Coryell County Jail in Gatesville, Texas Fails State Inspection
The Coryell County jail has now been listed as non-compliant by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). The jail failed a June 2-3, 2020 inspection. Hopefully, the jail will bring itself into compliance with minimum standards.
The Coryell County jail violated, according to the TCJS inspector, four minimum standards. The standards violated are important in protecting the health and safety of pretrial inmates in its jail.
The first standard violated by the Coryell County jail, in Gatesville, required the jail to provide procedures requiring that a qualified medical professional to review as soon as possible any prescription medication a prisoner is taking when the prisoner is taken into custody. The State inspector noted, when reviewing inmate medical files, that an inmate did not have multiple medications reviewed as soon as possible as stated on the Screening Form for Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments.
The second TCJS standard violated by the Coryell County jail required that all medical instructions of designated physicians to be followed. While reviewing inmate medical files, the TCJS inspector determined that two inmates had prescriptions from a physician that were not followed (with no documentation otherwise).
Third, the Coryell County jail violated the standard that separate health records reflect all subsequent diagnoses, findings, treatment, disposition, special housing assignments, medical isolation, distribution of medications, and the name of any institution to which the inmates health record has been released. The TCJS inspector determined, when reviewing medical files for inmates, that Coryell County jail staff were not properly documenting the medication administration record sheets with initials from staff and inmates when dispensing medication as required.
Finally, the Coryell County jail violated the standard that requires procedures for intake screening to identify inmates who are known or observed to be mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal and procedures for compliance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 and referrals to available mental health officials. The TCJS inspector noted, when reviewing inmate medical files, that Coryell County jail staff are not completing the Screening Form for Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments Form in its entirety. The inspector noted that this issue was also an issue during the 2019 annual inspection at the Coryell County jail.
Aside from this inspection report, our Texas constitutional rights law firm currently has a case pending against Coryell County. It arises out of the death of an inmate in that jail. The federal district court granted summary judgment to Defendants in that case. It is now on appeal at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As of the date of this post, briefing will soon be filed.
Moreover, aside from the case that we have pending, and the above-referenced inspection, it is extremely important that Texas county jails assure that they conduct appropriate intakes for inmates. It is also very important that the Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments Form be completed in its entirety. Our law firm reviews a number of these forms yearly, in connection with our representation of people related to, unfortunately, jail deaths. We find significant issues with intakes in other cases, and with regard to other counties. If an appropriate intake of an inmate is not performed, the inmate can be placed into a cell that is not appropriate for that inmate’s situation, and the inmate could be enabled to commit suicide and/or otherwise be harmed.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone