On March 1, 2021, Larry David Hurt was pronounced dead in Marshall, Texas. He had been in the custody of Harrison County Jail at the time of his death. An inspection of the jail prompted by Mr. Hurt’s death showed non-compliance in connection with jail intake requirements.

Proper booking procedures in Texas county jails help to ensure that inmates are placed appropriately, especially if they are at risk. Potentially suicidal and mentally impaired inmates receive heightened supervision. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) is responsible to direct operations of county jails in the state, and requirements include directives about suicide prevention.

The training of jail staff members is an essential factor in helping to stop prisoners from committing suicide. There are reports showing that suicide is the number one cause of death in county jails and in state prisons. The rate of suicide is always higher for people who are incarcerated as compared to those who are not.

Jail Suicide Statistics

The following are some Texas statistics provided by TCJS in a suicide prevention publication:

• In Texas county jails, 24% of suicides occur within the first 24 hours that an inmate is incarcerated.
• Another 27% of Texas jail suicides happen between 2 days and 14 days of incarceration.
• Approximately 31% of prisoners in county jails who commit suicide are discovered after more than one hour has passed since the previous observation.

See Part 1 and this ongoing series. In the next segment, learn some myths about suicide.

There is no intent on this website to suggest that any individual or entity has been involved in wrongdoing. This site offers posts to help inmates who are now or have previously been incarcerated in a county jail in Texas.

–Guest Contributor