Tony Martinez, tragically, died in the custody of the Lubbock County Detention Center in Lubbock, Texas, on June 19, 2021. The custodial death report on Mr. Martinez indicates that the decedent used a blanket as a ligature around his neck. His means of death by suicide is shown as hanging, strangulation.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) includes a suicide prevention plan in the minimum jail standards by which county jails are required to operate. The training of jail staff members is an essential component of preventing inmate suicide.

When Most Jail Suicides Occur

According to a lesson plan prepared by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), the following statistics show that the amount of time an inmate is in a jail is a strong indicator of a potential suicide attempt:

• Suicides in Texas county jails happen within the first 24 hours of arrival 24% of the time.
• Suicides in Texas jails happen between the 2^nd and the 14^th days of incarceration 27% of the time.

Personal and/or Situational Risk Factors for a Potential Suicide Attempt

Studies reveal that the following situational and/or personal factors about an inmate make him or her vulnerable for a suicide attempt:

• It is the first time he or she has ever been arrested.
• The inmate committed a heinous crime.
• A prior jail suicide or recent attempt by another inmate can result in a copycat situation.

Learn more in this continuing series.

It is never intended on this website to imply that any person or organization has been involved in misdeeds. The purpose of this site is to provide resources for the potential benefit of inmates in Texas county jails, whether they are currently or previously incarcerated.

–Guest Contributor