Matagorda County Jail in Bay City, Texas Fails State Inspection – Listed as Non-Compliant

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”) completed an inspection report for the Matagorda County jail regarding an inspection occurring on April 23, 2020.  The TCJS determined that the Matagorda County jail, in Bay City, Texas, failed to meet minimum jail standards.  As a result, the Matagorda County jail is now listed as being a non-compliant jail.

The TCJS inspector noted that the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Department, operating the jail, violated one section of minimum jail standards.  That standard requires that a jail provide procedures that require a qualified medical professional to review as soon as possible any prescription medication of prisoners taken when a prisoner is taken into custody. 

The inspector noted, after reviewing a screening form for suicide and medical/mental/developmental impairments, and an update provided from Galveston County, that a particular inmate was taking medication for his chronic infectious disease before arriving at the Matagorda County jail.  Even so, the inmate did not receive his medication, nor did he receive any medical care for his condition thereafter. 

We are uncertain, from the report, whether the inmate suffered severe medical injury and/or death as a result of what occurred.  Regardless, hopefully Matagorda County will bring its jail into compliance and assure the safety of its inmates 

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.