JUST IN: Dr. Candice Matthews to Conduct Walkthrough of Harris County Jail

HOUSTON, Texas (TXAN 24) — In a move toward transparency and accountability, Dr. Candice Matthews, Dr. Muhammad, and their team are conducting an official walkthrough of the Harris County Jail.

The visit comes on the heels of a significant milestone: no reported inmate deaths in the last six months.

The walkthrough is designed to evaluate current conditions inside the facility, assess what new initiatives have been implemented, and gauge their effectiveness. The team also plans to speak directly with inmates to hear their experiences firsthand.

Dr. Muhammad, the head minister of Nation of Islam Mosque No. 45 in Houston, joins Dr. Matthews in leading the effort.

“This isn’t for show—this is professional activism,” said Dr. Matthews. “When you have the power to bring elected officials to the table and demand answers, that’s when real change happens.”

Later today, the team will meet with Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and his leadership staff for a full debriefing. The meeting aims to dig deeper into current strategies, what’s working, and what still needs to be addressed.

This initiative is part of a broader push by community advocates to ensure humane treatment and accountability within the jail system. Dr. Matthews emphasized that this type of hands-on involvement is key to turning advocacy into action.

Updates from the walkthrough and leadership meeting will be shared with the public in the coming days.