Prisoner Commits Suicide in Upshur County, Texas Jail – Texas Rangers Investigate

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Department recently filed a custodial death report with the Texas State Attorney General, regarding the death of William Meadows.  Mr. Meadows was only 27 years old at the time of his death.  Information in this post was obtained from that report, and we make no allegation that anyone engaged in any wrongdoing.

Mr. Meadows was initially incarcerated at the Upshur County, Texas jail on July 11, 2018.  Eight days later – on July 19, 2018 – Mr. Meadows was housed in a multi-occupancy cell.  He attempted to commit suicide by hanging in the shower area of the cell, and jail staff were notified by other inmates in the cell.  Jail staff responded and initiated CPR, and EMS was called.  Mr. Meadows was transported to a local hospital and ultimately passed away on July 26, 2018 as a result of suicide.

The incident is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, which is typical practice in Texas.  Inmates have a right under the United States Constitution to reasonable medical and mental health care, and they also have the right to be protected from themselves and others.  For pre-trial detainees, this right arises under the 14^th Amendment to the United Stated Constitution.  If a jail or jailer knows that an inmate presents self-harm issues, then the jail and/or the jailer are responsible to assure that the person is protected and monitored.  If the jail and/or jailer did not do so, and the county’s or city’s policy is a moving cause behind the person’s death, then the jail and/or county or municipality could be liable for damages pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §1983.

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.