Jim Wells County Jail Fails Inspection
As a result of a March 18, 2024 inspection, Jim Wells County Jail has been cited by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) for one jail violation. Jim Wells County Jail’s address is 611 E 3rd Street, Alice, Texas 78332. The bed capacity at the Alice jail is 88.
Jim Wells County Jail’s Violation
When detainees are confined in a detoxification cell or a holding cell, jailers are supposed to observe them in a face-to-face check at intervals that don’t exceed every 30 minutes. After an in-custody death of a detainee at Jim Wells County Jail, a review of video revealed that five observation rounds exceeded 30 minutes.
A 45-year-old male inmate at Jim Wells County Jail was admitted on February 6, 2024. Tragically, he died three days later on February 9. This is most likely the individual referred to in the jail inspection report. His cause of death is pending autopsy results, but the medical cause of death indicates the following:
- The detainee had a medical episode and was transported to the hospital, where he later died. Toxicology and medical examiner reports are pending.
The custodial death report (CDR) indicates that the man had a pre-existing medical condition. After he was booked into the jail, he was housed in Holding Cell A. On February 8, he suffered a medical episode in the holding cell. Jail staff rendered aid, and the male detainee was moved to the booking area, where lifesaving measures were performed. He was then moved to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Another Custodial Death at Jim Wells County Jail
On January 31, 2018, 28-year-old Marcus Soza was discovered unresponsive in his jail cell. His death on February 1, 2018, was ruled a suicide–as per the Medical Examiner’s report, “asphyxia secondary to hanging.” The young man made suicidal statements during intake, and he was in a holding cell, where the rules concerning observations were the same as mentioned above.
In the special inspection report, a TCJS inspector noted that video evidence and documentation review combined with facility administration self-reporting showed that the 30-minute face-to-face observation prior to the inmate being discovered did not occur.
This inspection, in other words, indicates that jail neglect could possibly have occurred. However, we are only providing information with no intention of making an allegation or assertion that any person or entity engaged in misconduct or behaved inappropriately.
Has Jail Neglect Been the Cause of Tragedy in Your Life?
When medical jail neglect or other types of jail neglect have occurred, it is possible to hold a jail responsible for any resulting custodial deaths or life-altering injuries. Are you concerned that a loved one who died in jail was a victim of jail neglect such as medical jail neglect? At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we have years of experience representing people who fell victim to jail neglect. In addition, we have a team diligently working on our jail neglect death cases. Don’t delay! Contact us today by calling, texting, or filling out our online form.
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