Cameron County Jail is Cited for a Repeat Violation
A special jail inspection was conducted at Cameron County Jail in Brownsville, Texas, on May 21, 2025. Two days later, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) sent the jail a notice of non-compliance. Cameron County Jail was cited for allegedly violating one minimum jail standard. The alleged violation was a repeat of three 2023 violations, and all four involved a lack of supervision discovered after a custodial death.
TCJS inspectors conveyed the following information about Cameron County Jail’s latest failed jail inspection:
- It was determined during a review of a custodial death that the face-to-face observations were not documented for over 3 hours. Video evidence was not available for the housing area to verify if rounds were conducted.
Cameron County Jail’s address is 954 E. Harrison Street in Brownsville, Texas 78520. The jail’s inmate capacity is 1,746.
An At-Risk Inmate Commits Suicide in Cameron County Jail
Thirty-nine-year-old Johnny Gutierrez was booked into Cameron County Jail on January 8, 2023. Tragically, he died by suicide on January 27, 2023. Yet, during intake, it was noted both that he exhibited mental health problems and that he made suicidal statements.
When jails know that an individual is at risk for suicide, suicide prevention measures are supposed to be applied. Although direct supervision is recognized as the most effective deterrent, potentially suicidal inmates are usually placed in a single-occupancy cell. Hanging is the method used for suicide upwards of 90% of the time in jails. Yet, items inmates commonly use to hang themselves are made accessible to them, including bed sheets and blankets, towels, clothing items such as shoelaces, electrical cords, and trash or laundry bags.
In the case of Mr. Gutierrez, he used a mattress cover to hang himself in his single cell.
Virginia’s Struggle to Prevent Jail Suicides
The problem of jail suicide is nothing new. Back in 2019, Virginia jails were in the spotlight because 51 inmates had committed suicide within the previous five years. One of them was Benjamin Scott Wash, who had already attempted suicide before he was booked into Virginia’s Riverside Regional Jail. Mr. Wash also had a long history of drug addiction.
Two days after Mr. Wash entered the jail, he used a bed sheet to hang himself. The Associated Press found in a review of jail and medical examiner records in Virginia that nearly half of the suicides occurred within the first ten days of incarceration, which was another applicable suicide statistic to Mr. Wash’s death.
The address of Riverside Regional Jail is 500 Folar Trail, North Prince George, VA 23860. The jail can house up to 1,500 detainees.
Concerned That a Loved One’s Death Was Caused by Jail Neglect?
At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., we represent families who have lost someone in custody due to suspected neglect by jail staff or medical personnel. Our firm is actively investigating multiple in-custody death cases and works closely with experts to uncover the truth. In these matters, acting quickly is crucial—evidence can fade, and deadlines can pass.
If you believe jail neglect may have contributed to a loved one’s death, don’t wait. Contact us today for a free consultation. We’re available by phone, text, or through our secure online form.
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