Culberson County, Texas Jail Fails Inspection
The Culberson County jail, in Van Horn, Texas, failed an inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”). The inspection occurred on August 8, 2019, and the inspection report indicates that there are serious issues with the jail.
The TCJS inspector reviewed documentation regarding the jail making a continuity of care system inquiry, as well as regarding completing intake paperwork. The inspector noted that, while the jail would make continuity of care system inquiries, the required mental health screening form was not completed immediately upon intake as required by minimum jail standards. We assume, since the report is entitled “Special Inspection Report,” that the inspection occurred as a result of injury to and/or death of an inmate.
The State inspector also noted that, after reviewing evidence, face-to-face observations which occurred after a specific inmate was placed into a cell exceeded the required 60-minute observations by 12 minutes. The TCJS standard requires face-to-face observations of inmates without significant issues to occur at intervals of no less than once each hour. If, on the other hand, an inmate is known to be potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who has demonstrated bizarre behavior, he or she must be checked visually at least once every 30 minutes.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone