Every state has its own methods for oversight of county jails. In Texas, jail construction and jail operations are under the auspices of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). These are obviously important matters, especially considering that people who are jailed are certainly not all guilty and therefore don’t deserve any of the hardships of incarceration. Difficulties only multiply when jails operate below minimum requirements, which no inmate is deserving of.

In one particular jail outside of Texas, numerous complaints were made over time, and the jail failed to meet jail standards in multiple areas of concern. Ultimately, disciplinary measures have become necessary, with the jail habitually failing to come up to code. The following are examples of some of the complaints and allegations against the jail:

• Inmates are routinely deprived of civil rights that are protected by the constitution. For example, inmates have been denied the right of confinement in humane conditions. Also, minimal levels of security and safety have allegedly been provided.
• Inmates have allegedly been denied the provision of adequate medical care and mental health care for psychological and psychiatric problems.
• Suicidal detainees have allegedly not been provided with measures that would help to prevent self-harm.
• Jail officials are forbidden to use excessive force against detainees, and inmates claim they have been denied the right to be free of such force used against them.
• Inmates have a right to protection from other prisoners, and some detainees claim that adequate protection against inmate violence has been denied.   

See this continuing series for more information on the jail outside Texas that is alluded to in this post.

This website’s posts are intended for the potential benefit of Texas county jail inmates and their families. This site never has the intention to denote that persons or entities have engaged in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor