Continued from Part 1, details about the arrest of this inmate show that, during the course of his arrest, he jumped out of a second-floor window in an attempt to escape custody. In doing so, his ankle was injured.

A jail official in the state where this custodial suicide occurred said that reducing the likelihood of self-harm among inmates is achieved through suicide screenings, staff training, removing hooks and protrusions from walls and ceilings, and having ongoing communication with inmates.

Just 36 days after this suicide at the county jail, a 33- year- old inmate committed custodial suicide. The inmate was discovered hanging in his cell. Lifesaving efforts were administered by nursing staff and corrections officers, but the inmate was never revived. The inmate had been in jail for five days before his death.

When the first of these two custodial suicides occurred, previous suicides were brought to light. Four years before the inmate hung himself using the Ace bandage, an inmate who had previously spent 20 years as a police officer took his own life. His family had accused the jail of negligence on the behalf of their loved one, but it was found that the jailers in that case had done all they could to protect the inmate.

See Part 1 of this two-part series to learn more about suicide at the county jail in question.

Inmates have constitutional rights, and jails must uphold them. For instance, they have the right to be protected against cruel and unusual punishment. In addition, jails must provide inmates with a minimum standard of living.

This post is provided as a helpful source of information for detainees and former inmates in Texas city and county jails and their families who believe that their civil rights have been violated. It is not intended to imply that actions of wrongdoing have occurred on the part of any entity or individual.

–Guest Contributor