Detention Support Division

The Support Division of the Detention Bureau provides assistance within the Detention Facility for both the inmate population and the Detention Bureau staff. The Support Division oversees the daily activities of the kitchen facility where breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals are prepared for inmates and staff. This also includes specialized meals for the inmate population that are currently under medical care for various reasons. The kitchen is also responsible for the distribution of these meals and ensures that every inmate has an opportunity to partake in meal time.

Inmate disciplinary hearings and grievances are investigated through the Support Division. When an inmate reports a condition or event that may be in direct violation of their Civil Rights, the investigations section of the Support Division, the Detention Bureau Investigations Unit, will promptly respond with a thorough investigation into the matter. This specialized unit not only investigates inmate grievances, the unit is periodically assigned to investigate and respond to any incident or complaint that may involve a Detention Bureau employee.

The staff of the Detention Bureau Investigations Unit is also responsible for conducting background investigations on potential new hire applicants and has undergone specialized training in the field of internal investigations.

The Support Division has recently re-established agreements with the United States Marshals Service regarding the contract housing for Federal inmates. As such, the Support Division is directed by Lieutenant Penrod. He is also the Federal Liaison for the Detention Bureau with the U.S. Marshals Service. In addition to these various duties, Lieutenant Penrod also ensures that the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office is compliant with the federally mandated Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) of 2003.