Dallas County Jail Exceeds Holding Cell Time Limits
During a special jail inspection of Dallas County Jail on July 22, 2025, inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) found that the jail had violated one minimum jail standard. TCJS sent a notice of non-compliance the next day and added the Dallas jail to the non-compliance page on its website. Dallas County Jail is cited for allegedly violating Rule §259.138 regarding holding cells. The TCJS inspector’s notes conveyed the following:
- Complaints #41393 and #40919 received for the Dallas County Jail were reviewed. It was determined that, while waiting to be rehoused from one housing location to another, two separate inmates had been held in a holding cell for more than 48 hours.
Holding cells are designed to hold inmates temporarily. There is no bedding in these cells, but Texas jails are required to provide seating. Detainees are typically placed in a holding cell pending intake, processing, release, or other reasons for temporary holding.
The address of the Lew Sterrett Justice Center, aka Dallas County Jail, is 111 Commerce St, Dallas, TX 75207. The inmate capacity is 7,000+.
A New York City Jail Inmate in a Holding Cell Commits Suicide
The uncomfortable and sometimes crowded conditions in intake cells have endangered inmates for numerous reasons in jails throughout the U.S. The following information was gained through investigations by the Vera Institute.
In New York City’s Rikers Island, it was discovered that jail staff alegedly altered records so that the jail would appear compliant with the 24-hour time limit to move people through intake. This led to the conclusion that the number of detainees forced into extended stays in these temporary cells is unknown.
A federal monitor responsible for overseeing Rikers Island reported that intake units, or holding cells, had “imploded.” Allegedly, inmates had been held in intake for days and even weeks in conditions described as horrifying. In 2021, elected officials visited the holding cells, and they were extremely overcrowded. They found that people had no choice but to sleep on floors covered with human waste, cockroaches, and rotting food. A surveillance photo in one New York City jail facility showed 26 people jam-packed into a single cell.
- Brandon Rodriguez, 25, died by suicide in a holding cell in August 2021. He had allegedly been held for days in a dangerous intake area of Rikers Island. He suffered from mental disorders and had bruises and a broken bone around his eye due to an assault by other inmates.
Looking for Legal Support in Jail Negligence Matters in Texas?
Research shows that nearly 70% of people held in local jails across the U.S. who suffer from chronic health issues are not provided the proper medical attention they need—a serious concern. If a family member’s life was lost due to inadequate medical care or jail neglect, the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., may be able to help. Our team has extensive experience pursuing justice in custodial death cases, including those involving suicide.
You can contact us at any time. Reach out today by phone, text, or through our secure online form to schedule a free consultation.
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