Bosque County, Texas Jail Fails State Inspection
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) currently lists Bosque County Jail in Texas as a Non-Compliant Jail on the TCJS website. A Notice of Non-Compliance was issued on October 10, 2023. It specifies the minimum jail standards the jail was cited for in a jail inspection report issued on October 5, 2023. TCJS inspectors allege that the Meridian, Texas, jail violated 4 minimum jail standards.
The address of Bosque County Jail is 266 FM 2840, Meridian, TX 76665. The jail has a housing capacity of 32 detainees. Details on alleged noncompliance follow.
Rule §273.5(b)-Screening Instrument
Bosque County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §273.5(b)-Screening Instrument, which is in the chapter on Health Services, as follows: An approved mental disabilities/suicide prevention screening instrument shall be completed immediately on all inmates admitted.
- During a review of the Suicide/Mental Health Questionnaires, it was revealed that the questionnaires are not being completed in their entirety.
Rule §273.5(c)(2)- Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities History Check
Bosque County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §273.5(c)(2)- Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities History Check, which is also in the chapter on Health Services, as follows: (2) maintain documentation to be available at the time of inspection showing that information for each inmate designated in paragraph (1) of this subsection was submitted for CCQ/IDD system checks, to include notification to the magistrate and the Local Mental Health Authority or Local Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Authority as per CCP 16.22(a)(1).
- Further review of the Suicide/Mental Health Questionnaires revealed that the magistrate is not being notified, as required by CCP 16.22 on all occasions necessitated by responses on the questionnaire. The documentation provided showed that the information on the questionnaire does not match the information on the magistrate notification form.
Rule §275.1-Regular Observation by Jailers
Bosque County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §275.1-Regular Observation by Jailers, which is in the chapter on the Supervision of Inmates, as follows: Every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day. Facilities shall have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all inmates by jailers no less than once every 60 minutes. Observation shall be performed at least every 30 minutes in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined.
- During a review of the observation logs for the week of July 1-7, 2023, it was determined that on multiple occasions, staff failed to make face-to-face observations as required. Face-to-face observation times were exceeded by a minimum of 1 minute to a maximum of 60 minutes.
Rule §285.1- Physical Exercise
Bosque County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §285.1- Physical Exercise, which is in the chapter on Recreation and Exercise, as follows: Each facility shall have and implement a written plan, approved by the Commission, for inmate physical exercise and physical recreation. Documentation of physical exercise and physical recreation shall be maintained for Commission review. Each inmate shall be allowed one hour of supervised physical exercise or physical recreation at least three days per week.
- During the review of recreation logs it was determined that inmates did not receive the required 3 days of physical recreation or supervised physical activity.
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