Hiring in-house inmate medical services provider tops court agenda

NEW BOSTON, Texas - Getting a new in-house inmate medical services provider will be one of the measures discussed and acted upon during the Bowie County Commissioners Court 's first meeting of the new year at 9 a.m. today.
Commissioners will consider bringing back a previously tabled proposal to hire a new, in-house inmate medical services provider for both the Bowie County Correctional Center as well as for the Bi-State Justice Center jail. They also plan to go ahead and hire a medical services provider for both jails after considering the bids.
LaSalle Corrections, a private company that's managed Bowie County's Correctional Center for several years, recently notified the county of its intent to withdraw once its current contract expires Feb. 12. The decision will leave both the center and Bi-State jail to once again be operated by the county Sheriff's Office.
In other business, Court members will also consider going out for bids for a county bank depository and will also consider accepting a $250 donation from Bowie County resident David Palladino.
Commissioners will then go into closed executive session to discuss cyber security, personnel matters and litigation regarding the recent cybersecurity hack attacks last month.
Following the last closed session at the end of the Dec. 28 Commissioners Court meeting, Bowie County Judge Bobby Howell said the cyber security situation is still under evaluation and technical teams are still trying to determine if the county's computer system is now completely clear of any residual ransomware damage.
"Right now, we are still making progress in getting our system re-secured," Howell said following the closed session. "But I'm still not able yet to put a time-line on when things will be back to normal, but we now know, so far, that no personal data was compromised."
The commissioners will meet inside the meeting room on the courthouse's second floor.

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