County hires new jailers

JOEY DAUBEN
The Ellis County Press

WAXAHACHIE - Amid a rising prisoner population, Ellis County Commissioners approved the hiring of several state-mandated jail detention officers Monday, July 14.

According to Sheriff Ray Stewart, the state mandates for every increase of prisoners, a total of seven to eight jailers must be hired.

'We didn't think we could get this before the budget year, but we can,' Stewart told commissioners.

Money, however, is currently available to hire the new jailers in the current budget.

'You have about three locations you can get money from,' said County Auditor Mike Navarro.

Stewart said there are currently 298 jailers and with the additions, that number would jump to 315 - in time for the next fiscal year.

'We wanted to get this approved so we could process the paperwork,' he said.

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