Sec. 351.201. COUNTY JAIL INDUSTRIES PROGRAM  


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  • (a) A commissioners court by order may establish a county jail industries program. The sheriff may allow inmate participation in the county jail industries program in carrying out his constitutional and statutory duties.

    (b) The purposes for which a county jail industries program may be established are to:

    (1) provide adequate, regular, and suitable employment for the vocational training of inmates;

    (2) reimburse the county for expenses caused by the crimes of inmates and the cost of their confinement; or

    (3) provide for the distribution of articles and products produced under this subchapter to:

    (A) offices of the county and offices of political subdivisions located in whole or in part in the county; and

    (B) nonprofit organizations that provide services to the general public and enhance social welfare and the general well-being of the community.

    (c) A commissioners court, in an order establishing a county jail industries program, shall, with the approval of the sheriff:

    (1) designate the county official or officials responsible for management of the program; and

    (2) designate the county official or officials responsible for determining which inmates are allowed to participate in a county jail industries program.

    (d) An order of a commissioners court establishing a county jail industries program, though not limited to, may provide for any of the following:

    (1) an advisory committee;

    (2) the priorities under which the county jail industries program is to be administered;

    (3) procedures to determine the articles and products to be produced under this subchapter;

    (4) procedures to determine the sales price of articles and products produced under this subchapter; and

    (5) procedures for the development of specifications for articles and products produced under this subchapter.

    (e) A county jail industries program may be operated at the county jail, workfarm, or workhouse or at any other suitable location.

    (f) An inmate does not have a right to participate in a county jail industries program, and neither the sheriff, county judge, or commissioners nor any other county official or employee may be held liable for failing to provide a county jail industries program.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 578, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 1993.