Cass County Jail is Again Cited for a Failed Inspection
Cass County Jail documentation was examined by inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) on October 1, 2024. As a result, the Linden, Texas, jail is again listed on the TCJS website for noncompliance with minimum jail standards. This is at least the fifth time since 2017 that the jail was found to be in violation of the rules intended to protect inmates, jailers, and/or the public. In this latest notice of noncompliance, Cass County Jail was cited for failure to comply with two of the requirements as set forth by TCJS in the Texas Administrative Code (TAC).
Under the chapter on Life Safety Rules, jail staff must be trained for emergency situations immediately upon employment and at least once per calendar quarter for all jail personnel. This training includes essential instruction on what to do in case of fire and other emergencies as well as evacuation drills and the location and use of equipment.
- TCJS inspectors’ notes show that only 2 of 19 members of the jail staff received their life safety training in the third quarter of 2024.
At least three days each week, detainees in Texas jails must be allowed at least one hour of supervised physical recreation or exercise.
- After reviewing documentation for May, June, and July 2024, inspectors discovered that Cass County Jail fails to show that inmates are allowed to have their three hours of weekly physical exercise or recreation.
Cass County Jail’s address is 600 Hwy 8 North in Linden, Texas 75563. The jail has a 96-bed capacity.
How Important is Life Safety Training for Jail Personnel?
The lives of Texas jail detainees are not in their own hands. In case of fire, riots, power outages, and medical emergencies, incarcerated individuals are helpless to do anything other than rely on jail staff. It’s not difficult to see that personnel without adequate training can put inmates and fellow jailers at risk. What if CPR or an automated external defibrillator could save a detainee’s life, but the only jailers in the vicinity had not received the necessary training required in minimum jail standards?
News stories about Texas jails frequently expose the fact that inmates die all too often behind bars. In October 2024 news out of San Antonio, Texas, for example, there is a story asserting that ten detainees have died this year while in the custody of Bexar County jail. Allegedly, most of the deceased had suffered a medical episode.
Looking for Assistance with Jail Neglect or Abuse?
Being incarcerated in a county or city jail does not mean a loss of your fundamental rights. When inmates in Texas jails experience mistreatment, such as denial of necessary medical care, those responsible must be held accountable.
Have you lost a family member in a Texas jail and suspect neglect played a role in their death? Or were you previously detained and suffered serious injuries due to jail abuse or neglect? If so, we may be able to assist. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., we focus on handling custodial death cases and asserting inmates’ rights, leveraging years of experience to offer dedicated legal support.
Reach out to us by phone, text, or through our online form as soon as possible to schedule a free case evaluation. We’re available 24/7.
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