Donald Oscar Cruz was incarcerated at Nueces County Jail when he was discovered unresponsive in his bunk on November 18th, 2020. Emergency life-saving measures quickly began, but Mr. Cruz did not respond. He was pronounced dead that same evening. 

A jail inspection report dated May 21, 2021, cited non-compliance on RULE §273.5 (a)(1), and the rule was also mentioned in Part 2 of this series.

Non-Compliance Regarding Suicide Prevention Training

• A TCJS inspector noted that the administration of a Texas county jail could not provide rosters or certificates related to suicide training when it was requested. There was no verification showing that suicide prevention training had been provided in accordance with the approved operational plan for the jail. 

Training is essential because preventing inmates from harming themselves, including committing suicide, is the largest legal and ethical obligation of correctional facilities, according to reports on the topic. Although people often consider suicide to be an issue for mental health professionals to handle, that is not exactly right. The reality is that most suicides occur in facility housing units when inmates are not in programs. The heaviest burden for identifying, monitoring, and responding to suicidal behaviors in correctional facilities falls to the correctional staff. 

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

Making an implication of wrongdoing on the part of a person or organization is never intended on this website. Helping county jail inmates throughout Texas, whether they are now or formerly incarcerated, is the purpose of each post.

–Guest Contributor