Texas prisons stop accepting inmates from county jails as coronavirus outbreak grows

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice recently started producing 20,000 protective masks daily from ten of its own factories. As COVID-19 spreads in the prison system, TDCJ stopped taking inmates from county jails as of April 13. >>>PHOTOS: Houston responds to the coronavirus pandemic... less The Texas Department of Criminal Justice recently started producing 20,000 protective masks daily from ten of its own factories. As COVID-19 spreads in the prison system, TDCJ stopped taking inmates from county ... more Photo: Courtesy/TDCJ Photo: Courtesy/TDCJ Image 1 of / 102 Caption Close Texas prisons stop accepting inmates from county jails as coronavirus outbreak grows 1 / 102 Back to Gallery

Texas prisons have halted intake of inmates from county jails across the state, according to a letter from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to Texas sheriffs.

In the letter dated April 11, posted online by the Texas Tribune, TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier said the change would go into effect on April 13.

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As of Monday, 85 TDCJ employees, staff or contractors had tested positive for COVID-19, along with 193 offenders, the department reported.

An additional 11,283 offenders are on medical restriction, having possibly been in contact with either an employee or offender with a positive or pending COVID-19 test.

"I recognize this is an additional strain on your jail," Collier said in the letter to sheriffs. "Please know it is our intention to begin taking jail inmates when this situation stablizes, and it is safe to do so."