Robert John Barela was in a single cell in El Paso County Jail in El Paso, Texas, when he was observed hanging by his neck from the ceiling. Mr. Barela had used a bedsheet to strangle himself. Medical staff at the jail began and continued life-saving measures until technicians with emergency medical services arrived. Tragically, however, at age 37, Mr. Barela died that day at 1:50 pm on February 23, 2022, at an El Paso hospital.

High-Risk Situations for Suicidal Inmates

According to the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), it is essential for jailers to comprehend that suicide can occur anytime. There are risks proven to be especially high but knowing about those risks doesn’t discount the fact that suicide prevention should continue at all times. The following are high-risk situations for inmates:

• Upon being booked and during days 2 through 14
• Within 48 hours of additional sentencing, institutional proceedings, denial of a request for parole, new charges, or a court appearance
• After being moved to single-cell housing or segregation
• After receiving bad news about family or self
• After rejection or suffering a humiliation such as a sexual assault
• Anniversary dates
• A decrease in staff supervision
• Pending release from custody, particularly if a viable discharge plan is lacking family, housing, employment, or other stabilizing resources

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this series.

This website has no intention of making accusations that persons or entities have been participants in wrongdoing. This site provides posts as helpful resources for Texas inmates in county jails.

–Guest Contributor