The day after being booked into Moore County Jail in Dumas, Texas, on July 25, 2021, Rickey Paul Smith was discovered hanging by his neck. Mr. Smith had apparently used a strap to commit suicide. He died on July 26, 2021.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has established requirements for supervision of inmates, which is recognized as an effective deterrent to custodial suicides. Rules of inmate supervision under Title 37, Part 9, and Chapter 275 follow.

RULE §275.1 –Regular Observation by Jailers

Every day, 24 hours per day, each jail must have the appropriate number of staff members in the facility. For the general population of inmates, face-to-face observation of the prisoners is required every 60 minutes. For inmates recognized as being in any of the following categories, observation is required every 30 minutes at most:

• Potentially suicidal
• Mentally ill
• Exhibiting bizarre behavior
• Assaultive

Although closed-circuit television can be used, it cannot replace required personal observations.

The personal checks of high-risk inmates must be recorded using cameras or electric sensors, in addition to written documentation.

Non-Compliance: Supervision of Inmates

As important as supervision is for the protection of inmates, it is concerning that jail inspection reports for non-compliant jails often reflect that supervision is not being conducted at the required intervals.

See Part 1 and this ongoing series.

The posts on this website are provided to assist inmates in Texas county jails. There is no intention of implying that persons or organizations have been involved in wrongs.

–Guest Contributor