By Scott Harvey
Hopkins County – The issue of jail overcrowding in Hopkins County will once again be discussed during Thursday morning's meeting of the commissioner's court.
On the agenda are discussions for a possible regional jail concept and the possibility of privatizing the facility.
The facility has been under remedial order by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards since September, 2008, and the county was recently instructed to develop a long-range plan by August.
In a recent interview with KETR, Hopkins County Judge Cletus Millsap said constructing a new facility in the form of a bond election would need to cost between $15 and $25 million. It would likely include approximately 190 cells, compared to the 100 the current facility has.
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.
Thursday's meeting takes place at 10 a.m. at the Hopkins County Courthouse.