The custodial death report about 21-year-old Sappi Franck shows that he resisted arrest before being booked into Travis County Jail in Austin, Texas, on September 2, 2023. He made suicidal statements during intake. He also exhibited mental health problems and appeared to be intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. He was discovered lethargic and verbally unresponsive at 9 p.m. on September 8, 2023. Officers immediately summoned the medical staff and called for emergency medical services (EMS).

Suicide in Jails

A report on suicide that was used in Bexar County for Crisis Intervention training shared various myths about suicide. It has been discovered that it is important to address jailers’ personal thoughts about suicide because many people operate based on misconceptions. Some of those myths and the facts follow:

Myth: All suicidal individuals are mentally ill.

• Fact: Although the suicidal person is depressed or extremely unhappy, they are not necessarily mentally ill.

Myth: Detainees who are really suicidal can be easily distinguished from those who hurt themselves but are just being manipulative.

• Fact: Manipulative goals as a motive for self-injury are not useful in distinguishing more lethal attempts from less lethal attempts.

Myth: You cannot stop someone who is really intent on committing suicide.

• Fact: Most suicides can be prevented.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series.

This site, as one of its purposes, provides information to help Texas detainees who are or have been incarcerated in a county or municipal jail in the state. Insinuating that an individual or organization has been involved in wrongdoing is never intended.

–Guest Contributor