Kevin Alexander Sanchez-Trejo died on February 12, 2022, in Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas. He had been a detainee there since November 21, 2021. On the day of his death in a single cell, he was found unresponsive. Attempts to revive him were started by jail personnel and continued by paramedics with the Houston Fire Department. Mr. Sanchez-Trejo was only 21 years old when he died.

Harris County Jail is Scrutinized about the High Number of Inmate Deaths

According to an investigative report, 142 inmates died in Harris County Jail between 2001 and June of 2009. Between 2009 and 2015, 55 people reportedly died in the jail while they were awaiting trial.

Noncompliance of Harris County Jail

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) sets the operational guidelines for Texas county jails. Inspectors with TCJS conduct annual inspections to determine whether the jails are run according to minimum jail standards. In all recent years, Harris County Jail has been found non-compliant. Details follow, to be continued in this ongoing series.

Jail Inspection Report Dated November 15-17, 2021

In the November 15-17, 2021, jail inspection report, Harris County Jail was cited for noncompliance with Rule §275.1, which pertains to regular observation by jailers.

• Instead of being observed in intervals not to exceed every 60 minutes, as required, documentation revealed that face-to-face inmate observations were frequently performed after between 90 and 144 minutes had passed since the last round.

Also, see Part 1 and Part 2 of this ongoing series.

This website never intends to implicate persons or entities in acts of wrongdoing. Posts are added to benefit prisoners detained in Texas county jails.

–Guest Contributor