Jail Inspection Report for Smith County Jail March 22-24, 2022, Continued

Another violation allegedly committed by Smith County Jail in Tyler, Texas, reveals that the basic needs of prisoners being watched for suicide have been denied. The fundamental act of being able to shower is among the minimum jail standards established by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). According to a watchdog group, the violation of the right to deny inmates a shower can reasonably be considered cruel and unusual punishment. This would certainly not help the mental health of an inmate who is already having suicidal ideations.

Smith County Jail Cited for Allegedly Violating Rule §277.6-Showers

At least every other day or, if possible, more frequently, county jails in Texas are required to give each prisoner an opportunity to shower. Another aspect of this rule is that inmates are supposed to be required to take a shower every other day at a minimum. The jail operator or sheriff may require a shower whenever it is obviously justified, whether for sanitary reasons or health purposes.

• The TCJS inspector found that inmates who were potentially suicidal and housed in holding cells in the booking area of the jail were denied the chance to shower as required. The documentation shows that multiple inmates on suicide watch in these holding areas went from 5 to 10 days with no opportunity to shower.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series. In the next segment, learn about another non-compliant jail in Texas in which the standard they are cited for mentions the death of an inmate.

This website posts information as a way of providing county and municipal jail inmates in Texas with helpful resources. Implicating people or institutions in misdeeds is never intended on this site.

–Guest Contributor