The Discovery Channel would be better served by checking out the problems going on at the Dallas Zoo and as to why they are trying to ship a sick elephant to Mexico?

The Discovery Channel might discover something there.

There's not a lot of good to be discovered in the Dallas County jail system and it's interesting that the sheriff is willing to be open about it and the commissioner's court wants to keep the door shut.

Hey Diana, isn't the Sheriff supposed to keep the door to the jail closed?

(i'm just kidding, your wording struck me as ironic..)

Valdez is clueless as ever, she is like Commissions Court Judge Jim Foster. They both seem to think fogging a mirror is only test that needs to be passed to hold office, Lord knows she can't pass any other test

http://tinyurl.com/6jpjaj

Fogging a mirror? Seems that is the only test in Foster's case!

When the jail has still not passed an inspection, it doesn't make sense to expose its shortcomings to the Discovery Channel. Just gives the inmates a tool to sue us.

The DMN reports the Commissioners voted UNANIMOUSLY to sue Sheriff Valdez to stop the filming. That means Price and Foster (Dems) voted with those rascally Republicans. So, either DMN is wrong or Watkins is lying -- what a shock either way.

Seeing this pic of our County Sheriff and DA together must give a lot of comfort to the criminal population in our town.

Sharon,

I hope you remember your words when you or someone you love is hauled down there as a result of some bureaucratic foul up-- happens all the time. The Dallas County jails are real hellholes-- much, much worse than the jails one commonly sees portrayed on shows such as COPS or Inside American Jail.

Remember, the Dallas County jails hold many people who have not yet been brought to trial (in other words, some of these folks (i.e. the "criminal population") are actually innocent while others are there over things like "trespassing," "open container," bounced checks, or warrants for minor traffic infractions that have actually been cleared up.

If the conditions down there are defensible, then what's the problem with shining the light of day on them? I guarantee you that the typical resident has no idea how bad/dangerous/chaotic conditions are down there as a result of chronic underfunding. If, indeed, the problems could lead to successful lawsuits by inmates, then it's best we get a handle on the situation and get these problems addressed.

Sharon, do you really believe that individuals detained for minor misdemeanor offenses should be:

1) confined in unsafe quarters that violate fire codes;

2) forced to share overcrowded (no room to sit or lay down for periods exceeding 24 hours), poorly supervised quarters with individuals charged with violent felonies;

3) denied reasonable access to working telephones when attempting to arrange bail;

4) subjected to unreasonable delays in release when attempting to post bail;

5) lost in the system entirely?

Come on, you're better than that.

Classic line..

"When the jail has still not passed an inspection, it doesn't make sense to expose its shortcomings to the Discovery Channel. Just gives the inmates a tool to sue us."

Yes, keeping things hidden is always a great way to move forward. Deny till you die and keep the cameras away. Better that people should needlessly suffer in order to save face for those responsible.

We can have our own little Gitmo for George W to visit.

We should also teach our children that it is better to keep things under wraps instead of coming clean.

This is the very same philosphy which has Dallas listed as number one in false convictions with guys spending 20 to 30 years in prison because some over zealous prosecuters. Just think, if we would have just kept them in prison, they would have never sued us.

The jail has failed to pass one inspection since Sheriff Valdez took over.

The state is inspecting the jail. The public is represented by the state.

The Sheriff claims she wanted to show the good things that are happening in the jails. Let's show them to the state inspector first, since they seem to have some difficulty finding even acceptable conditions, much less good conditions.

Even Democrat Commissioner Price voted with those rascally Republicans to deny the camera crews access to the jails.

DA Watkins says:

“The question I would have of any individual that would question this is: How many times did the commissioners question the former sheriff as to who was allowed the jail?” Watkins said. “You would be remiss to find anyone who can come up with that answer.”

Valdez Says:

"Valdez added that she was surprised at all the attention that this issue has received. She said her intent was to focus on the progress that has been made in the jails under her watch."

Aren't both of these statements "political"?? I mean, can you really claim you are being picked on for politics when you claim that you are doing this because you want to show how good you are at the job you do right before an election?
Or better yet, use the defense of: Well it didn't happen to that politician, so why should it happen to me..after all I'm a politician too!?!?"

Aren't we all getting a bit tired of the "woe is me" defense?? It is after all....politics, and maybe people who run for office should just do their jobs and let their work speak for itself rather than grandstand and complain?

DA Watkins says:

“The question I would have of any individual that would question this is: How many times did the commissioners question the former sheriff as to who was allowed the jail?” Watkins said. “You would be remiss to find anyone who can come up with that answer.”

Valdez Says:

"Valdez added that she was surprised at all the attention that this issue has received. She said her intent was to focus on the progress that has been made in the jails under her watch."

Aren't both of these statements "political"?? I mean, can you really claim you are being picked on for politics when you claim that you are doing this because you want to show how good you are at the job you do right before an election?
Or better yet, use the defense of: Well it didn't happen to that politician, so why should it happen to me..after all I'm a politician too!?!?"

Aren't we all getting a bit tired of the "woe is me" defense?? It is after all....politics, and maybe people who run for office should just do their jobs and let their work speak for itself rather than grandstand and complain?

who is going to pay for the officers to escort the film crew around MORE OVERTIME and why not make money off the production of this film discovery will

is this political HELL YES valdez claimed this was illegal about a year ago now that she has a PR person she is out to use county property for her campaign remember she was caught campaigning at detail meetings

this place is a hell really and if I was here I would not allow a crew who once they are done filming will turn this against her for failing to do her job she has been there long enough and yet with no good outcome. and for the DA please give me a break those who get in trouble stick together if you remember he was caught useing the county vehicle and cashing in on mileage expenses, maybe this is why she did not do nothing to him.

Watkins said. “You would be remiss to find anyone who can come up with that answer.”
What the heck does that mean?

Valdez says there is no contract, only an "agreement." Again, huh?

Democrat or Republican, I don't care but these two have to go.

the da cannot represent valdez since he represents the county in other matter this would be a conflict of interest

Dallas is screwed either way. Maybe opening the jailhouse doors and showing the real problems this city faces will get some real action done. Also of note: Most of the other city jails you see shown on COPS or other shows are usually ran by a "responsible" Sherrifs Department, not a ship of fools like the commissioners court that engage in Tammany Hall-style backdoor politics on a daily basis.

The Dallas County jails have consistently failed nearly all (if not 100%) of all relevant federal and state inspections since 2003. Indeed, they have come close to being shut down entirely on more than one occasion.

Perhaps if voters could see for themselves who the typical inmates are (a surprisingly large number of individuals charged with non-violent offenses and/or folks who have fallen behind on various fines, etc.) and/or the conditions under which they are housed (pretty hellish, at least in comparison to the jails one typically sees on tv), they might be willing to fork over the cash to fix things up.

If people like Sharon insist that we turn a blind eye to the conditions down there, they will have only themselves to blame when the federal and/or state government finally has enough and shuts these facilities down, resulting in a tsunami of inmates (both violent and non-violent, innocent and guilty) being set loose on the community.

As much as people like Sharon might like to shove all the folks at Lew Sterrett into a pit (at least as long as none of their friends and neighbors have the misfortune of ending up there), turn out the lights and forget about them-- such behavior simply isn't permitted in first world countries. Here in the U.S., we have a Constitution which grants rights to all people, not just to those from the right neighborhoods, of certain races, or with the right "hook up."

Besides being illegal in this case, ignoring the plight of the less fortunate simply isn't good for the soul.

Openness is the oil that makes democracy run smoothly. I am constantly saddened by the fact that so much local government takes place behind closed doors and voters do not seem to care.

I am therefore 100% behind Valdez and Watkins in this. I don't care what their motivations are. I don't care about what kind of agreements they may or may not have gotten from the TV crews. I want to see the truth, no matter how ugly (or good) it may be.

