Harris County Jail Inmate Dies at Local Hospital

The Harris County Sheriff’s Department, in Houston, Texas, filed a report regarding the custodial death of Justin Michael Henderson. Mr. Henderson was 35 years old at the time of his death. We provide in this post only information obtained from that report, and we do not allege any wrongdoing related to Mr. Henderson’s death.

The report was dated February 4, 2021, and it was filed with the Attorney General of Texas. The report indicates, as to whether Mr. Henderson made suicidal statements, “Unknown.” The report also indicates, regarding Mr. Henderson having any mental health problems, “Unknown.” Oddly, the report also indicates “unknown” regarding medical treatment and whether Mr. Henderson had exhibited any medical problems. Instead, the report provides only a brief summary:

“On December 9, 2020, the decedent was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail by a Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and charged with Evading Arrest in a Motor Vehicle. On February 4, 2021, inmates alerted detention officers the decedent made noises during his sleep and was unresponsive. Additional detention officers arrived and medical personnel were contacted. Medical staff arrived and CPR continued as the decedent was transported to the jail clinic. Houston Fire Department paramedics arrived, assumed care, and transported the decedent to St. Joseph Hospital. At 1:39 a.m., Dr. M. Shin pronounced death.”

Thus, we are uncertain as to what happened to Mr. Henderson, and the ultimate cause of his death. Aside from Mr. Henderson, generally, Texas jail prisoners must receive reasonable medical care from jailers. If jailers fail to provide medical care, then they, and possibly their county or city employers, could be liable in a federal lawsuit for damages.

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.