Multiple families have lost loved ones to custodial suicide in recent days, though the chief duty of sheriffs in charge of county jail operations is to keep inmates safe. Experts on custodial deaths tend to agree that most custodial suicides are preventable. The following is information about two custodial suicides outside Texas that occurred in December 2020. In the next installment, learn about deputies recognized this month for preventing an inmate’s attempt at suicide.

Two Custodial Suicides, Two Weeks, One County Jail

A 46-year-old inmate had been locked up for less than 24 hours when he was found unresponsive in his cell. The inmate had hung himself. He was pronounced dead shortly after being transported to a nearby hospital.

Two weeks earlier in the same county jail, a 48-year-old inmate was found unresponsive in his cell. A jailer discovered during a routine check that the inmate had hanged himself. Corrections officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the inmate, and he was pronounced dead a short time later. The man had been incarcerated one week before taking his own life.

Officials have said that they had seen no evidence of the man needing additional supervision due to any signs of possible suicidal tendencies.

Prior to this month, it had been ten years since the last suicide at that county jail.

In this ongoing series, learn about suicide prevention practices required in Texas jails and more.

The purpose of all posts on this website is to assist Texas prisoners currently or previously held in city and county jails as well as their families. At no time is it intended to imply that a person or institution has in any way engaged in wrongs.

–Guest Contributor