Orange County Inmate Joshua Williams Dies in a Texas Hospital
When Joshua Deshawn Williams, 40, went through intake in the Orange County Jail in Orange, Texas, on November 4, 2025, the booking officer indicated that Mr. Williams had made suicidal statements and appeared to have mental health problems. Tragically, Mr. Williams was pronounced deceased in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont on December 8, 2025, after hanging himself inside his single-occupancy cell the day before.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Williams on December 12, 2025. The following is information from the CDR’s summary of how the death occurred:
Authorities report that Joshua Williams died after a medical emergency that began while he was housed at the Orange County Jail in Texas.
According to available information, Mr. Williams was alone in single cell #18 on the evening of Sunday, December 7, 2025. Shortly before the incident, he had been standing near the front of his cell, facing the hallway, and was speaking with correctional staff during routine rounds regarding telephone access.
At approximately 7:54 p.m., a correctional officer conducting rounds observed Mr. Williams suspended from the cell bars. Records indicate that he had tied a blue mat sheet to the bars and looped the other end around his neck, lowering his body in a manner that caused the material to tighten.
The officer immediately called for assistance and entered the cell. Jail staff lifted Mr. Williams to relieve pressure on his neck and lowered him to the floor as additional personnel arrived. Correctional officers, an on-site licensed vocational nurse, and patrol deputies initiated life-saving measures while awaiting emergency responders.
Mr. Williams was found to have a pulse and was transported by ambulance from the jail in Orange to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. He continued to receive medical treatment after arrival and was later placed on a ventilator.
Despite medical intervention and while still hospitalized, Joshua Deshawn Williams was pronounced deceased on December 8, 2025, at approximately 11:30 a.m.
Suicide is the leading cause of death in county and municipal jails, and all jail staff are required to go through suicide prevention training. However, the training is minimal, typically limited to two hours or less. As many correctional experts believe that most jail suicides are preventable, could a lack of sufficient training be part of the problem?
Oftentimes, breaches in supervision are discovered after a custodial suicide occurs. Understaffing is a common issue in local jails, and when coupled with overcrowding, a lack of inmate supervision can become systemic. The best deterrent to suicide is supervision, making the timely observation of inmates a crucial matter.
At Dallas County Jail, a special jail inspection occurred on September 6, 2022, and the inspection resulted in a citation for an alleged violation of observation requirements. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards Inspector conveyed the following information:
- A video was submitted after a custodial death. A review of the video revealed that the observation rounds were not conducted in accordance with minimum jail standards.
The Orange County Jail in Texas, also known as the Orange County Jail and Detention Center, is located at 12300 Hwy 12, Orange, Texas 77630. The jail has the capacity for approximately 350 inmates.
Guidance for Families After a Possible Jail Negligence Death
Being held in a county or municipal jail does not mean a person forfeits their constitutional rights. When someone in custody suffers harm because medical care was delayed, safety measures were ignored, or jail personnel failed to act appropriately, those lapses may rise to the level of unlawful conduct.
If your family member died while incarcerated and you suspect that medical neglect, unsafe conditions, or other forms of mistreatment contributed to their death, the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C. may be able to provide assistance. Our firm concentrates on in-custody death cases, including matters involving denied or delayed medical treatment, jail suicides, and systemic failures within detention facilities. We work to uncover the facts, evaluate whether rights were violated, and seek accountability on behalf of grieving families.
You can contact our office 24/7 by phone, text message, or through our secure online form to request a free and confidential case review.
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