Jim Hogg County Jail in Hebbronville, Texas, has the same requirements as all Texas county jails, including procedures to follow when an inmate dies. There is a 30-day deadline for filing the custodial death report (CDR) on an inmate’s death. It appears that inmate Michael Tokos was in the custody of Jim Hogg County Jail when he died in the fall of 2022 more than 30 days ago. A special jail inspection report citing the jail for noncompliance makes reference to a custodial death. However, the name of the deceased was not provided and no CDR has been filed regarding Mr. Tokos.

Jim Hogg County Jail is Cited for Noncompliance with Rule §273.2(12)

Under minimum jail standards for Health Services, Rule §273.2(12), jails are required to ensure that prescription medications inmates are taking are reviewed as quickly as possible. This involves taking action during booking to determine whether any prescription meds are needed. A qualified professional in the medical field or a mental health professional must be provided with the prescription in question and determine the necessity of the medication for the inmate to receive appropriate treatment, care, or stabilization for mental illness.

• The inspector with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) who conducted the inspection at Jim Hogg County Jail in November 2022 noted in the jail inspection report that, prior to being booked into Jim Hogg County Jail, a deceased inmate had been taking medications. The prescription was listed on the Texas Uniform Health Status Update (TUHSU) form.
• In addition, a form filled out during booking indicated that the deceased informed the jailer that he was taking additional medication. However, the documentation available at Jim Hogg County Jail did not indicate that the medication had been verified by a qualified professional in medicine nor that the inmate was provided with the prescription.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of the ongoing series.

This website seeks to provide resources that can be helpful to Texas inmates incarcerated in county or city jails. Making accusations that wrongdoing has occurred on the part of persons or entities is never intended on this site.

–Guest Contributor