Bexar County Jail is Cited for Noncompliance with Minimum Standards
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has added the Bexar County Jail in San Antonio, Texas, to its website’s list of non-compliant jails. A notice of non-compliance was sent on July 28, 2025, regarding the results of a jail inspection that took place from July 22-24, 2025. Bexar County Jail allegedly violated 1 minimum jail standard, according to the TCJS inspector.
The inspection included a review of complaint #41299. Documentation failed to show that a detainee in the Bexar County Detention Center was provided access to the dayroom according to minimum jail standards. The review of documentation was thorough, which is reflected in the many details included in the inspector’s notes. The bottom line is that many inmates were denied access to the dayroom, sometimes for long periods of time.
Bexar County Jail’s address is 200 N Comal St, San Antonio, TX 78207. The jail’s bed capacity is 5,075.
Custodial Deaths in Bexar County Jail Possibly Affected by Violations in Jail Standards
The results of a special inspection at Bexar County Jail in 2024 was a follow-up to a custodial death. The jail was cited for keeping the now deceased detainee in a holding cell for longer than 48 hours. Documentation reviewed during the inspection also revealed that after a custodial death, the inmate did not receive medication as prescribed.
Two inmates in Bexar County died in early November last year, and one of them is likely the custodial death referred to in a special jail inspection dated November 18, 2024—perhaps both were reviewed, and each of the inmates was being referred to. Public documents alone don’t provide the answer. Information about each of those custodial deaths follows.
Marcus Fontenette Dies in Bexar County Jail of Drug Toxicity
Marcus Fontenette was an inmate in the Bexar County Jail for only about 5 hours before he was pronounced deceased. The custodial death report (CDR) that was filled out by someone with Bexar County Jail shows that he had a medical emergency at 10:42 p.m. Soon after that incident, Mr. Fontenette was discovered unresponsive, and he wasn’t breathing. Emergency lifesaving measures began for a second time at 11:49 p.m. Tragically, 46-year-old Marcus Fontenette was pronounced deceased at 12:01 a.m. on November 13, 2024. The medical examiner’s autopsy results showed that his medical cause of death was “methamphetamine and cocaine toxicity.”
A 27-Year-Old Inmate in Bexar County Jail Dies of Asphyxia by Hanging
A young woman of 27 who entered Bexar County Jail on June 24, 2024, was pronounced deceased in the jail’s custody on November 2, 2024. Tragically, she took her own life. Experts say that one of the reasons some inmates might commit suicide is that they haven’t taken their medications.
Support for Families After a Jail-Related Death
Correctional institutions are legally obligated to care for the health and safety of every person in their custody. If you suspect that a loved one’s death while incarcerated was caused by medical negligence or abuse, the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. is here to help. Our team has deep experience handling cases involving inmate rights and in-custody deaths.
We’re available to listen and provide guidance. Contact us around the clock by phone, text, or through our secure online form.
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