Madison County Jail Violates a Rule Involving Prescription Meds
A jail inspection was conducted at Madison County Jail in Madisonville, Texas, on August 12, 2025. Inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) found that the jail was noncompliant with one minimum jail standard. TCJS sent a notice of non-compliance to Madison County Jail on August 14, 2025. The Commission also now lists the jail on its website’s non-compliance page.
Madison County Jail violated Rule §273.2(7)-Health Services. This rule requires an appropriate person designated by the sheriff or jail operator to distribute prescription medications in accordance with physicians’ instructions. The TCJS inspector’s note conveyed the following message:
- The medication administration records (MARs) were reviewed, and it was discovered that appropriate documentation indicating whether or not medication was administered could not be found.
Madison County Jail’s address is 2005 E Main St, Madisonville, Texas 77864. The jail has a 250-bed capacity.
Inmate Matthew Shelton Died from a Lack of Medication in the Harris County Jail
Matthew Shelton, 28, turned himself in at Harris County Jail on a driving while intoxicated charge on March 22, 2022. He brought the insulin he needed with him. Jail records show that they received the medication. But once Mr. Shelton was moved to his cell, the insulin was never provided to him. According to procedure, the insulin needed to be reviewed, ordered, and provided for Mr. Shelton’s use.
On March 27, 2022, his sixth day in the Houston, Texas, jail, Matthew Ryan Shelton was pronounced deceased. Autopsy results showed that his cause of death was diabetic ketoacidosis, the deadly medical condition that develops when diabetics do not get their required insulin.
Zareef M. Fawaz Dies After Incarceration in Illinois’ Madison County Jail
After Zareef M. Fawaz, 49, was booked into Madison County Jail in Illinois. The jail staff was told that he had to take his blood thinners as prescribed. But deputies did not provide Mr. Fawaz with the medication. Zareef M. Fawaz was pronounced deceased on May 31, 2024, on his tenth day of being in the custody of Madison County Jail. He died of a blood clot.
D’Vonte Valentine Dies After the Jail Fails to Provide His Medication
After D’Vonte Valentine was booked into Smith County Jail in Tyler, Texas, on November 28, 2022, his necessary steroid medication was provided. The medication was placed in Mr. Valentine’s jail locker, but the prescription medicine was never given to him. D’Vonte Valentine was pronounced deceased on December 4, 2022.
Do You Believe Jail Neglect Played a Role in a Loved One’s Death?
At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., we stand with families who suspect that a death behind bars was caused by negligence, abuse, or the denial of essential medical treatment. Our attorneys have significant experience investigating in-custody deaths and understand how critical it is to move quickly when jail misconduct may be involved.
If you believe your family member’s passing could have been prevented, don’t wait to seek answers. You can contact us 24/7 to schedule a free case review. Call, text, or fill out our secure online form today.
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