The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report (CDR) with the Office of Attorney General on August 8, 2023. The CDR is about the death of Mario Rios, who died on July 23, 2023. Mr. Rios had been a detainee in the custody of Dallas County Jail for 25 days. He was 54 years old and still in the jail’s custody when he was declared deceased.

Are Detainees in Texas County Jails Provided with Medical Care? Continued

Continuing with Rule §273.2 of the Texas Administrative Code, minimum jail standards include a requirement to provide health services for detainees. More details follow:

• Procedures must be followed for the distribution, control, secured storage, inventory, and disposal of prescriptions, syringes, needles, and hazardous waste containers.
• There must also be secured storage, control, and distribution of over-the-counter medications.
• Inmates have a right to refuse health care in accordance with informed consent standards for certain procedures and treatments.
• Procedures, examinations, and treatments must be performed in a reasonable and dignified manner and location.
• At all times, adequate evacuation equipment and first aid equipment must be on hand.
• A qualified medical professional must review any prescription medication an inmate is taking when taken into custody as soon as possible. These procedures include providing each prescription medication that a qualified medical professional or mental health professional determines is necessary for the care, treatment, or stabilization of an inmate with mental illness.

Learn more in Part 1 of this continuing series.

Assisting Texas jail detainees and their families with helpful resources is one of the purposes of this website. Accusing persons or institutions of involvement in wrongdoing is never intended on this site.

–Guest Contributor