The custodial death of 55-year-old Castlee Noble in Gatesville, Texas, on August 26, 2021, is currently under investigation. He had been moved into a detox cell in Coryell County Jail so that he would have the benefit of more frequent medical observation. The report released by the Attorney General of Texas indicates that Mr. Noble began refusing his medications a few days prior to his death.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) monitors complaints pertaining to county jails, and medical care for inmates is routinely the subject of most complaints. Jail Inspection Reports seem to reveal that monitoring of medical care is difficult to detect with a few exceptions. Observation records track the care given to inmates who are held in restraints and supporting electronic records are also used to track medical attention given to inmates housed in detox cells.

The following are examples of jails in non-compliance with medical care provisions in these instances.

Noncompliance: RULE §273.6 (3) – Restraints

As approved by TCJS, inmates exhibiting behavior that could be a danger to themselves or others can be placed in restraints. Various rules specify procedures to be followed to ensure the safety of inmates in restraints, and medical care is included. The above-referenced rule states that in intervals not to exceed every 15 minutes, jailers must observe inmates in restraints. The observation includes verifying that the inmate’s circulation has not been cut off by the restraint system.

• A TCJS inspector noted in a Jail Inspection Report dated June 7, 2021, that on two separate occasions in April 2021, the 15-minute face-to-face observations of inmates being held in restraints were not conducted.

Learn more in Part 1 and this ongoing series.

Posts on this website are intended as resources to assist current and former Texas inmates in the state’s county jails. There is never an intention of implying that individuals or entities have been involved in improprieties.

–Guest Contributor