Liberty County, Texas Jail Violates 14 Minimum Jail Standards
On the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website, Liberty County Jail is currently listed as non-compliant with minimum standards in connection with four different failed inspections. The latest jail inspection report for Liberty County was issued on January 27, 2025, and a notice of non-compliance was issued four days later on January 31. Fourteen (14) rules of operation were allegedly violated.
Most notable as regards concerns about lack of compliance with TCJS standards is that several of the January violations are related to suicide. TCJS inspectors provide the following information about the various suicide-related violations:
- It was discovered during the inspection that Liberty County Jail staff members were not performing documented face-to-face observations of detainees on suicide watch.
- The results of suicide screening forms as required by CCP 16.22 have not been processed by the jail staff of Liberty County.
- Staffing rosters reveal that Liberty County has not been meeting the 1-48 ratio.
- Two-way voice communication is required under the supervision of inmates, but such communication could not be achieved through the intercom system.
The address of Liberty County Jail is 2400 Beaumont Ave, Liberty, TX 77575. The bed capacity of the Beaumont jail is about 285 inmates.
An Investigation Finds that the Jail Suicide of Aaron Aubrey was Preventable
Thirty-one-year-old Aaron Aubrey died by suicide in Riverside County Jail in California, and an investigation has revealed that the death was preventable. The following are among the alleged facts which have emerged to suggest that Mr. Aubrey’s suicide by hanging could have been prevented:
- The jail failed to take action when Mr. Aubrey talked about possibly dying by suicide and when he sought psychiatric help.
- The jail did not intervene when Mr. Aubrey began to cover his cell door with newspaper approximately an hour before he was found hanging by his neck in his cell.
- Deputies failed to conduct a security check before Mr. Aubrey was found unresponsive.
The Rate of Jail Suicides Exceeds Prisons and the Outside World
Suicide is the leading cause of death in county and municipal U.S. jails. Many things are known about suicide risk factors. For instance, a study of suicides in Washington and Oregon jails found that more than half of the deaths occurred within two weeks of the detainee’s incarceration. Also, hanging is by far the most common method inmates use to commit suicide in jails. Isolation in a single-occupancy cell increases the risk of self-harm, but human contact significantly reduces incidents of suicide.
Bed sheets were used by half of the Oregon and Washington inmates who died by suicide. One of the measures that has been adopted by jails is to issue suicide-resistant blankets instead of sheets.
Legal Help for Jail Neglect Death Cases
Do you suspect that a loved one’s death in jail was due to neglect? Having legal representation with extensive experience in this complex area of law can make a difference in your case.
At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we are dedicated to seeking justice for victims of jail neglect, inmate abuse, and wrongful deaths in custody. Contact us anytime for a free case evaluation—available 24/7 by phone, text, or our online form.
smchugh
smchugh