The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has recently listed Camp County Jail in Texas as a Non-Compliant Jail on the TCJS website. A Notice of Non-Compliance was issued on June 1, 2023. It specifies the minimum jail standard the jail was cited for in a jail inspection report issued on May 31, 2023. TCJS inspectors found that the Pittsburg, Texas, jail violated 4 minimum jail standards.

The address of Camp County Jail is 203 Tapp St, Pittsburg, TX 75686. The jail has a 34-bed capacity. Details on alleged noncompliance follow.

RULE §273.5(a)(7)- Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan

Camp County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §273.5- Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan, Part (a)(7). However, the noncompliance reports lists Part (a)(2) Identification. Procedures for intake screening to identify inmates who are known to be or observed to be mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal and procedures for compliance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 and referrals to available mental health officials. The inspector’s note for this rule is also pertaining to Rule §273.5(a)(2), as follows:

• A review of ten inmate medical files revealed that jail staff on two occasions failed to notify the magistrate within 12 hours in accordance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 when warranted by positive returns on the CCQ or affirmative answers on the Screening Form for Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments.

Rule §273.5 (b)- Screening Instrument

Ector County Jail allegedly violated Rule §273.5 -Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan, Part (b) Screening Instrument. An approved mental disabilities/suicide prevention screening instrument shall be completed immediately on all inmates admitted.

• While reviewing 10 medical files, the TCJS instructor noted 4 errors. It was determined that jail staff are not filling out the Screening Form for Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments in its entirety.

RULE §275.2- Jailers Training and Licensing

Rule §275.2- is a chapter on the Supervision of Inmates-Jailers Training and Licensing. Personnel employed or appointed as jailers of county jails or personnel appointed, employed, or assigned to directly supervise jailers shall be licensed as per the requirements of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under the provisions of Part 7 of this title.

• A review of staff licensing and staff interviews revealed that four staff members licensed only as Telecommunications Operators are performing jailer duties without possessing a valid jailer’s license.

RULE §275.2- Jailers Training and Licensing (2)

The 4^th jail standard that Camp County Jail has been cited for violating is also under Jailers Training and Licensing in Rule §275. Personnel employed or appointed as jailers of county jails or personnel appointed, employed, or assigned to directly supervise jailers shall be licensed as per the requirements of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under the provisions of Part 7 of this title.

• During the review of staff licensing, it was determined that two staff members appointed as temporary jailers were not registered for a basic licensing course on or before the 90^th day after appointment.