Ector County Jail is Cited for Noncompliance After a Custodial Death

Following a custodial death, the inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conducted a special jail inspection report. As a result of the inspection, a Notice of Noncompliance was sent to Ector County Jail on May 29, 2023. The jail was cited for noncompliance with two minimum jail standards. The address of Ector County Jail is 2500 US-385, Odessa, TX 79766.

There was a custodial suicide at Ector County Jail on October 21, 2022. It was reported and the custodial death report (CDR) was filed the following day. However, the special jail inspection report related to that inmate’s death didn’t occur until this one referenced in May of 2023. Either of the two areas of noncompliance could conceivably have created omissions that may have contributed to the occurrence of the tragic event, including possible denial of appropriate mental and medical health care.

Rule §273.5 (3)- Communication~Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan

Ector County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §273.5 (3)- Communication~Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan, which is in the chapter on Health Services. Part (3) Communication. Procedures for communication of information relating to inmates who are mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal.

• After a review of documentation of an in-custody death that occurred in February 2023, it was determined that while medical noted the inmate was suffering from psychosis and MHMR would be notified, no such notification was made.

More to come about Ector County Jail in the next segment. See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, and Part 15 of this continuing series.

Helping inmates now or previously detained in a municipal or county jail in Texas is one of the purposes of this website. There is never any intention of suggesting that any individual or organization was engaged in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor