An out-of-state custodial suicide occurred last week and is under investigation. A jailer found the 25-year-old woman unresponsive in her county jail cell at about 9:30 in the morning. Lifesaving efforts were quickly made, and emergency medical services (EMS) transported the inmate to a nearby hospital, where she died the next day. Further details have not emerged as it’s too soon but questions that typically arise following an inmate’s suicide include whether or not she was on suicide watch. Investigations will determine whether supervision was handled properly or whether face-to-face observations were missed.

A Texas county jail that was recently non-compliant with regard to several issues did not meet training standards related to the identification of at-risk inmates. The jail has an approved operational plan in place that includes training for staff members. Inspectors at the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) were, however, unable to verify that suicide prevention training had taken place according to the plan.

Jails can be held accountable if neglect contributes to an inmate’s death, whether or not it was a suicide. The lack of supervision is an area of concern in many jails throughout the U.S., and Texas jail inspection reports often reflect neglect in this area.

TCJS has approved the use of restraint chairs as needed to get an inmate under control when there is a threat of harm to himself or herself and others.

See Part 1 and this continuing series. In the next segment, learn about the jail inspection report on a jail that did not meet standards in connection with using a restraint chair.

This website’s posts are meant to help Texas prisoners housed in county jails. At no time is there an intention to imply wrongs on the part of persons or institutions.

–Guest Contributor