Kevin Patrick Cantwell had been an inmate at Cooke County Jail in Gainesville, Texas, from April 9, 2022, until May 1, 2022, when he was found unresponsive. The 57-year-old had been housed in a solitary isolation cell due to bizarre behavior. Mr. Cantwell was transferred to North Texas Medical Center and was pronounced dead less than an hour after jail staff found him on the floor of his cell.

Observation Logs

When inspectors from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conduct inspections, observation logs are checked. To illustrate how logs are utilized, the following is information on different types of observation logs and the observations themselves from a county outside Texas. The timing for the different types of observation requirements is a close, if not identical, match with those in Texas.

General Observation

Inmates who must be observed with direct, visual observations by a deputy at random intervals not to exceed every 60 minutes are under general observation. When these observations are made the housing unit location must be indicated on the log. These visual checks are documented in a general observation log (GOL).

30-Minute General Observation Log

Inmates who require Class I special management supervision are observed with required direct visual checks at random intervals not to exceed every 30 minutes. These observations are documented in the 30-minute general observation log.

Learn more in Part 1 and this ongoing series.

Making allegations that individuals or institutions have participated in wrongdoing is not intended on this website. Each post is aimed at providing helpful information that might benefit inmates in any Texas county jail.

–Guest Contributor