In a county jail outside Texas in summer 2020, a 28-year-old woman incarcerated for 105 days died of an overdose of fentanyl. The woman’s family is seeking answers as to how their loved one could die of an overdose months after being jailed. The county in question is notorious for a history of drug activity within the jail. About a year ago, the jailers of that county were investigated for a drug-smuggling operation inside the county jail.

All individuals placed in jail are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Even once convicted, inmates have constitutional rights. Among those rights is protection against hazardous situations such as, for example, being given access to illegal drugs.

The inmate who died in this case had been prescribed anti-depressants. One of the basic responsibilities of jails in Texas is to properly handle prescription medications. The following are among the related jail standards:

• Procedures must be in place for the inventory, control, distribution, and disposal of prescriptions, needles, syringes, and hazardous waste containers.
• Prescriptions must be distributed by an appropriate person that the jail operator or sheriff designates and in accordance with instructions written by a doctor.
• As soon as possible after a detainee is taken into custody, a qualified professional in the medical field will review any prescription medication an inmate is taking.

This website’s posts are provided as potentially helpful resources. At no time is there an intent to make an implication that an institution or individual has been involved in any type of misconduct.

–Guest Contributor