By Christine McCarthy
GROESBECK- Limestone County officials are considering beefing up their security measures at the county juvenile detention facility after two inmates tried to escape on separate days in past months.
Judge Daniel Burkeen said the two inmates hopped one fence but didn't make it over the second fence behind it, before jail security grabbed them. Since then, the chief juvenile probation officer asked Judge Burkeen and the county commissioners to consider the cost of installing razor wire on top of the fence.
"This wire would be to keep them from even trying, to increase the safety factor for the kids, the public and everyone," said Judge Burkeen.
Burkeen, however, was confident the public is not at danger with the current security measures and said the razor wire would be a deterrent for potential escapees.
"Anytime something happens, you become a little more cautious, a little more observant, but the fact is the security they had did work and the kids didn't get away, and I expect it would work next time," he said.
The court, mindful of a tight county budget, is considering the price of the wire, the installation for which the Texas Department of Criminal Justice would provide.
Judge Burkeen is also concerned about the serious injuries contact with the razor wire could inflict on the youth inmates.
"It's dangerous, nasty stuff," Burkeen said. "The idea is nobody would get hurt. Nobody would get cut because they wouldn't try to go through it, but, with human conduct being what it is, it's hard to judge. If a kid did try it, it would be dangerous."
Burkeen said the court will weigh their priorities and, if they decide to install the wire, it will most likely happen next fiscal year.
The Limestone County Juvenile Detention facility holds about ten inmates at a time, according to Burkeen. They are charged with a wide range of crimes.
