Waco: Harwell Detention Center passes surprise inspection

McLennan County’s 1,000-bed Harwell Detention Center, which the county took over from a private operator last fall, has passed a surprise inspection.

"We got a surprise inspection last week and all of our jail facility and are pleased to say we passed with no deficiencies,” jail coordinator Maj. Ricky Armstrong said Wednesday.

"We had to make a number of repairs plus we painted the whole place and have been working ever since we took over the jail in October,” Armstrong said.

The detention center now houses about 400 inmates.

“We are very happy we got the letter today on passing the inspection that we did not know was going to happen,” McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said.