Thursday's meeting.

The current Hopkins County jail facility has been under remedial order by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards since September, 2008. For the past several months, the county has been in agreement with Franklin and Titus Counties to house inmates in their facilities when the count exceeds 95.