Coryell County, Texas Jail Fails Yet Another Inspection

The Coryell County jail, in Gatesville, Texas, continues to have serious issues bringing itself into compliance with minimum standards required by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). This is of serious concern to all Texas citizens, but in particular our law firm and the family of Kelli Page. Ms. Page died in the jail a few years ago, and medical examiners determined it was as a result of positional asphyxiation. That case has been on appeal for some period of time, and our office awaits a decision by the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The most recent inspections which the Coryell County jail failed occurred on April 6, 2022 and April 11, 2022. The TCJS inspector determined, at the April 6, 2022 inspection, after reviewing a complaint, that an inmate reported being injured and hadn’t requested medical care. The Coryell County jail staff nurse advised staff to summon EMS so that the inmate could be evaluated, and potentially transported to a hospital. However, according to records, jail staff waited over 24 hours before calling EMS.

The other recent inspection the Coryell County jail failed occurred on April 11, 2022. The Coryell County jail had previously failed an inspection on October 25, 2022, because the jail was overpopulated. When the TCJS inspector inspected the jail on April 11, 2022, the jail remained overpopulated, having 110 inmates in the facility. Thus, Coryell County had not cured this issue.

Further, on April 11, 2022, the TCJS inspector referenced the April 6, 2022 inspection, at which it was determined that the jail did not follow its approved health services plan regarding efficient prompt care. As of April 11, 2022, the jail still had not submitted to TCJS the jails plan of action regarding the issue. The deficiency still existed. The TCJS inspector did note that the jail had several more days before the deadline to submit such a plan of action.

Finally, during the April 11, 2022 inspection, when the TCJS inspector reviewed jail medical administration record sheets, the inspector determined that there were multiple occasions during which jail staff failed to document distribution or in the alternative refusal of prescribed medications. This can lead to serious injury or death. We have handled a case and seen a number of cases in which a person with significant mental health issues was not provided his or her medication. In addition, a person with chronic health issues, including high blood pressure for example, can suffer serious injury or death absent receipt and ingestion of medication.

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.