The GEO Group, Inc. advises Maverick County they are withdrawing from managing Maverick County Detention Center

By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013

Maverick County Judge David Saucedo held a press conference on Thursday, October 3, 2013, to announce that The Geo Group, Inc., a private prison management company, had given 30 days notice to Maverick County that they had decided to withdraw from their management contract of the Maverick County Detention Center, located on Highway 131 in northern Maverick County, Texas, near the Maverick County Industrial Park. The Geo Group, Inc. will withdraw effective November 1, 2013.

County Judge Saucedo stated that Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber and him have been busy contacting all the parties involved in the management and detention of pretrial detainee prisoners of the United States Marshal’s Office in Del Rio, Texas. Judge Saucedo stated that there are two options at the moment: one, is for the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department to take over the management duties of the 600 plus bed detention facility; and, secondly, for Maverick County to hire another private prison management company to take over the management of the Maverick County Detention Center.

Judge Saucedo further stated that the approximately $39 million debt owed on the Maverick County Detention Center is the liability of The Geo Group, Inc. and the debt holder are the Bondholders of the bonds approved to finance the project when built. Judge Saucedo also stated that the Bondholders had decided not to renew their contract with Maverick County. Judge Saucedo added that “I don’t think we are in bad shape. We are working with everyone.” Originally, the Maverick County Detention Center cost over $45 million to construct and bonds were passed and issued to pay for the project.

Currently, 125 employees are employed at the Maverick County Detention Center by The Geo Group. Judge Saucedo stated Maverick County is doing everything to try to save these employees jobs.

Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber stated that he has already contacted Deputy U.S. Marshal Mario Pelayo in Del Rio regarding the current contract between Maverick County and the U.S. Marshal’s Office to detain pretrial detainees awaiting trial before the U.S. District Court in Del Rio. Sheriff Schmerber added that he spoke with the U.S. Border Patrol on the reasons why detentions of undocumented aliens in our area have decreased and they told him that it was seasonal and after January 2014 they should increase. Sheriff Schmerber stated that currently there are 343 federal prisoners from the U.S. Marshal’s Service detained at the Maverick County Detention Center.

Both Judge Saucedo and Sheriff Schmerber assured the residents of Maverick County that they are doing everything possible to keep the Maverick County Detention Center open and save the local jobs in the community.

The Geo Group, Inc. paid Maverick County the sum of $33,000 per month for operating the Maverick County Detention Center, approximately $400,000 per year.