Commissioners table decision on inmate transport contract after data on rising bills

The Jim Wells County Commissioners Court voted March 27 to table consideration of cancelling the county’s inmate transport contract with Sunrise Transport LLC for 30 days after hearing evidence of sharply higher transport bills and a request from the district judge to allow prosecutors and judicial partners to participate in discussions.

Commissioner George Aguilar presented figures showing transport fees had climbed compared with the prior year, saying the county incurred about $74,000 in transport fees so far in 2026. He told the court those rising costs prompted his request for a contract cancellation notice; the district judge subsequently submitted a written request that the matter be held so he and other justice system partners could be present to explain court and probation practices being used to reduce the jail population.

Sheriff Joseph Guybaker said the offices are meeting weekly with judges, probation and prosecutors on measures to lower the inmate count and the number of out‑of‑county transports; he also confirmed continued operational needs if the contract were ended. When asked whether he would still use Sunrise Transport if the contract were cancelled the sheriff said, “That’s absolutely true. So, I was using Sunrise Transport prior to bringing the contract here,” noting there are statutory and operational duties (hospital trips, court transports, juvenile transfers) that must be met.

After discussion the court approved a motion to table the item for 30 days to allow the multiagency efforts to continue and to return with updated population and cost figures. Commissioners asked staff to review billing details (including hospital‑guard charges) and to provide more documentation at the follow‑up meeting.