After Tyler, Texas, Smith County Jail inmate Dvonte Marquese Valentine was diagnosed with organ failure, the jail administration secured a PR bond. This allowed Mr. Valentine to spend time in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with his family. At about 7:35 PM on December 4, 2022, Mr. Valentine died in the hospital after he was taken off of life support. The reportedly irreversible effect of his injury is the reason a decision was made to remove him from life support, according to the custodial death report (CDR).

Smith County Jail Special Inspection Report on February 18, 2022, Continued

Rule §273.5(a)(2)- Identification

Under the chapter on Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan, Rule §273.5(a)(2) provides requirements related to Identification. Procedures must be followed during intake screening to identify prisoners who are observed or known to be mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal. In addition, the jail must comply with the Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 and referrals to available mental health professionals.

• The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) provided technical assistance to Smith County Jail during the annual inspection that took place in June of 2021. Documentation was received and reviewed. During the review, it was discovered that jail personnel did not notify the magistrate within 12 hours, which is a requirement in the Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22. This happened on multiple occasions. Another issue is that in instances when the magistrate was notified, the notification exceeded the 12-hour time frame by anywhere from 20 minutes to 8 hours.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this continuing series.

This website is a resource for Texas prisoners in city and county jails. Making accusations that an individual or institution is a participant in wrongs is never intended.

–Guest Contributor