Savion Vashon Hall was 30 years old when he was booked into Midland County Jail in Midland, Texas, on June 21, 2019; and he was pronounced dead on July 19, 2019. The custodial death report reflected that he had breathing problems.

A foundational duty of Texas county jails is to ensure that inmates are protected from harm and receive necessary medical care. Preventing custodial deaths is a priority addressed by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS ) in minimum jail standards, which provide guidelines for operation in all county Texas jails.

According to minimum jail standards, provisions are supposed to be made for inmates who need to see a doctor for health reasons.

TITLE 37, PART 9, CHAPTER 273, RULE §273.2-Health Services Plan

The following are among the procedures each jail is required to include in a Health Services Plan, per the Texas Administrative Code cited above:

• Ensuring routinely scheduled sick calls;
• Referrals for inmates to receive mental, medical, and dental services;
• Prompt and efficient care for emergency and acute occurrences;
• A method for controlling, distributing, securing storage of, inventorying, and disposing of syringes, prescriptions, needles, and hazardous waste containers;
• A method for distributing prescriptions per doctors’ written instructions by way of an individual designated by the sheriff or his or her designee; and
• Ensure that adequate first aid and patient evacuation equipment is at all times on hand.

See this continuing series to learn more.

The posts on this website purpose to assist inmates now or previously incarcerated in county jails in the state of Texas. There is no intention to infer that any person or entity has been involved in wrongs.

–Guest Contributor