Bryan Jenkins Dies After 11 Hours in Johnson County Jail
Forty-seven-year-old Bryan Joseph Jenkins was booked into the Johnson County jail at 5:30 PM on October 29, 2024. He was placed in a multiple-occupancy holding cell and died less than 11 hours later. A custodial death report (CDR) was filed by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department on October 31, 2024. The CDR reveals that Mr. Jenkins appeared to be intoxicated by alcohol or drugs during intake. His cause of death is unknown. In answer to the question, “If death was an accident, homicide, or suicide, who caused the death?,” jail staff answered, “Unknown whether decedent sustained a fatal injury.”
This seems to be a clear indication that Mr. Jenkins may have been a victim of violence. Even more alarming is the fact that several custodial deaths in other Texas jails had similar scenarios. In essence, an inmate died in each case and it is possible that foul play was involved. After an August 2024 death in a Texas jail, enough evidence was found to charge several of the deceased’s cellmates with homicide in connection with his death.
The Johnson County Jail is at 1800 Ridgemar Drive in Cleburne, TX 76031. The Cleburne jail has a 1,100-bed capacity.
Johnson County Jail Has a History of Lapses in Inmate Supervision
The importance of the supervision of inmates cannot be overstated. The chief issue is that detainees in Texas lack the protection they need during incarceration when jails don’t provide supervision according to minimum jail standards. It is always a cause for concern when lapses in supervision are discovered during jail inspections.
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) inspects every Texas jail annually, and there are often special jail inspections. A special jail inspection may be conducted as a result of a complaint or, in a worst-case scenario, following a custodial death. After a June 2018 jail inspection, Johnson County Jail was found to have violated two jail standards involving lapses in inmate supervision. TCJS inspectors’ notes follow:
- It was discovered during the review of face-to-face observation documents that Johnson County Jail had falsified jail checks by recording the observation times 15 minutes prior to the actual time the observation occurred.
- The face-to-face observation records where inmates are known to be mentally ill, potentially suicidal, or assaultive were scrutinized, and they revealed that the facility exceeded the 30-minute observations by 1 minute to 90 minutes.
A couple of months before a 2021 jail inspection, an inmate in Johnson County Jail who was known to be suicidal succeeded in taking his own life. The jail was cited for allowing inmates to be supervised by 7 individuals who did not have the required Temporary Jailer’s License.
Legal Help for Jail Neglect, Abuse, or Medical Neglect
The Law Offices of Dean Malone can provide valuable assistance if you or a loved one has been affected by medical neglect or abuse in a Texas jail, including situations involving the death of an inmate. We have extensive experience in cases related to custodial deaths and serious injuries resulting from neglect or inadequate medical care. By reaching out to us, you can receive a free case evaluation to explore your legal options. With our 24/7 availability, you can contact us anytime through phone, text, or our online form.
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