HOUSTON — KHOU 11 Investigates uncovered a troubling pattern of questionable force inside the Harris County Jail. Hundreds of inmates were punched in their heads by detention officers who were rarely punished. These findings are featured in a new investigative documentary, STRUCK: Inside the Harris County Jail, which highlights systemic issues in one of the nation's largest jails.
After more than a year of fighting for records, in-depth research and reporting, the KHOU 11 Investigates team found that detention officers hit inmates in their heads nearly four times a week over the past four years. They were punched in situations deemed unwarranted by experts and even by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The vast majority of these incidents occurred without consequences for the officers involved.
‘STRUCK’ shares the stories of former inmates reeling after being hit by detention officers while behind bars. A former officer describes a “very abusive, toxic” culture, a mother grieves the loss of her son who died inside the jail, and Gonzalez vows to make changes following the investigation.
You can watch the full documentary only on KHOU 11+ Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Watching is easy! Here’s how to download the app:
- Go to the app store on your Roku, Amazon FireTV or Apple TV device.
- Search for "KHOU 11+"
- Select the KHOU 11+ app
- Download the app to your device for free
- Start watching KHOU 11 around the clock!
This investigation is a must-watch. Download KHOU 11+ now and see the stories you won’t find anywhere else.