Dallas County, Texas Jail Fails Another Inspection

The Dallas County jail, in Dallas, Texas, recently failed an inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). The TCJS inspection occurred in February 2022. The Dallas County jail is now listed as being non-compliant by the TCJS.

TCJS inspectors found at least four minimum standards which the Dallas County jail violated. First, when walking through the inmate holdover housing area, observation logs of aggressive and suicidal inmates were incorrectly documented when compared to video documentation. In other words, they were false.

The Dallas County jail standard operating procedure requires 15-minute observations to occur of every inmate who is designated as being on “suicide prevention” status. While our Texas jail neglect law firm disagrees that such a watch is appropriate for a person who is suicidal, but instead that continuous monitoring should be required, Dallas County was apparently violating its own watch period. This is a serious violation, because if a suicidal person is not appropriately observed, death can result.

TCJS inspectors also noted that the Dallas County jail could not provide documentation that inmates considered as “crisis” were provided a change of clothing at least once each week. Aside from being a violation of a minimum jail standard, human dignity would require that such clothing be provided.

TCJS inspectors also found that the Dallas County jail could not document that washable items such as mattress covers, sheets, and towels were provided to inmates considered as “crisis.” Once again, human dignity requires that such items be provided except in a situation in which an inmate is suicidal.

Finally, when walking through the Dallas County jail’s north tower, there were approximately 40 multiple-occupancy cell doors in disrepair. This would compromise the safety and security of the facility and could result in injury to and/or death of inmates and/or jail staff.

It is unfortunate that the Dallas County jail failed its inspection for the second year in a row. Hopefully, it will remedy these issues and bring itself into compliance.

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.