Full Notification

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman has moved to terminate the costly contract awarded to Mike Barber Ministries, funded through the Harris County Jail’s Commissary Fund under the previous administration.

In 2012, Mike Barber Ministries was awarded a contract to coordinate the network of volunteer chaplains, and chaplain services in the Harris County Jail. To date, Mr. Barber has been paid over $1.1 million in funds collected through the profit of commissary sales to inmates.

In a move to impose reasonable cost controls throughout the Harris County Jail System, Sheriff Ron Hickman terminated the Harris County Sheriff’s Office business relationship with Barber by sending notice to his DeSoto, Texas headquarters.

In no way are religious offerings suspended in the Harris County Jail as a result of the decision to vacate the current contracted services with Barber. The Sheriff’s Executive Director of Community Relations, Edwin Davis and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Chaplains have moved to supplant and replace any services offered by Barber with cost-free volunteers from the faith based community of Harris County.

“In a community the size of Harris County, faith based missions can offer many of the same services, and more,” states Sheriff Hickman. “It’s unconscionable to expend exorbitant amounts on contracted prayer, when a community of volunteers is ready and willing to provide ministry services. We must be better stewards of funds under our control.”

The Harris County Jail Chaplaincy program is coordinated through partnerships with congregations of all faiths. In doing so, the Sheriff’s Office has turned to a more cost effective coordination solution.