After an Inmate Suicide, a New County Sheriff Vows to Improve Suicide Prevention Methods

A county sheriff outside Texas was recently sworn in, and the following day, an inmate died of an apparent suicide. The jail has a reputation for an excessive number of inmate suicides.

The office of the District Attorney (D.A.) released information on the inmate’s age and the fact that he was arrested on drug charges. The inmate, who was in his 40s, had been booked into the jail two days before his death. According to the D.A., on that tragic day, a jailer who was making rounds to distribute prescription medicines discovered the inmate hanging by his neck in his cell.

The emergency medical response was immediate and included the use of a defibrillator. The inmate was rushed to a hospital by ambulance but was pronounced deceased minutes later. The state police and the District Attorney are investigating the death, and an autopsy is being performed.

The newly sworn County Sheriff in charge of the jail pointed out that the deceased inmate’s cellmate is the one who alerted the jail staff about the emergency. He stated that the corrections organization seeks to reduce the high rate of suicide that has occurred in the county’s jail facilities for more than a decade. His plans include:

• Inviting experts to examine the procedures and policies of the jail,
• Offering additional rehabilitative services to inmates, and
• Providing more addiction services.

To learn more, see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, and Part 8 of this series.

This website purposes to provide helpful resources to Texas prisoners housed in municipal or county jails. Accusing persons or entities of involvement in wrongdoing is never intended.

–Guest Contributor