A Notice of Non-Compliance was issued to the Dallas County Jail on September 6, 2022. Dallas County Jail’s address is 111 West Commerce Street, Dallas, TX. A jail inspection had been conducted after the death of an inmate, and the inspector found that observation rounds were not conducted according to minimum jail standards. This raises questions about when areas of non-compliance endanger inmates. Specifically, if one jail has been non-compliant with as many as nine minimum jail standards, does that indicate a likelihood that inmates there are at a heightened risk for suffering harm or death?

Such was the case with Runnels County Jail in a Notice of Non-Compliance letter dated August 23, 2022. An inspector with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) cited the Ballinger, Texas, jail for nine alleged areas of non-compliance with minimum jail standards. Runnels County Jail is located at 612 Strong Avenue in Ballenger, and the letter pertaining to the findings of the inspection was sent to both Runnels County Judge The Honorable Julia Miller and Runnels County Sheriff Carl Squyres. Details are below and in this continuing series.

Non-Compliance Under §263.41-Training and Drills

Chapter 263 of the Texas Administrative Code is about Life Safety Rules. TCJS found that Runnels County Jail was deficient with regard to Rule §263.41-Training and Drills. The requirement is that jail staff must be trained for emergency situations immediately upon employment. In addition, each calendar quarter, all jail personnel must be trained in fire, evacuation drills, emergency, and location and use of equipment.

• The inspector found that multiple jail staff members did not receive the required quarterly training during the 4^th quarter of 2021 and the 2^nd quarter of 2022.

According to a prison watchdog group, a lack of proper training for emergencies and disasters has left jail management and staff ill-prepared to respond effectively to emergencies and disasters. An inability to manage or evacuate jails properly increases the threat of natural hazards. Mismanagement in such circumstances provokes panic and unrest as inmates fear for their own lives and the safety of their families. Such circumstances also place jail staff at risk.

The purpose of this site is to help inmates in county and city jails in Texas. Accusing people or entities of wrongdoing is never intended on this site.

–Guest Contributor