During the booking process at Travis County Jail, 500 West 10^th Street in Austin, Texas, on February 7, 2022, it was noted by jail staff that Jared Jon Bell made suicidal statements. In spite of this, Mr. Bell was left alone in a cell to make a phone call, and the phone had a long cord. Tragically, the 32-year-old inmate used the cord to commit suicide, and he died on February 9, 2022.

Susan Dee Reddick

On February 13, 2021, Susan Dee Reddick was booked into Travis County Jail. She died at age 45 just 13 days later, on February 26. The Medical Examiner deemed that her manner of death was accidental and involved the ingestion of a foreign object. The custodial death report shows that Ms. Reddick had appeared intoxicated on drugs or alcohol and she exhibited mental health problems. Before her death, she had been transferred to the Dell Seton Medical Center.

Suicide Prevention Training

For jail staff to help prevent inmate suicide, training is needed so that they may recognize and respond to warning signs. The following are some of the most prominent warning signs that an inmate is at risk for suicide:

• Verbal warnings. Direct and indirect verbal cues regarding suicide should always be taken seriously.
• Depression. Not all people who are depressed commit suicide, but a significant number of people who are clinically depressed are at great risk.
• Reaction to being incarcerated. The first 24 hours in a county jail is when many inmates commit suicide.

See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this series.

Intimating that institutions or persons participated in misdeeds is never an intention on this website. Posts area meant as resources to help inmates in  Texas county jails, whether currently or previously detained.

–Guest Contributor