Willacy County leaders working to land prison contract
RAYMONDVILLE — After months of debate, Willacy County commissioners are planning to take over operations of a county-owned federal prison that’s become an economic lifeline in this farming area.
Now, commissioners are working with federal officials to land a contract to hold U.S. Marshal’s prisoners in the 580-bed Willacy County Regional Detention Facility.
Since 2003, Management and Training Corp., a national private operator, has run the prison, pumping about $400,000 a year into county coffers.
In September, federal officials granted MTC a six-month contract extension months after President Joe Biden ordered the Justice Department phase out its contracts with private prison operators.
Facing a March deadline, commissioners are working with Belton-based consultant Bill Bryan to take over operations whose annual costs could climb to about $15 million, County Judge Aurelio Guerra said Tuesday.
Read more: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2021/12/28/willacy-leaders-working-to-land-prison-contract/