Dallas jail was not at capacity, sheriff says, despite critical alerts

Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown has disputed reports that the jail population recently exceeded 100% capacity.

The county’s jail population management department had emailed the figure to county staff and media Sept. 2, the morning after Labor Day.

At least three members of the commissioners court raised an alarm when that number was released after the holiday weekend.

But in an open letter to media recently, Brown wrote that the Texas Commission on Jail Standards’ 2024 inspection allows the jail to house up to 7,364 inmates — and that number had not been reached.

The jail population management email reported 7,124 people in jail as of 7 a.m. that morning.

It also read:

"Urgent: Immediate Action Required — 100% jail capacity. All hands-on deck! We remain in a state of emergency.