Unfortunately, Texas jails are no exception to the US statistics indicating that suicide is at least the second leading cause of death among inmates in local jails. Custodial death reports filed with the Office of Attorney General by county and municipal Texas jails reveal a number of inmate suicides this year. After a suicide has occurred, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conducts a special jail inspection. Sometimes, evidence is discovered that relates a custodial suicide to a violation of minimum jail standards, such as observation requirements. Investigations are conducted by the Texas Rangers regarding every custodial death, including suicides.

This year, at least two inmate suicides have occurred in Bexar County Jail in Texas.

A San Antonio, Texas, Inmate Commits Suicide on 11/2/22

A recent example of a tragic custodial suicide is the November 2, 2022, death in San Antonio, Texas, of 44-year-old Juan Carlos Guerrero. Mr. Guerrero hung himself in Bexar County Jail using a sheet secured to the top bunk of his cell. He had been incarcerated since October 4, 2022, which was just shy of one month before his death.

In the next post in this series, learn about the death by suicide of Emmitt Earl Byrd, which also occurred in Bexar County Jail this year.

See Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, and this ongoing series.

Helping Texas detainees held in municipal and county jails by providing resources of potential benefit is the purpose of this site. Insinuating that individuals or organizations have been involved in wrongdoing is never an intention.

–Guest Contributor