The custodial death report (CDR) filled out at Wise County Jail in Decatur, Texas, about detainee Raymond Harold Martinez includes a detailed account of the medical attention he received while incarcerated. He was jailed in the Wise County facility beginning on July 17, 2023. He died at a hospital, though in the jail’s custody, on July 25, 2023. The summary of how Mr. Marinez’s death occurred details events that occurred on 6 of those 8 days. On July 18, Martinez’s medication was provided to the Wise County Jail. On July 21, Mr. Martinez was found to have thrown up and soiled himself during the night. He was observed by jail staff to be alert and able to take his prescribed medication. He was placed on the “Sick Call” list for July 25, to visit with a nurse practitioner.

Wise County Jail is Found Noncompliant With 5 Minimum Jail Standards

As a result of an April 21, 2017, inspection by inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), Wise County Jail was cited for 5 alleged violations of minimum jail standards. Details follow below and in this continuing series.

Rule §265.3-Observation During Holding

In the chapter on Admission, Wise County Jail was cited for failing to comply with section (3) Observation During Holding. Inmates confined in a holding cell or detoxification cell shall be observed by facility personnel at intervals not to exceed 30 minutes. TCJS Inspectors Phillip Bosquez and Shane Sowell signed the jail inspection report and made the following notes about the jail’s noncompliance with Rule §265.3-Observation During Holding:

• During the review of face-to-face observations for inmates in Holding / Detox Cells, a clear pattern was identified of staff going over the 30-minute time requirement. The overages ranged from 1 minute to 14 minutes in the documentation reviewed. In several cases, the documentation was illegible, and a clear time could not be determined. Technical assistance was provided on both of these exact issues during last year’s annual inspection.

Also, see Part 1 and Part 2 of this five-part series.

One of the purposes of this site is to help local Texas jail detainees and their families by providing helpful information. There is never an intention of suggesting that a person or organization has participated in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor