Edwards County Jail Fails to Make Timely Checks on Inmates in Detox

On April 25, 2024, a special jail inspection was conducted at Edwards County Jail in Rocksprings, Texas. Subsequently, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) sent the jail a notice of non-compliance. Edwards County was cited for allegedly violating 2 minimum jail standards. One revealed that a fire official had last inspected the facility on December 5, 2021, though such inspections are required annually. The supervision of inmates was the other area of non-compliance. Rather than checking inmates in detox and holding cells every 30 minutes, as required, the jail staff routinely conducted them in 45-minute intervals.

The address of Edwards County Jail is 404 West Austin Street in Rocksprings, Texas 78880. Edwards County Jail has an inmate capacity of 25.

The Denial of Medical Care for Inmates in Detox

Tragically, local jail detainees in withdrawal often die within hours or days of their incarceration due to the denial of medical care. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) published a brief about managing substance withdrawal in jails, and it includes examples of alleged wrongful deaths, as follows:

A woman going through opiate withdrawal while in a county jail in Washington state died from severe electrolyte imbalance. It was found to be a genuine issue of material fact that the jail failed to adhere to a policy for treating detainees undergoing opioid withdrawal.
A woman jailed in a state outside Texas exhibited profound physical distress from the time she was booked into a Utah county jail. She also begged for medical attention from the start. Yet, no help was provided, and she died after 3.5 days. For many inmates experiencing alcohol or drug withdrawal, the jail allegedly failed to perform the required withdrawal protocol assessments. An investigation uncovered a far-reaching accepted, customary, and cultural practice of ignoring symptoms exhibited by inmates in withdrawal as well as their health complaints. It was also found that the jail often failed to perform the required withdrawal protocol assessments for numerous inmates.
Another woman lived 2.5 days after going through intake in a Georgia county jail. The jail denied the woman access to prescribed medications, including oxycodone. Her symptoms before dying (diarrhea, nausea, and fever) were consistent with acute benzodiazepine withdrawal, though the cause of death was ruled hypertensive cardiovascular disease. It was discovered that a jailer who had not been provided with adequate medication training was authorized to make the decision whether emergency medical attention was warranted. Prior to the woman’s tragic death, the jailer decided against providing her with medical care.

Has Jail Neglect Deprived You of the Life of a Loved One?

Investigations have shown that many individuals die unnecessarily while held in a county or municipal jail in Texas. If one of your family members was in a jail when he or she died and you believe there is evidence of jail medical neglect, contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone. For years, we’ve made it a practice to represent families of deceased inmates and people who were formerly incarcerated and suffered a life-altering injury due to jail neglect while there. Reach out 24/7 by calling, texting, or filling out our online form to schedule your free case evaluation.

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