Jim Hogg County, Texas Jail Fails State Inspection
The Jim Hogg County Jail, in Hebbronville, Texas, recently failed an inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). The inspection occurred on January 5, 2022. The Jim Hogg County Jail is now listed as being non-compliant by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
The TCJS inspector determined that there were at least four minimum jail standards violations. On the date of the inspection, the TCJS inspector determined that there were three inmates that had been held in a holding cell for more than 48 hours. There’s no reason to hold an inmate in a holding cell for more than 48 hours. If he or she needs medical care and/or mental health care, then he or she should be taken to the nearest appropriate medical and/or mental health care facility.
The TCJS inspector also determined, when conducting interviews, that Jim Hogg County Jail staff had not received suicide prevention training in the prior 12 months. This was required both by TCJS minimum standards and the Jim Hogg County Jail mental disabilities/suicide prevention, operational plan. This is a serious violation, based upon our Texas civil rights law firm litigating jail suicide cases across the state. If jailers are not trained in suicide prevention, then death and injury may occur. There is no excuse for the Jim Hogg County Jail failing to assure that its employees receive timely and appropriate suicide prevention training.
Moreover, the TCJS inspector determined, when reviewing medication administration records, that medications were not being distributed in accordance with written instructions from a physician. This is yet another serious violation. We are currently litigating one case against a different county, and that county likewise failed to administer medications in accordance with written orders from a physician. If a jailer fails to provide medications in accordance with such instructions, then obviously serious injury and/or death can occur.
Finally, the TCJS inspector determined that inmates in the Jim Hogg County Jail were not receiving written interim responses to grievances within 15 days, or a written final response within 60 days, to such grievances. This is important, as prisoners have due process. It is important to remember that typically prisoners in county jails have not been convicted of anything and are awaiting trial. The United States Constitution guarantees the right of such prisoners to receive reasonable medical care and mental health care. If serious injury or death result of a failure to provide such care, then certain family members and/or the injured person may be able to bring a federal lawsuit.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone