On May 5, 2019, 41-year-old Christopher Wayne Cabler committed suicide in his single-person cell at Red River County Jail in Clarksville, Texas. Various questions were raised at that time in connection with suicide prevention measures. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has recognized that suicide prevention is an essential matter with regard to protecting inmates in county jails in the state. Minimum jail standards that guide jail operations in the state contain an entire section devoted to suicide prevention.

Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan

County sheriffs in the state of Texas have the responsibility of operating county jails. They or a designated operator are required to develop a suicide prevention plan that also encompasses protection of inmates with mental disabilities. Each plan for suicide prevention must include each element as dictated in the minimum jail standards. The following are a few examples:

• Training. Provisions must be made to train staff members on procedures for supervising, recognizing, handling, and documenting inmates who are potentially suicidal. The staff members given the responsibility of intake screening must have supplemental training.
• Identification. Each Texas jail must have procedures for identifying inmates who are potentially suicidal during intake screening.
• Housing. Inmates who are potentially suicidal must be placed in appropriate housing in which suicide prevention measures are taken.

In this continuing series, learn about various jail requirements in which Red River County Jail was found to be below standards.

The posts on this website are meant to provide help to prisoners currently or formerly in county jails in Texas. There is not an intention, at any time, to imply misdeeds on the part of persons or institutions.

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