A contract nurse working at the Jasper County Jail has been arrested after investigators say she smuggled contraband into the facility on multiple occasions.
Amanda Finch, 39, of Kirbyville, was taken into custody by investigators with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. Finch, who was employed by Southern Health Partners, is accused of bringing several cell phones into the jail and providing them to inmates.
According to Sheriff Chuck Havard, the investigation began around 6 p.m. on Dec. 28, 2025, after authorities received information that illegal contraband was being introduced into the secured area of the jail. A subsequent search uncovered a cell phone inside the facility.
Under Texas law, smuggling prohibited items into a correctional facility is a felony offense. Finch has been charged with Prohibited Item in a Correctional Facility, a third-degree felony, and is currently being held at the Jasper County Jail.
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“Our number one priority is taking care of these inmates and our employees,” Sheriff Havard said. “I was notified of a possible employee bringing contraband into our facility, and we immediately initiated an investigation.”
Investigators later determined that Finch had allegedly brought multiple cell phones into the jail on different dates and distributed them to inmates. Havard credited investigators for acting quickly, leading to Finch’s arrest on Monday afternoon.
He also highlighted the serious security risks posed by inmates having access to cell phones.
“It can breach our security,” Havard said. “Our main priorities are the safety of our employees and our inmates. Keeping this facility secure is our responsibility.”
The investigation remains ongoing.