AUSTIN, Texas - The backlog at the courthouse is causing a problem at the jailhouse.

Almost 600 people, all charged with violent crimes, are in the Travis County jails.

Data obtained by FOX 7 Austin show that a specific inmate population has dramatically increased from what it was 10 years ago.

Inmate population increases in Travis County

The backstory:

The Travis County jails, in downtown Austin and Del Valle, as of Tuesday, Oct. 7, were holding 2,366 inmates. The majority of those locked up are accused of committing violent crimes and are awaiting trial. There are 29% in maximum security and 60% in medium security cells.

The facilities were built 30 years ago, and in a statement sent to FOX 7, Sheriff Sally Hernandez said:

"The housing units were not designed to handle this many

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