Fernando Serna Candelas was booked into the El Paso County Jail on March 9, 2021. While still in the custody of the El Paso, Texas, jail, Mr. Candelas died on June 30, 2021. According to the Custodial Death Report, the 21-year-old’s medical cause of death was fentanyl toxicity.

As mentioned previously in this series, drug addiction is a problem with a large percentage of Texas inmates. Another issue of great concern is custodial suicide. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has included county jail guidelines for suicide prevention. In the Texas Code, the information is found in the chapter on health services. The requirements for a mental disabilities/suicide prevention plan include training for suicide prevention.

RULE §273.5 – Suicide Prevention Plan

In each county Texas jail, the sheriff or equivalent (operator) is required to develop and implement a suicide prevention plan. Coordination with available mental and medical health officials is part of the process. Training of jail staff members is an important part of the plan. The staff must receive training on recognizing, supervising, documenting, and handling inmates who are potentially suicidal. Training includes learning what the risk factors are for suicide.

Inmate Suicide Risk Factors

A recent report on custodial suicide based on an in-depth study found that the following are among the strong risk factors for inmate suicide:

• Suicidal ideation while currently incarcerated
• History of attempted suicide
• Current psychiatric diagnosis
• Housed in a single cell (one occupant)
• No social visits
• Convicted of a violent offense

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

It is never an intention on this website to suggest that individuals or organizations have been participants in wrongdoing. Posts are offered as potentially helpful resources for inmates now or formerly housed in a county jail in Texas.

–Guest Contributor