Crockett, Texas Jail is Cited for Issues Related to Overcrowding
Crockett County Jail was scrutinized by inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) on February 9, 2024. As a result, TCJS inspectors cited the Crockett jail with four violations of minimum jail standards. Two of those standards are frequently associated with jail overcrowding, a common issue in Texas and throughout the United States.
Jail Overcrowding is an Ongoing Problem
A January 2024 news story reveals that West Virginia continues to have jail overcrowding problems. The state recently led the nation in the jail population growth rate. It more than doubled between 2000 and 2009; from 2018 through 2022, the situation worsened even more.
Families are making an outcry, trying to put a spotlight on conditions described as “less safe, secure, and humane” than jail facilities should be. For example, there are allegedly two to three inmates in single-person cells, and inmates have been sleeping in the facility’s day room. In one jail, according to research, 228 detainees were assigned to sleep on the floor.
Overall, according to a leader in corrections in the state, there were 167 detainees over capacity among the 10 county jails. The number of inmates above capacity is not spread evenly between the jails.
Recent deaths could be a symptom of overcrowding in West Virginia jails, per a legislator in that state. Yet, West Virginia officials are currently focused on recruitment and retention of corrections officers more than other issues in the jails. Understaffing of corrections officers generally goes hand in hand with jail overcrowding.
What is Causing the Widespread Problem of Jail Overcrowding?
In the 40 years ending in 2015, the number of people held in U.S. jails has more than quadrupled. This explosive growth of imprisonment is an inevitable result of decades of tough-on-crime policies. Mandatory sentencing laws related to the “war on drugs” have resulted in more arrests and inflexibility of sentencing. Judges are prevented from tailoring punishment to the individual and the seriousness of the offense.
An Inmate Death in a U.S. Jail was Caused by Neglect
This week, details about a January 2024 custodial death in a Tennessee jail have emerged. Per a ruling, a 42-year-old detainee’s death was caused by homicide due to jail neglect. Inhumane circumstances contributed to the man’s decline and death. The autopsy uncovered evidence of severe jail neglect through malnutrition and severe dehydration. Extensive and severe infestations of lice, bed bugs, and innumerable insects all over the body of the deceased were discovered.
The inmate was mentally ill, having been diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia. He was allegedly not provided with his medication while he was in the jail. This likely caused the man to be deprived of brain function. The deplorable conditions suffered by the deceased allegedly demonstrate an ongoing pattern of neglect in that county.
Help for Severe Injury and Death Due to Jail Neglect
One of the notes related to a violation by Crockett County Jail said that jail staff exceeded 60-minute and 30-minute face-to-face observation requirements by anywhere from 1 minute to 4 hours. Another says that jail staff exceeded 15-minute observation requirements for detainees held in restraints by 15 minutes to 43 minutes. In some cases, these violations can be evidence of jail neglect and medical neglect.
Have you suffered life-altering injuries in jail or has a family member died in jail due to neglect? We care about inmate rights. Whenever possible, we are glad to provide legal representation. Call us today. You can also text or fill out our online form.
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