No surprises here, folks

Yes, it's late news, but I've been a) swamped at work and b) sick as a dog with strep throat. But in case you didn't read about it, Dallas County Jail failed inspection for the fifth year in a row.

Here's an excerpt:

"I've watched this jail make more progress in the last two years than in the last two decades," County Commissioner John Wiley Price told state inspectors during a briefing on the latest inspection. "It will appear to the public that we've been lethargic. Nothing can be further from the truth."

Perhaps Mr. Price should actually visit the jail tanks, preferably incognito, to see lethargy hard at work.

For example, during my four months of visiting James, I've observed one uniformed staff member who has never done a single thing except sit in a chair and watch others work. Ever. But she has a pretty good attendance record, so maybe I'm just being mean-spirited.

I'm not saying all sheriff's department employees are lazy. For example, I've noticed that visiting hours run much more efficiently when certain sheriff's dept staff are managing it. Some even stop by and say hello to the regular visitors. But to fail an inspection for five years in a row - during which time, my county taxes nearly doubled - suggests something a bit more sinister is going on, especially where money is concerned.