Prisoner Dies in Custody in Corpus Christi, Texas

Louis Jones, 49 years of age at the time, died in the custody of the Corpus Christi City Marshall at approximately on April 16, 2018. Information in this post was obtained from a report filed by that agency with the Attorney General of Texas. We make no allegation of any wrongdoing but are instead simply providing information.

On April 15, 2018, at approximately 9:47 p.m., Mr. Jones was incarcerated in the Corpus Christi City Detention Center for public intoxication. It appeared to one or more jailers that Mr. Jones was intoxicated on something other than alcohol. He was assisted in walking to a holding cell to ensure that he did not fall down due to being intoxicated. Mr. Jones was to be put into a holding cell awaiting magistration.

The report indicates nothing about any medical assistance being provided to Mr. Jones and/or any special provisions being made for his intoxicated state. Instead, he was allowed to lay on the floor in the cell and sleep. The report indicates that several hours passed, and periodic cell checks were made. The report does not indicate how often cell checks were made. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has standards regarding cell checks, and which apply to county jails.

At 2:34 a.m. on April 16, 2018, a detention officer noticed that Mr. Jones was no longer snoring (as he had apparently been doing for some time). Mr. Jones was unresponsive. The detention officer could not find a pulse and began administering CPR. Mr. Jones was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. The Corpus Christi Police Department investigated Mr. Jones’ death, and results of an autopsy are pending.

Jails and police officers who have a pretrial detainee in custody have an obligation under the United States Constitution to provide reasonable medical care to prisoners. This obligation arises pursuant to the 14th Amendment. This includes appropriately handling prisoners who are intoxicated and not being deliberately indifferent to their needs. Congress passed, after the Civil War, a statute allowing people to obtain redress for such constitutional violations if they are committed under what is called “color of state law.” The cite for the statute is 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Most cases pursued in accordance with this statute are handled in federal court, since there is a federal question at issue.

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