The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office filed a custodial death report (CDR) with the Office of the Attorney General, and the date on the report is August 22, 2023. The CDR is about the death of 33-year-old Kevin Arballo, who was detained in Bexar County Jail beginning on August 2, 2023. The cause of his August 5 death is pending the results of an autopsy, but, nevertheless, the CDR lists the medical cause of death as “probable endocarditis with sepsis and pneumonia.”

High-Risk Situations for Detainees

Suicide prevention is an issue that detention deputies are taught to carry on outside the walls of the jail. It is not unusual for a detainee to attempt suicide in the courtroom after a felony sentencing or a guilty verdict. Bailiffs in the courtroom are part of a collaborative effort to prevent inmate suicides. The transport between jail and the courtroom is another time when alertness is essential.

Proper training on what can trigger an attempt at suicide is critical. The following is from a narration of an incident that occurred in a U.S. courtroom, to be continued in this series. Also, see Part 1.

• A male inmate stood at the podium before a felony court judge to receive sentencing. The courtroom was full, between attorneys, their clients, family members, and others in the courtroom gallery. One bailiff was situated between the judge and the podium. Another was at the back door of the courtroom for the purpose of preventing escape and maintaining control of the people in the gallery.

One of the reasons this website was created was to provide Texas inmates in municipal and county jails and their families with helpful resources. There is no intention of making accusations against individuals or entities on this site.

–Guest Contributor