Dallas County, Texas Jail Fails Inspection by TCJS

The Dallas County jail, in Dallas, Texas, recently failed a multi-day inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”).  Thus, the Dallas County jail is now listed as being non-compliant by the TCJS.

TCJS inspectors noted five areas in which the Dallas County jail failed to comply with minimum jail standards. First, when TCJS inspectors were reviewing annual certification audit documentation, they noted that required inmate classification reassessments exceeded the required 30-to-90 day reassessment window by as few as three days to as many as twenty-three days on multiple occasions.

Moreover, the TCJS determined, when reviewing inmate files and disciplinary records, that Dallas County was not conducting reassessments immediately upon any disciplinary action. Reassessments after inmate disciplinary action were conducted anywhere from ten days to eighty-three days after the disciplinary action was taken.

Further, through inmate and staff interviews, TCJS inspectors determined that indigent inmates held over 48 hours were not receiving required personal care items. The TCJS also determined that complaints received by the TCJS concerning personal hygiene items were founded.

TCJS inspectors also determined that inmates housed in the West Tower on suicide watch were not afforded access to the dayroom for at least one hour each day. Moreover, they had not had the opportunity to shower anywhere from a minimum of two days to as many as fifteen days as a result. This is clearly inhumane.

Finally, TCJS inspectors determined, through interviews of staff and inmates, that the indigent inmates were not receiving paper, pencils, envelopes, and stamps. Once again, the TCJS determined that complaints it had received regarding such items were in fact founded.

The Dallas County jail holds thousands of people, on a daily basis. It is very important that it bring itself into compliance minimum jail standards to protect not only inmates, but also jail staff.

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.