32-Year-Old Prisoner Dies in Victoria County, Texas Jail

The Victoria County Sheriff’s Office recently filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas regarding the death of Clinton Joseph Harrington.  Mr. Harrington was only 32 years of age at the time of his death. Information in this post was obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.  Instead, we are simply providing information regarding the custodial death.

Mr. Harrington was originally incarcerated on September 9, 2018 at approximately 5:00 p.m. in the Victoria County, Texas jail. He was arrested for possession of controlled substances.

Mr. Harrington was periodically housed in a medical unit of the Victoria County Jail due to medical issues.  On October 18, 2018, Mr. Harrington was apparently eating lunch as he would normally do.  He was housed at the time in the infirmary unit with another cell mate.

Detention staff advised medical staff that Mr. Harrington was not acting normally.  However, medical staff stated that he was acting in a normal manner.   Regardless, after lunch, at approximately 12:25 p.m., Mr. Harrington was either laying or sitting on his bunk. He got up only twice between approximately 3:37 p.m. and 3:47 p.m. and then went back to his bunk.  Mr. Harrington appeared to be having involuntary bodily movements.

Approximately 2 hours later, Mr. Harrington’s cell mate contacted a control officer.  Medical staff entered the cell a few minutes later, but unfortunately it was too late.  Mr. Harrington was taken to the nearest hospital and pronounced deceased at approximately 8:36 p.m.

The custodial death report leaves much unanswered.  However, if jail staff knew that Mr. Harrington had serious medical issues and needed treatment, and failed or refused to provide that treatment, they could be liable pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for failing to comply with the 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Pre-trial inmates have the right to reasonable medical and mental health care, and the right not to be punished at all.  Failing to provide healthcare to a person who seriously needs it could be considered to be punishment.  Regardless, we have no personal information or other information that there was any wrongdoing related to Mr. Harrison’s death.  Presumably, the Texas Rangers will be conducting an investigation.

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.