MCLENNAN COUNTY — An online petition created by the Waco Immigrants Alliance is asking the McLennan County Commissioners to break their contract with LaSalle Corrections.
They are asking to turn things around for the Jack Harwell Detention Center.
The detention center received its third non-compliant and failed inspection on March 11-12.
Executive Director Hope Mustakim of Waco Immigrants Alliance has petitioned in person and advocated others to do the same at their weekly Tuesday meetings to inform the county commissioners with their concerns.
As not many can make it to the Tuesday morning meetings, they created the online petition to get more people to speak their mind.
"I feel like there's a lot more people in the County who want to be heard," Mustakim said.
McLennan County Commissioner Patrcia Miller said she also has some concerns as the detention center has failed inspection too many times.
"It is concerning and it is a cause for the commissioners to stop and give it some thought," Miller said.
"LaSalle needs to be held accountable for their disregard for human life," Mustakim said.
While there is no set date on when the commissioners will revisit the contract with LaSalle Corrections, they hope to do it soon. If they were to cut ties, Miller said it would be within the means of the contract and would not go against that.
The McLennan County Sheriff's Office would have new ownership if county commissioners choose not to continue their work with LaSalle.
Some things already planned of the sheriff's department were to take over the facility is having a programs facility offering adult based education, mental health and mentoring classes.
The petition made by the Waco Immigrants Alliance can be found here.
