Bowie County, Texas Jail Fails State Inspection – Prisoner Observation Records Falsified
The Bowie County, Texas jail recently failed an inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”). The jail is now listed as being noncompliant
The TCJS inspector found that there was no documentation to verify that a magistrate was notified when intake of people who were known to be mentally disabled or potentially suicidal occurred. It is extremely important that Texas county jails use appropriate procedures with inmates who may harm themselves and/or who are mentally disabled. Texas prisoners have rights pursuant to the United States Constitution to receive appropriate medical care and mental health care.
Further, the TCJS inspector noted that the Bowie County jail had observation logs which falsely indicated a prisoner had been observed every 60 minutes. The inspector reviewed video evidence and compared it to the false observation logs. It should go without saying the jailers should not falsely indicate on written or typed logs that observations were done. It appears that records falsely indicated that eight (8) 60-minute face-to-face observations occurred, prior to a Bowie County inmate being discovered. We are uncertain as to the identity of the Bowie County, Texas inmate, and whether he or she was seriously ill or injured.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone