The custodial death report on Simon Peter Douglas shows that he was booked into Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas, on February 10, 2022, at 4:34 AM. He died that same day at 7:21 AM. The cause of death is pending autopsy results. However, the report also shows that Mr. Douglas caused his own death in a tragic manner described in the report.

Harris County Jail Non-Compliance: Jail Inspection Report Dated November 30-December 4, 2020

Inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) found that face-to-face observations were not performed at the required intervals. Not only were these observations conducted too infrequently where they are required every 60 minutes, but also in areas where at-risk inmates are held. Potentially suicidal, mentally ill, and assaultive inmates as well as others who have behaved in a bizarre manner must be checked in person in intervals no longer than every 30 minutes. Documentation shows non-compliance in this regard, as well.

Harris County Jail Non-Compliance: Jail Inspection Report Dated August 23, 2018

Video evidence and documentation were reviewed to verify that at-risk inmates who must be observed in intervals no longer than every 30 minutes were being supervised as required. However, evidence proved that the 30-minute observations were not conducted per guidelines in minimum jail standards. For instance, jailers failed to view the inmates face-to-face. There were also instances in which a jailer left the cellblock for a medicine call and never returned.

See Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 of this ongoing series.

Making implications that wrongdoing has occurred on the part of people or organizations is never intended on this site. Helping inmates now or previously housed in Texas county jails is the purpose of this site’s posts.

–Guest Contributor