Francisco Salinas Dies After 51 Hours in Bexar County Jail
Francisco Javier Salinas, age 41, entered Bexar County Jail at 4:20 AM on April 17, 2024. He was pronounced deceased in a holding cell 51 hours later at 7:19 AM on April 19. Under the direction of Sheriff Javier Salazar, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Salinas on April 25, 2024. Bexar County Jail is at 200 N. Comal in San Antonio, TX 75142.
It appears that Mr. Salinas may not have gone through the booking process at the time of his death. Answers to questions about his condition when admitted were “unknown,” per the CDR. A deputy discovered him in an unresponsive state, and the deputy indicated that his lips were bluish. He was pronounced deceased in the cell by San Antonio Fire Department Capt. Schott 49 minutes later. His cause of death is unknown.
Fentanyl Smuggled into Jails Threatens Lives
In May 2023 news, the lives of seven inmates in a Washington state county jail were saved in a multiple casualty incident. Deputies had observed inmate behaviors consistent with the symptoms of overdose caused by fentanyl. One after another, the inmates began swaying and falling against a wall.
Narcan was administered to all seven inmates. They were transported to a local hospital and later were returned to the jail. They all survived the incident.
Fentanyl caused approximately 200 deaths daily in the U.S. in 2022. Since 2018, over a quarter of a million people died from fentanyl overdoses in the U.S. alone. When administered in time, Narcan/ naloxone is an effective treatment that saves the lives of people experiencing an opioid overdose.
In the Washington jail, it was believed that an inmate had smuggled fentanyl into the jail. Within days, authorities charged an inmate with possession of a controlled substance inside a correctional facility.
Substance Withdrawal Is Common in U.S. Jails
Detainees in U.S. jails often suffer from withdrawal. If acute withdrawal symptoms aren’t treated, a preventable death can occur. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recently released Guidelines for Managing Substance Withdrawal in Jails. The information can help jails avoid deaths from severe alcohol and drug withdrawal.
The attentiveness of jail staff is crucial because detainees may not be able to accurately report what they’ve ingested because unknown contaminants are often mixed with other substances. There are indicators of drug withdrawal, with which jailers should be familiar, and the following are among them:
- Dilated pupils
- Appearing withdrawn or severely depressed
- Agitation
- Diarrhea
- Talking about hurting themselves or others
- Vomiting
- Increasing panic or anxiety
Has Someone in Your Family Died from Possible Jail Neglect?
Has a loved one died in jail, and do you suspect that jail neglect was the cause of their death? Jails can be held accountable when custodial deaths occur due to jail neglect such as jail medical neglect. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we have a team dedicated to custodial death cases. With our years of jail neglect experience, we can also sometimes help when former detainees in a U.S. jail have suffered a life-altering injury during their incarceration.
Call today, text, or fill out our online form. We are available to you 24/7.
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