Calvin Green Dies Following Waller County Jail Incarceration
The Waller County Sheriff’s Office, in Hempstead, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Calvin Louis Green. Mr. Green was 60 years old at the time of his death. We provide information we obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.
The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:
“On November 27, 2023 at approximately 0200 hours staff conducting face to face observation round attempted to get a response out of subject housing in N2. When subject would not respond to the banging on the cell door, staff requested N2 door open and attempted to get a response by speaking with subject. When subject did not response to verbal direction, staff shook subject and no response. A staff member contacted dispatch to advise to have EMS and patrol deputies enroute. At approximately 0204 hours staff began CPR chest compression until EMS arrived at 0207 hours. Once EMS arrived EMS working subject and loaded to transport to Memorial Hermann. Subject was pronounced deceased at Memorial Hermann Hospital. All command staff was notified along with Texas Rangers to conduct an investigation and subject’s body sent for an autopsy, results are pending at this time.”
The report further mentions that Mr. Green had a history of triple bypass surgery, high blood pressure, and type 1 diabetes, but it does mention if Mr. Green was receiving any medical treatment prior to being found unresponsive.
The Constitution requires jails to provide reasonable medical care and mental health care to detainees. If a detainee in a Texas jail dies because of a failure to provide medical care, then family members may be able to bring a federal civil rights lawsuit.
The death by suicide of Sandra Bland years ago brought attention to the plight of detainees in some Texas jails. Sandra Bland died in the same jail in which Mr. Green was incarcerated – the Waller County jail.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone