Castro County Jail in Dimmitt TX Violates Inmate Classification Rules

Castro County Jail has been added to the list of non-compliant jails on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. A special jail inspection report was issued on February 14, 2025. The Dimmitt, Texas, jail was found non-compliant with one minimum jail standard.

TCJS found that Castro County Jail has violated a rule in the chapter of the Texas Administrative Code on the classification and separation of inmates. The quoted rule is shown as 271.42 but is found under 271.1-Objective Classification Plan—Custody Reassessment/Review. TCJS inspectors detailed their findings, which included the following information:

Inmate classification files were reviewed, and it was found that 11 of 22 inmates did not receive a classification review at the 90-day point as required by minimum standards.

The classification of inmates is an essential part of the process concerning the placement of detainees. Inmates are supposed to be classified and housed in the least restrictive housing available without jeopardizing the safety of staff, detainees, or the public. Some of the potential impacts of misclassification include:

If an inmate is placed in maximum security when they belong in a lower security setting, the unnecessary restrictions of their actions and movement could lead to increased isolation and stress.
If an individual is in a setting with higher-risk inmates, they could be subject to an increased threat of danger from other inmates.
If misclassified, a detainee can miss out on participation in vocational training and educational programs or rehabilitation services tailored to their needs and risk level, which could hinder reintegration into society.
Mental health issues can be exacerbated by being placed in an inappropriate security level.

Following a 2020 jail inspection, Castro County Jail was found to have violated the rule requiring inmates in a holding cell or detoxification cell to be observed face-to-face at intervals not to exceed 30 minutes. This type of rule is also seen under the chapter on the supervision of inmates. Regular observation by jailers is particularly important when inmates first arrive to a facility because an alarming number of jail suicides occur within the first few hours and days of incarceration.

The address of Castro County Jail is 100 East Bedford Room 113 in Dimmitt, Texas 79027. The bed capacity is 67.

A Suicidal Inmate Hangs Herself During an Hour with No Supervision

When jail inmates are at a high risk for suicide, minimum jail standards in North Carolina require supervision every 15 minutes at most. When Emily Jean Call, 32, was booked into Wilkes County Jail, there should have been no doubt about her high-suicide-risk status.

Ms. Call informed detention officers that she wanted to kill herself. Two weeks prior, she had cut her wrists and received treatment at an emergency room. Yet, she went unobserved for more than an hour. During that time, she threw a bed sheet over a water pipe, stood on a toilet, tied the sheet around her neck, and stepped off, hanging herself. Wilkes County Jail is at 502 Courthouse Drive Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

In a Durham, North Carolina jail, 21-year-old Terry Demetrius Lee hung himself on window bars while going unobserved in his cell for almost six hours.

These were just two suicide deaths during a time when a pattern of suicides had allegedly occurred in North Carolina jails.

Fighting for Justice in Jail Neglect and Wrongful Death Cases

Incarceration should never mean the loss of basic constitutional rights. If you suspect that a loved one died in jail due to medical neglect, immediate action is essential. The Law Offices of Dean Malone is dedicated to helping families seek accountability for in-custody deaths, including those resulting from neglect or suicide. Our experienced team is committed to holding jails responsible and fighting for justice on behalf of those affected.

Don’t delay in seeking legal guidance. We’re available 24/7—call, text, or fill out our online form today for a free consultation.

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