What does Watkins quote mean? He doesn't speak english. I thought this guy was a lawyer

Setting aside the politics... Watkins, Valdez, Mayfield, etc., I still don't see the harm in allowing the public the opportunity to see what goes on at a public facility for which they (the voting public/taxpayers) are ultimately responsible.

Why is it so important that jail conditions be kept secret?

I am a decades long employee who will never be confused as a rabid Lupe supporter. Lupe has spend more time out politicing than doing her job...because she's sticking to what she knows.

For all intents and purposes, John Wiley Price has been running the jails for the last couple of years out through her default.

That said, I was amazed to see Lupe sprout a set and tell the Comissioners to butt out. She is the Sheriff (on the rare occasion she chooses to be so) and has the authority to let any damn person she wants into the jail.

She does not have the authority to sign contracts for the county, and we havent seen what she signed, but she does regularly sign 'agreements' or 'memorandums of understanding' with various departments around here. I vaguely remember something from business law 101 that for an agreement to be a contract, there has to be an exchange of 'consideration.'

I found to my horror that one thing that can make me support my sheriff is seeing Commissioner Mayfield blow air at TV cameras. Mayfield's years of obstructionism when the jails asked improvements is a major reason we are where we are today. There were other politicians that bear equal responsibitily, but they have died or moved on (Jim Jackson, Exhibit A).

Godspeed, Elba Garcia.

THIS DOCUMENTARY SHOULD BE MADE BUT POLICY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED WITH NO PAY RAISE IN SIGHT WHY NOT CHARGE THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL AND RAISE SOME MONEY BUT NO WE WILL LET THEM COME IN FOR FREE AND WHO WILL PAY FOR THE STAFF TO ESCORT THE CREW AROUND WHO WINS QUEEN VALDEZ

YEAH AND ITS A SHAME THAT THE EMPLOYEES OF NEW FINE ARTS ARE APPARENTLY FORCED TO WORK ON KEYBOARDS WITH STUCK CAPS LOCK KEYS AND NO PUNCTUATION KEYS

It's Republican Vs. Democrat politics in it's worst form of expression.

Lupe is a Media genius. Having Craig Watkins stand next to her seems to make her look better, speak eloquently, and appear to be a regular Einstein

Did Discovery channel apply for and obtain the necesary permits from the city and county to film on city and county property? Do they have the necesary liability insurance? Have they obtained all the waivers or compensation pay forms from all partys? That would also be any inmate caught on camera!

The answer would be no and Lupe is playing politics with other peoples lives.

Well looks like Watkins gave Valdez the wrong legal advice. I'm sure they will scream politics but wasn't it a Democratic Judge who granted the stay? How much doe will the tax payers have to fork over for the private attorney the county had to hire. Thanks Lupe, Thanks Craig

Brilliant. This will provide anyone who chooses to sue Dallas County over the poor conditions in the jail with HUNDREDS of hours of video footage showing every little corner of the jail. One subpoena for the footage is all it would take for some lawyer to have all the evidence he could ever possibly want. Lupe is brilliant.

Somebody needs to explain to poor Lupe that every major city or county has a jail, so there's really no need to have our jail on the Discovery Channel. Does she think it would work like a travelogue to boost Dallas' image? No, it would only serve to connect the words 'Dallas' and 'Jail' in most viewers' minds.

Lord knows I'm no lover of incarcerated criminals, but they are not zoo animals to be observed for entertainment.

Lupe Valdez made a complete fool of herself and the cost of this entire episode should be taxed to her. Of course, our Bail Bondsman DA only has to get up in the morning to make a complete fool of himself.
That anyone would take legal advice from a guy ran a bail bonds business is hard to believe.

The guy who looks good from all this -- Commissioner Price. He has been Lupe's protector, and she slapped him in the face. Still, JWP handled himself very smoothly, with a hint of "I'll deal with you later".