Inmate Medical Neglect is a Widespread Problem

An in-depth article on medical neglect in Texas county jails and prisons claims that in a recent four-year period, 282 inmates died in county jails from medical issues. This number was greater than the number of inmates who died of medical reasons in prisons in the same period, despite the fact that Texas prisons hold twice the number of prisoners.

Some experts say that many unnecessary and preventable deaths occur in Texas jails because of a lack of jail health care standards.

The regulations for county jails are set by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). Their requirements do not set standards regarding the quality or speed of availability of medical care for prisoners. TCJS only requires that they have a plan for the medical care of prisoners, though it must be approved by TCJS.

Counties, in general, are cash-poor, and they generally choose the cheapest medications and treatments for inmates. Because the requirements for medical care or not enforceable, it seems to be a gamble that county jails can afford to take. What county jail administrations rely on is that the inmates will be held briefly. That’s not always a safe bet.

In one county jail in Texas, a man in his 50s had multiple conditions that were neglected because of mental illness, poverty, and drug addiction. He was locked up for about 10 weeks, and he died from complications of a heart condition, obesity, and diabetes.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this continuing series.

Helping Texas jail detainees and their families with resources is one of the purposes of this website. There is no intention of suggesting that people or organizations have been involved in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor