Shannon Herklotz has been employed with the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office since February 2023. Before joining DCSO, Herklotz served as the Chief of Detentions of the Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas. Herklotz was also a long-serving Deputy Director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) in Austin, Texas.
Herklotz has over 33 years of experience in the criminal justice field. He began his career as a correctional officer in July of 1990 with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and was ultimately promoted to the rank of Captain.
Herklotz began his tenure with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards in 1998 when he was assigned as a Field Inspector for the South Texas region. Herklotz was promoted to Assistant Director over Inspections and Jail Management in 2007. In 2009, Herklotz earned the Texas Jail Association’s prestigious Hall of Fame Award, recognizing his career of outstanding contributions to county corrections and the criminal justice system. Herklotz continues to dedicate his work toward the advancement of the field of county corrections. In 2019, he received the President’s Award from the Texas Jail Association for his service and support to the organization during the previous year.
Herklotz is a graduate of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy (Class #44) at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
Herklotz also has a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University.