Jose Molina, age 32, was discovered in his cell without a pulse in Fannin County Jail in Bonham, Texas, and was transported to a nearby medical center. He was pronounced dead on July 5, 2021. His cause of death is currently unknown.

The number of overdose deaths in jails has skyrocketed in recent years. Research has confirmed that incarceration increases the risk of suffering an overdose death. In addition, studies show that overdose is the third leading cause of in-custody deaths in U.S. county jails.

The problem with overdose deaths became clear in 2017. More people died of a drug overdose that year than suicide, the flu, pneumonia, or traffic accidents.  Almost 70% of overdose deaths in 2018 involved opioids, most of which were synthetic opioids.

Another study shows that between 2001 and 2018, the number of custodial deaths in the U.S. increased 611%.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released an official health advisory about fatal drug overdoses across the nation driven by synthetic opioids prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A public safety message on the advisory suggested that alternatives to jail or prison should be utilized for low-level drug offenses.

Some Texas county jails have begun to supply inmates with anti-overdose medication upon their release from jail, and Bexar County Jail in San Antonio was the first.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

There is never an intent on this site to suggest that persons or entities have engaged in wrongs. This site seeks to assist Texas county jail prisoners, whether they are currently or were previously incarcerated.

–Guest Contributor