Bowie County, Texas Jail in Texarkana Fails Another Inspection
The Bowie County jail, in Texarkana, Texas, failed yet another inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”). The TCJS inspection occurred on August 7, 2019.
The TCJS inspector noted, after reviewing video evidence, in conjunction with self-reporting by jail administration, that only 3 observation rounds were conducted for a certain day between 12:30 a.m. and 8:58 a.m. The report does not specify the reason for the special inspection. However, it is likely due to the recent suicide of a Bowie County jail inmate.
The report notes that the jail violated Section 275, Paragraph .1, of Texas minimum jail standards. That standard requires every county jail in Texas to have an appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours per day. Texas jails must also have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all inmates no less than once every hour. Moreover, jails must perform such observations at least every 30 minutes in parts of the jail where prisoners are known to be mentally ill, assaultive, potentially suicidal, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior. There also has to be two-way voice communication capability between inmates and jailers, bailiffs, licensed peace officers, and designated staff at all times. While a jail can used a closed-circuit television, it may not do so in lieu of required personal observations.
Hopefully, the Bowie County, Texas jail will bring itself into compliance. As is unfortunately seen monthly in Texas, if a jail chooses not to be in compliance, it can lead to serious injury or death. When this happens, there is the likelihood that constitutional violations have occurred. This exposes counties and jailers to civil liability.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone