Carson County Jail in Panhandle TX is Found Non-Compliant
Carson County Jail in Texas is currently listed as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. A notice of non-compliance was sent on July 19, 2024, following a special jail inspection conducted on the same day. TCJS inspectors found Carson County Jail is in violation of one minimum jail standard under the rule about the mental disabilities/suicide prevention plan. Inspectors’ notes indicate the following:
The suicide screening forms for 15 inmates currently incarcerated were reviewed, and it was discovered that on 4 occasions, the magistrate was not notified, per instructions under Rule §273.5.
Carson County Jail’s address is 201 US Highway 60, P.O. Box 972, Panhandle, Texas 79068. The jail has a housing capacity of 50 inmates.
An Inmate at Carson County Jail Dies in 5 Hours
According to the custodial death report about an inmate who died 5 hours after being booked into Carson County Jail in August 2022, the 41-year-old man was arrested for public intoxication. After the booking that occurred at 6:02 AM, he was placed in a detox cell. He was observed at 7:45 AM, when Sheriff Tam Terry observed him standing in the cell where he had been placed.
Later, at a time that was not specified, the man was discovered to be having a seizure. Lifesaving measures were initiated, and the detainee was flown to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. He was pronounced deceased at 10 AM. The medical examiner’s office determined that the detainee died of acute cocaine intoxication.
Detainees in U.S. Jails Deserve Addiction Treatments that Work
In an online publication sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 60% of incarcerated individuals in the U.S. have a substance abuse disorder. Three medications for opioid use disorder have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have proven effective. The three medications that are safe, effective, and lifesaving are:
- Methadone
- Buprenorphine
- Naltrexone
Among the studies related to these medications is one that shows that people in jail who receive naltrexone, buprenorphine, or methadone are less likely to return to substance use. They are also more likely to continue with treatment after being released.
Among our jails nationwide, less than half of them offer all three FDA-recommended medications. However, a recent study showed that 96% of jails provide naloxone to staff. Naloxone is a highly effective overdose reversal drug used in cases of an opioid overdose or a suspected opioid overdose. Naloxone quickly blocks the effects of opioids, reversing an otherwise deadly overdose.
Naloxone distribution in county jails has been a growing trend at least since 2021. Local jails can request free nasal naloxone kits from community organizations throughout the U.S.
Reach Out to the Law Offices of Dean Malone for Jail Death Cases
If you suspect a loved one died in jail due to neglect or if you were previously detained in a Texas county or municipal jail and suffered a significant injury from medical neglect or abuse, seeking experienced legal help is crucial.
At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we routinely handle cases involving jail neglect, inmate abuse, and custodial deaths, including jail suicides. With our extensive experience, you can trust us to provide reliable legal representation. Don’t wait—contact us anytime, 24/7, by phone, text, or through our online form.
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