The Grayson County Jail is experiencing air conditioning issues due to scorching temperatures over the weekend

SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – The Grayson County Jail experienced air conditioning problems over the weekend due to scorching temperatures in Texoma.

Grayson County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jeremy Cox said air conditioning systems struggled to maintain a consistent temperature.

Texas law requires temperatures in facilities to be between 65° and 85°.

“It was well within the norm, but warmer than we would have liked,” Cox said. “I'm sure it felt like an eternity to the people inside, but in reality it was only a few hours.”

Cox said the problems have now been resolved and there have been no reports of heat-related illnesses.

“Part of it is the age of the prison,” Cox said, explaining the cause of the air conditioning problems. “It's about 40 years old and this is part of our prison expansion.”

An upcoming $32 million prison expansion project is intended to help prevent similar problems.

“This is a brand new facility that is being added onto the existing facility,” Cox said. “It includes new air conditioning, new piping and everything is new.”

The new building, which covers almost 3,200 square meters, will have 166 beds on two and a half floors.

“We’re going to try to attract people to the newer area so they can use the new equipment,” Cox said.

The extension is also intended to offer the occupants more space and thus lower the emotional temperature.

“Our prison capacity is typically between 99 and 105 percent,” Cox said. “Texas prison standards would call for about 90 percent capacity.”

The prison extension would help bring the facility closer to that number.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion project is planned for November.

The Grayson County Sheriff's Office is working to hire more than 15 jail guards to manage the additional space.

Click here to apply.

All rights reserved.