Houston, we have a problem
The recent closure of the Giles W. Dalby Correctional Facility in Texas—where 500 people from Harris County were being held pretrial—has triggered yet another costly and harmful move. By November 1st, Harris County plans to send these individuals to the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center in Louisiana, joining two other out-of-state, privately run facilities. This approach is not only draining over $50 million of taxpayer money but is also perpetuating a deeply flawed system that does little to ensure safety, justice, or well-being.
Harris County's decision to incarcerate hundreds of our family members and community residents miles away in Louisiana is rooted in a dangerous misconception: that locking people up keeps us safe and delivers justice. This outdated belief persists despite crime rates dropping nationwide, and while Harris County remains the leading source of mass incarceration in the U.S., it has failed to address the root causes of harm or invest in solutions that truly support our communities.
At the heart of the problem is a system that fails to treat people as individuals. Police often make arrests indiscriminately, and the district attorney’s office accepts far too many cases, many of which are ultimately dismissed. Meanwhile, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office is struggling to maintain the staffing levels necessary to ensure the safety of those in its so-called "care" stuck in jail simply because they can not afford their bail. This August, Dianna Williams became the 7th person to die this year in Harris County Jail due to lack of access to critical medical care. Dianna’s tragic death reflects a deeper, systemic issue—80% of the people held in Harris County Jail have mental health needs that require care, not incarceration.
This is why staffing in the jail is so problematic. Guards are overworked and unprepared to meet the complex needs of people who need doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists, not isolation and control. The current approach is not just fiscally unsustainable, it is morally indefensible. Rather than continuing to ship our loved ones to distant, unaccountable facilities, Harris County should confront the real issues: overcrowding, poverty, racial disparities, and the mental health crisis that plagues our criminal justice system.
Unfortunately, instead of investing in community-based healthcare solutions for people cycling through our local jails, the county has doubled down on the same failed approach. Millions of taxpayer dollars are being funneled into building new jails and rehabbing old ones, while more investment is needed in expanding community-based care options. This is simply repeating the mistakes of the past while expecting different results.
The closure of the Dalby facility could have been a turning point—a chance for Harris County to embrace meaningful reform. Instead, the decision to continue outsourcing our people to distant, privately run facilities reflects a lack of vision and accountability. Without oversight, these facilities will continue to operate in ways that harm those in custody.
As advocates for change, our Holistic Services Director was asked to sit on the Resident Advisory Committee, which is charged by the county with recommending how to make our jail and community safer. For months, our county has been working on a plan to build a new jail but you won’t find any information about it in the media. Did you know our Commissioner's court could pass a bond approving the building of this new jail without a yes from voters? Sitting at the table allows Monique space to urge Harris County leadership to rethink this harmful strategy. The safety and justice we all seek cannot be found in sending people hundreds of miles away. Real justice means investing in community-based ecosystems that promote access, safety, and healing. We must break free from the cycle of mass incarceration and bring our people home, where they belong.
Here are the ways you can join the fight: