Continuing to Change the Dallas Sheriff's Department

Lupe Valdez has worked hard and successfully over the last two years to turn the Dallas County Sheriff's Department around. Sheriff Valdez has made the department accountable to the families and taxpayers of Dallas County.

To view a web version of the presentation the Sheriff has been giving to local organizations click here.

Protecting Dallas Families

As Sheriff, Lupe Valdez has worked tirelessly to reform her Department, addressing longstanding issues and implementing new and expanded programs to increase public safety.

  • Sheriff Valdez has hired over 400 new detention officers for the Dallas County jail, and continues to work daily to address the systemic problems in the jail system left to her by her predecessors. These new guards allow the Sheriff to keep the Jail within legal prisoner-to-guard ratio guidelines.

    Read news release: Sheriff Valdez Outlines 2008 Budget Priorities.
  • During Sheriff Valdez's term, major progress has been made towards bringing the jail into compliance with all state and federal laws, after years of underfunding and neglect. Sanitation and maintenance have been addressed, and installation has begun on a new smoke exhalation system in the County Jail.
  • Sheriff Valdez has worked with Parkland Hospital and other county agencies to bring the health care provided to inmates in the Dallas County Jail System in line with national and state standards. Sick individuals are no longer placed in jail, where they can present a health risk to the inmate population and the public, but instead are treated first.

    Read news release: Justice Department Commends Sheriff's Department's Efforts on Jail Medical Issues.
  • Sheriff Valdez led the development of a new Phase II of Dallas County's innovative traffic management plan. This plan allows Sheriff's deputies to patrol Dallas County highways, saving money and making aid available more quickly when drivers are injured or in danger. This new Phase II plan will extend service to almost all highway miles South of I-30 and will be fully implemented in 2008.
  • The Sheriff has led her Department in partnerships with the Dallas County District Attorney, the County Probation Department and the Dallas County Constables to increase the enforcement of warrants and to locate probation absconders, thus removing dangerous individuals from Dallas neighborhoods.
  • Sheriff Valdez has overseen the construction of the South Tower jail, a new jail system that will be organized and operated in a more modern way than the existing jail facilities.
  • Sheriff Valdez has overseen the expansion and improvement of programs conducted by the Department, such as the Courtesey Patrol to aid stranded motorists and the County's DWI taskforce.

Saving Taxpayers Money

Though reforms to the Dallas County Jail can be expsensive, Sheriff Valdez and her staff are always mindful of costs, and work diligently to save and maximize taxpayer dollars.

  • Sheriff Valdez overhauled the jail commissary contracting system, canceling "sweatheart" contracts set up by her predecessor. The commissary contract now brings in $1.5 million a year and these funds are used to improve programs for inmates in the Dallas County Jail System, offsetting costs that would otherwise be borne by taxpayers.
  • Sheriff Valdez and her Department have worked with County Probation, the District Attorney and the Dallas County judges to move inmates through to their final disposition more quickly, alleviating population overcrowding in the Jail to save costs and ensure that space is available for truly dangerous criminals.
  • The new standards put in place regarding medical care, sanitation and maintenance will lower potential liability to the County by reducing risk of infection or harm to Jail inmates.
  • Sheriff's Deputies will expedite the clearing of accidents on highways covered by the Traffic Management Plan, saving commuters the costs associated with traffic delays and congestion.

In three years, Sheriff Valdez has made Dallas safer, saved taxpayers money and worked hard on behalf of the people of Dallas.

Sheriff Valdez is running for re-election in 2008 to complete the difficult work she has already begun: restoring the trust of the people of Dallas in their Sheriff's Department, improving the safety of all Dallas residents and protecting taxpayers from needless expense.