Oscar Lopez Dies in Hidalgo County Jail on Day 5
Oscar Lopez went through intake at Hidalgo County Jail on February 6, 2024. Tragically, he died in the jail’s custody four days later. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department filed the custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Lopez on July 9, 2024, which was 4 months past the filing deadline.
The summary of how Mr. Lopez’s death occurred indicates that he had difficulty breathing on February 9, 2024, and was transported to the South Texas Health System Heart Hospital at approximately 9:34 p.m. The hospital staff reported to the Hidalgo County Sheriff that Mr. Lopez coded three times while in their care before becoming unresponsive at 11:43 p.m. A justice of the peace pronounced him deceased at 12:02 a.m. on February 10, 2024. Mr. Lopez was only 39 years old.
Hidalgo County Jail is also known as the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center. The address of the Hidalgo County Jail is 1900 D Street, McAllen TX 78503. At maximum capacity, the facility can house up to 1,232 detainees.
Are Most Jail Deaths Due to Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Preventable?
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) created a tool to help manage jail withdrawal and prevent unnecessary deaths. It was published in June 2023 and addresses a real problem. One related headline from a February 2017 publication reveals the motivation behind the more recent report. The headline reads, “Go to Jail. Die From Drug Withdrawal. Welcome to the Criminal Justice System.”
Inmates do not lose their fundamental rights because they are incarcerated. Jails are responsible for providing necessary medical, mental, and dental care. Various medical treatments are effective in preventing withdrawal deaths. Jails should be held accountable if their policies and procedures do not include strategies for effectively saving detainees from suffering severely and dying from the effects of withdrawal.
Guidelines for Jails to Manage Inmates in Withdrawal
When an inmate shows signs of drug or alcohol withdrawal, jails can anticipate and manage the severity of withdrawal symptoms and any psychiatric or medical comorbidities. An example of comorbidity is if a person shows evidence of a heart problem in addition to withdrawal symptoms, and the combined effect could be a risk factor for a poor outcome. Medications can be administered per substance-specific clinical orders. Jails are also encouraged to provide a supportive environment with access to hydration, nutrition, and sleep.
The Law Offices of Dean Malone: Your Advocates in Jail Neglect Cases
Do you suspect that a loved one died in jail due to neglect? Or were you previously detained in a Texas county or municipal jail and suffered a life-changing injury from medical neglect or abuse? It’s crucial to have legal assistance with extensive experience in these specific areas of law.
The Law Offices of Dean Malone is dedicated to addressing cases of jail neglect, inmate abuse, and jail deaths. With a longstanding commitment and trustworthy experience, we are here to help. Contact us anytime, day or night, via phone, text, or our online form for immediate assistance.
smchugh
smchugh