The custodial death report (CDR) filed by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office about Hector Lopez states that the summary of events telling how his death occurred began on the day of his death, March 31, 2023. A deputy initiated a Code 1, which means medical assistance is needed, at 11:55 AM. An inmate had informed the deputy that Mr. Lopez had fallen to the floor when he attempted to get off his bunk.

More on the Direct Supervision of Inmates

The effective control of inmates is among the primary objectives of any jail program. Effective supervision is necessary to achieve effective control. Visual surveillance is not enough to achieve effective supervision. It also involves personal interaction between staff and inmates, and deputies should use all of their senses in evaluating the environment.

A competent jail staff is needed for a jail to effectively control inmates through supervision. In a podular jail setting, the value of competent staff is a concept that must be fully understood. Otherwise, a jail should consider a setting where direct supervision is provided.

Some of the greatest concerns about seeking employment in a detention facility involve the issue of personal safety. Working in a jail setting has a reputation for danger and fear. This contributes to the challenge of finding a sufficient number of competent staff.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this continuing series.

Helping Texas jail detainees and their families with resources is one of the purposes of this website. There is no intention of suggesting that people or organizations have been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor