Comanche County Jail is Cited by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards for 4 Alleged Violations of Minimum Jail Standards
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conducted an inspection of Comanche County Jail in Comanche, Texas, and released a Jail Inspection Report on April 9, 2018. TCJS alleges that the jail violated four minimum jail standards. Each of the alleged violations has potential impact on the safety of prisoners. Jailers have a responsibility to follow guidelines of operation, for the protection of individuals who have been incarcerated in county jails and other facilities under the jurisdiction of TCJS.
The following are some details of the alleged violations of minimum jail standards at Comanche County Jail:
- Newly hired jail staff members are supposed to be trained on procedures related to recognition, supervision, documentation, and handling of prisoners who are potentially suicidal or mentally disabled. Inspectors reviewed documentation and found no records to verify that initial suicide prevention training had been provided for new hires.
- For every prisoner admitted in the county jail, a suicide prevention/mental disabilities screening instrument is supposed to be completed immediately. There was allegedly no documentation verifying that the appropriate parties were notified when warranted, with regards to “yes” answers on the screening form.
- In facilities of certain sizes, which includes Comanche County Jail, a plan for tuberculosis screening tests of all volunteers, prisoners, and employees must be implemented. According to the findings of TCJS inspectors, there was no documentation available to verify that two jailers in particular had received the required annual TB test.
- A total of 12 items of preventative maintenance were allegedly neglected, including that the floor drain cover was missing in one cell and many cells did not have hot and cold water.
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–Guest Contributor
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smchugh