Cherokee County Jail in Texas Fails State Inspection

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards “TCJS” conducted an inspection of the Cherokee County jail, in Rusk, Texas, on October 15, 2020. As a result of the TCJS inspection, the Cherokee County jail is now listed as being non-compliant.

TCJS inspectors noted that the Cherokee County jail failed to comply with five minimum standards. First, assessments for a female inmate, who was housed in administrative separation, exceeded the 30-day required reassessment by one-to-six days. Further, the initial assessment for a male inmate was not completed.

Moreover, custody reassessments were not being conducted by jail staff. Jail staff consistently exceeded the 30-90 day required reassessment timeframe by one-to-five days.

There were also numerous facility maintenance issues. The jail also failed to show that inmates were allowed at least one hour of supervised recreation at least three days per week. Hopefully, the Cherokee County jail will bring itself into compliance with TCJS standards.

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.