How to File a Grievance at Aransas County Jail — and When to Complain to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Aransas County Jail must respond to a grievance in writing within 15 days. That timeline gives you a clear checkpoint. Ask your loved one when they submitted the grievance, count forward 15 days, and mark your calendar. If a response comes back, save the date and the paperwork. If it doesn't, that missed deadline becomes part of the record - useful for any appeal or outside complaint later.

• ✓ Get a copy (or a photo) of the grievance your loved one filed
• ✓ Write down the date the grievance was filed/turned in
• ✓ Write down the date your loved one receives the written response (or the date the 15-day window passes)
• ✓ Keep a simple timeline of related communications and what happened when

If the grievance officer's decision doesn't fix the problem, Aransas County Jail allows an internal appeal to the Sheriff. The process is simple: the inmate writes a grievance addressed directly to the Sheriff. Like the original grievance, details and documentation matter - dates, what was requested, and what response (if any) came back.

1. Confirm the original grievance was filed - have your loved one note the date it was turned in and what it covered.
2. Track the 15-day response window - a written response is expected within 15 days.
3. Write the appeal to the Sheriff (if needed) - the inmate can appeal by writing a grievance addressed directly to the Sheriff.
4. Keep copies and dates - save the original grievance, the response (or lack of one), and the appeal paperwork so your timeline stays clear.

When the jail's process isn't resolving the issue - or isn't working the way it should - you can submit a complaint to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). Mail complaints to: Complaint Inspector, Texas Commission on Jail Standards, P.O. Box 12985, Austin, TX 78711. Include what was filed internally and when, so TCJS can see the steps already taken.

• ✓ Confirm the inmate filed the internal grievance and tracked the filing date
• ✓ Wait for (and record) the written response within the 15-day window
• ✓ If appealing, confirm the inmate wrote a grievance addressed directly to the Sheriff and keep the date
• ✓ Include copies (or clear summaries) of the grievance and any appeal when you mail your complaint to TCJS
• ✓ Include key dates and your contact information in the mailed complaint

If your situation falls into a category TCJS won't investigate, you'll need a different approach. Use the jail's internal grievance and appeal process for what it can address. For issues outside TCJS's scope, look for other channels that match the type of allegation you're dealing with.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Keep copies (or photos) of every written grievance and every written response
• ✓ If the grievance is appealed, keep a copy of the grievance addressed directly to the Sheriff
• ✓ Write down the filing date for each grievance/appeal and the date any written response is received (or when the 15-day window passes)
• ✓ Maintain a simple timeline of who was contacted and what was said
• ✓ If you mail a complaint to TCJS, include copies and the key dates so the sequence is easy to follow
• ✓ Before escalating to TCJS, double-check that the issue isn’t in a category TCJS says it cannot investigate (like civil rights claims, criminal acts, staff rudeness, or certain pre-hearing privilege restrictions)

1. File an internal grievance - the inmate requests a grievance form, completes it, and turns it in as directed.
2. Wait for the written response - a response is expected within 15 days.
3. Appeal internally to the Sheriff (if unresolved) - the inmate appeals by writing a grievance addressed directly to the Sheriff.
4. Mail a complaint to TCJS (if appropriate) - if the issue is still unresolved and fits TCJS’s remit, send your complaint to the TCJS Complaint Inspector at P.O. Box 12985, Austin, TX 78711.