The Texas agency overseeing jail standards will heighten its response to Harris County's years-long struggle to meet state guidelines and tackle overcrowding — less than a month after it was issued a notice for failing to complete face-to-face observations of inmates.

Since falling out of compliance, the Harris County Jail has seen at least 55 inmate deaths, a gun smuggled inside, and inmates not receiving proper medication.

A 78-year-old criminal defense attorney accused of smuggling drug-laced documents to inmates in Harris County Jail died from natural causes in January, his attorney told the Houston Chronicle. Charges filed in 2023 against Ronald Lewis,

Kristopher McGregor, 39, died Jan. 30 after being in custody at the Harris County Jail for less than a month. He had been arrested on a theft charge.