# 1 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS

**gplroc.- AUSTIN** 

**---**
Honorable B.T. Waltera

**Cm&y Auditor**  **srith caunty**  Tyler, Texas
**, ‘** 

**.** 

### Dearsir: ', ', ‘\ oplnlonNo. 0#2cj '.., ': Ret Coarl88+"ra'~~-5our#- Authority **to** build

PmpsrtY l**dvell?ing~.~~~, mud+?**  **farm**

ë... earehilly oonaidered by itequest

a8 follovsr 8EiOnlms Qourt nd county fundll ed by the county; **handOrhfUldS**

‘8 **Annotated** Texas Oode of Orlmln-

’ i 1 **&me& amresssd**  ln 8 eonrlsir aonfinement in jell for r vhere in muoh aonvlotion t ta’aasemmd only **at** a **peaunfary** arty 80 aonviated 1s unable to pay oste adjudged againat hlr thcma 80 1 be required to do Mmrrl labor in **aaaordanacs** with the provlslona of this article under the follovlng rules and regulations: "1. Raah oomuiasloners court my provide for the ereotion **of a**  **vorkhouse and**  **the** eatabliahment of **a** county **farm** in conneotlon therewith for the purpose of utlllcing the labor of **said** par-Honorable B.T. Walters, Page 2

ties 80 convicted. "2. Such farms **end** vorkhou6es 8hall be under the control and mgement of the cosml88ioners court, and said oourt may adopt such rules and regulation8 not Inconsistentwith the lavs as they deem necerrsary

for the 8uoaeasfulmanagement end operation of said institutions and for efiectively utlllaing aald labor.

“3. Such overseer8 and guard8 may be employed **under** the authority **of** the comslssionerlr court as may be necessary to prevent escapes and to enforce such labor, and they shall be paid out of the county treasury such aompensatfon aa said court may prescribe. !!4. Those 80 oonvioted shall be 80 guarded while at 

### work a6 to prevent eecape.

‘5. They shall be put to labor upon the publie road., bridge8 or other public works of the aounty vhen their labor tmnnot be utillaed in the countyvorkhouee or aounty farm. Se&ion 1 of the above statute authorlses the oomm18810nerst courts of th%s State to ereat vorkhou8ea md establish county farm. Se&ion 2 of the above atatute place. the control and management of such rorkhau8e8 snd oounty farms In the~comsd.88loner8~ courts and also author

### izes the commlssloners oourte to idopt such rule8 and regulations not lnconalstentwith the lava aa they deem neoessary for the 8ucoessPulmanagement and operation of said institutions snd for effectivelyutillting such labor. Seotion 3 provides for the employment of guards and overseera. Section 5 provides that the aonvlots shall be put to labor on the roads snd publla **vorks** when their labor cannot be utillsed on the oounty 

### farm or county vo&house.

The above statute authorIre the e8tablleEusent of a county farm. Bulldings necessary for the suoce88iul operotlon of the oounty farm, such as, housing for conviata, guard8 and overneera, barns, eta. stay be built by the oonml8slonera* court. Although Section 5 of the above quoted artiale oontemplates the use of conviot labor on the county farm, we WinkHonorable B.T. Walters, Page 3



### that if therewere not sufflaientoonvict 

### laboron hand to successfully

operate 

### the countyfarm the aommietxionere' 

### courtvould clearlyhave authorityto hire outsidelabor to make or 

### gathercrops,etc. on the countyfarmnecessary for the suacessfuloperationof the farm.

You are respectfully advleedthat it is the opinion of thisdepartmentthat if the ooamris~lon8rat 

### court deter&Lneethat thebuildingof the proposeddwellingon the county farm Is neaeaeary for the sucaessfulmanagement and operation of the 

### aountyfarm, lnaludiag 

### the utll~zatlon of convictlabor,theymay lawfullyexpendcountyfundsfor suchpurpose.

WJFlAW