Potter County Jail Inmate Van Houang Dies

Van To Houang was booked into Potter County Jail on January 12, 2024. At age 58, he died of unknown causes on July 29, 2024. A custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Houang was swiftly filed by the Potter County Sheriff’s Department on July 30, 2024, under the direction of Sheriff Brian Thomas.

The CDR indicates that Mr. Houang was housed in High Observation single cell B-04 on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Officers reported to the duty supervisor that Mr. Houang had several trays of uneaten food in his cell. The supervisor spoke with him and offered him food and drink, but Mr. Houang did not respond. After further efforts to talk to Mr. Houang, he concluded that his interactions were not in keeping with his normal behavior.

The medical staff was contacted. After medical personnel assessed Mr. Houang’s condition, he was sent by ambulance to Northwest Texas Hospital. The jail was notified on July 28 that Mr. Houang’s condition continued to deteriorate, including that his kidneys were shutting down. By mid-morning on the day of his death, it was noted that Mr. Houang’s condition was not improved with dialysis or other treatments. Under a physician’s care, he was pronounced deceased at 5:10 PM.

The address of Potter County Jail is 13100 NE 29th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79111. The jail’s bed capacity is 576.

Statistics on Medical Neglect in U.S. Jails

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) reports every year that most complaints against the state’s jails are related to healthcare. Texas isn’t the only place where there is overall dissatisfaction with the medical care provided in jails. A nationwide survey revealed that 68% of individuals in local jails suffering from a continual medical problem had not undergone a medical examination since being incarcerated. In addition, 25% of the inmates who suffered a serious injury while incarcerated had not received medical care. These numbers are much higher in regard to local jails compared to state and federal prisons.

Common Complaints Related to Medical Care in U.S. Jails

Ever since 1976, when the Eighth Amendment prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment was extended to include the provision of medical care for prisoners, inmates have been the only U.S. group with a constitutional right to healthcare. Despite that, complaints against the healthcare provided in jails have been a common issue.

The following are among the specific types of medical neglect inmates in U.S. jails complain about:

Timely care is not provided.
Medical staffing is inadequate.
Screening processes for diagnosing inmates’ medical conditions are inadequate.
After suffering a serious injury, inmates are not transported to a facility for medical attention.
Serious conditions that potentially need invasive treatment, such as cancer, are not diagnosed.

Could You Be a Victim of Jail Neglect?

Jail staff are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of all detainees under their care. If you or a loved one experienced severe injury due to jail neglect while incarcerated in a Texas jail, reach out to Law Offices of Dean Malone. With broad experience advocating for inmates’ rights, we are here to help. Do you suspect a family member died due to neglect, such as medical neglect, in a Texas jail? We have a team focused on jail death cases. With their proficient assistance, we may also be able to help you.

Don’t wait—contact us 24/7 by phone, text, or through our online form for immediate assistance in scheduling a free case review.

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