Montague County Jail is Cited for a Suicide Training Violation
Montague County Jail was sent a notice of non-compliance from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) on April 23, 2025. This followed the issuance of a jail inspection report a day earlier in which TCJS inspectors list one violation against minimum jail standards. Montague County Jail is now included in the list of non-compliant jails in Texas on the TCJS website.
The alleged violation that the Montague County Jail has been cited for involves mental disabilities and suicide prevention. When the suicide prevention training records were reviewed, TCJS inspectors found the following:
- It has been determined that not all the jail staff at Montague County Jail have completed suicide prevention training in accordance with the operational plan approved for the facility.
Montague County Jail is located at 111 S Grand Street, Montague, Texas 76251. The inmate capacity is 101.
A Suicide that Occurred in Polk County Jail in Iowa Made Recent News
Please note that graphic details follow.
Using recent statistics, it has been estimated that 24% to 35% of annual deaths in county and city jails are due to suicide. A 2013 suicide in Polk County Jail, Des Moines, IA, was captured on video and provides graphic evidence that help is needed to prevent jail suicides. Douglas Ramsey reportedly told jail officials that he was suicidal just before making a successful attempt to kill himself. A video, which is currently posted online, shows him being brought into the jail and escorted down a hall by a deputy.
Mr. Ramsey turned back and is seen running away from the deputy who had been escorting him. Tragically, Mr. Ramsey rammed his head into a concrete wall, then fell and slammed his head multiple times against the concrete floor (not visible on the video). He is heard asking the staff to kill him. Mr. Ramsey was taken to a hospital, where he died two weeks later from his self-inflicted injuries. The address of Polk County Jail is 1985 NE 51st Pl, Des Moines, IA 50313
Four Suicides in Bibb County Jail GA are Scrutinized
In a May 2025 article, four suicides that have occurred in Bibb County Jail since 2020 are discussed. The families of two of those inmates, Dakota Smithers and Troyce Billingslea, have expressed their concerns that more should have been done to protect and save their loved ones.
Details provided about Mr. Billingslea indicate that he died alone in his cell on September 3, 2023. Just hours after his cries for help were ignored, Mr. Billingslea was discovered hanging from a makeshift ligature fashioned from a blanket. He had repeatedly expressed his suicidal ideations, which were reportedly witnessed by inmates who conveyed the information to jail staff. His vulnerability was allegedly dismissed by the jail’s medical professionals. The address of Bibb County Jail is 668 Oglethorpe St, Macon, GA 31201.
Pursuing Justice After a Preventable Jail Suicide
No one loses their fundamental constitutional rights simply because they are behind bars. If your loved one died by suicide in a county or city jail and you believe their medical or mental health needs were neglected, prompt legal action is essential. The Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. concentrates on in-custody death cases, especially those involving preventable suicides and serious lapses in medical care. We work tirelessly to hold jails accountable for these avoidable tragedies.
We’re here to help families find answers and pursue justice. Contact us via phone, text, or our online form. Your family’s voice deserves to be heard.
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