Red River County Jail is Again Found Non-Compliant
On the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website, Red River County Jail in Clarksville, Texas, has been listed as non-compliant. As a result of the special jail inspection conducted on April 23, 2024, a notice of non-compliance was issued two days later. The jail inspection report shows that Red River County Jail failed to provide inmates with physical exercise or recreation at least three days per week. This is a repeat violation they were cited for in 2017 and 2021, as well.
The address of Red River County Jail is 500 N Cedar Street, Clarksville, TX 92470. The jail has a housing capacity of 95 inmates.
30 Minimum Jail Standards Violations in 8 Years
This latest breach is the eighth time in as many years that Red River County Jail was cited for violating minimum jail standards. Since 2017, the jail has been cited for a total of at least 30 violations, many of which were repeats from previous years. For example, twice in 2019 and once in both 2018 and 2023, Red River County Jail was cited for failing to provide required face-to-face observations of detainees in detox and holding cells. The following is the TCJS inspector’s note that accompanied the 2017 citation:
- During the review of the holding and detox cells’ face-to-face observation documentation, this inspector observed that jailers exceeded the 30-minute limit between observations as established by minimum jail standards. The jailers made hourly checks rather than the required 30-minute checks.
Perhaps the most important reason these frequent observations are required is that jail suicides are the leading cause of death in jails. A large percentage of those deaths occur in the first few days of incarceration.
5 Violations of the Same Rule for the Protection of the Mentally Ill
Red River County Jail has received a total of 5 citations for violating part 5 of the Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan since 2017. Under that rule, jails must: Identify detainees who are known to be or are observed to be mentally disabled or potentially suicidal. County and municipal jails must also comply with the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP) Article 16.22 and referrals to available mental health officials.
There are several immediate benefits to following through with the 16.22 report, such as that sheriffs are notified of detainees who may require special care and it helps magistrates make better informed bond decisions. The following are among the long-term benefits:
- Saves counties time and money;
- Prevents custodial suicides;
- Protects the community;
- Protects constitutional rights; and
- Recidivism is reduced when the mentally ill receive appropriate services and treatment.
Has Jail Neglect Had an Impact on Your Life?
At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., we have made it a practice to stand up for the rights of former Texas jail detainees. We may be able to help if you have a family member who died because of jail neglect while incarcerated. If you suffered a life-altering injury during former incarceration in a Texas jail, we might be able to help with that, too. Contact us for a free case evaluation as soon as possible. You can reach us 24/7 by phone or text, or by filling out our online form.
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