When detainees die while incarcerated in county and municipal jails, the circumstances surrounding the custodial deaths are generally scrutinized. The results of investigations often don’t satisfy if a family feels that there was evidence of neglect. Incidents of jail suicide often call for accountability when jails have been fully informed that a detainee is at risk. Another situation that frequently occurs is that detainees die of an overdose usually in their first hours or days of incarceration. In recent months, there have been more than 41 deaths that were potentially caused by the heat, but heat-related causes haven’t been listed for any custodial death in Texas since 2012.

A Vulnerable Pennsylvania Detainee Commits Suicide

The following is an example of a custodial suicide that raised questions of potential neglect:

A detainee in a county jail in Pennsylvania died after hanging himself in his cell. His family complained that the jail should have had their loved one on suicide watch. During the detainee’s preliminary hearing, he appeared in a suicide prevention suit. Just four months later, he was found unresponsive in his cell. He had used a sheet to fashion a ligature and hang himself. Hanging is the means of suicide in jails over 90% of the time.

The family asked why the decedent hadn’t been in a cell for potentially suicidal detainees. They have expressed concerns that he had not been monitored well enough so that any suicide attempts might fail. Supervision is one of the top ways in which to prevent suicide.

They also asked:

• Why weren’t the employees trained to take effective action that would prevent suicide?
• The jail is known to be understaffed. Did an inadequate number of jail staff play a part in the tragedy?

Learn more in this ongoing series.

One of the purposes of this site is to provide information that is helpful to detainees in city in county jails in Texas. On this website, there is no intention to imply that any person or institution has been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor