Travis County district court judges have temporarily suspended active warrants for certain felony offenders, including warrants for offenses connected to petty drug dealing, prostitution, theft, forgery, and credit card abuse.
A standing order from the judges dated March 20 says the move is intended “to alleviate the threat of COVID-19 in County Jails.”
The judges directed the Travis County Sheriff’s Office to relay the order to law enforcement officers so that they are aware not to bring offenders to the jail during this time.
Offenses covered under the order include delivery of a controlled substance in small amounts, credit card fraud, prostitution, theft of something worth $2,500 or more but less than $30,000, graffiti, and tampering with physical evidence.
Margaret Moore, the chief felony prosecutor in Travis County, backed the move and said that she had worked with the judges in making the decision.
The order applied only to “certain low-level, non-violent felony warrants,” Moore said on social media. “I worked with the Criminal District Judges, the County Attorney, and the Sheriff to reduce the number of people booked into jail.”
Travis County Jail and the Travis County Correctional Complex have taken “extensive measures” to protect against an outbreak of COVID-19 among inmates and staff, according to Kristen Dark, Senior Public Information Officer for the Travis County Sheriff.
Dark said in a March 19 email to journalists, “Everyone entering our secure correctional perimeters, including employees, is being screened at the entrance and anyone with a temperature of 99.6 or greater is not allowed into the facility.”
“Sanitization of Central Booking is occurring 3 times a shift. This includes all flat surfaces and common touchpoints. Hand Sanitizer is available to all at the entrance and throughout the facility and a sink has been installed in the sally port so anyone may wash their hands when entering or exiting the building.”
She added that when arrestees are brought to the Central Booking, they are asked a series of questions according to CDC recommendations. Anyone suspected of COVID-19 symptoms is isolated. Medical staff triage the inmate and if deemed necessary, isolation is continued.
