Richard Perez Dies of Unknown Causes in Atascosa County Jail
Richard Perez was only 20 years old when he was booked into Atascosa County Jail on October 1, 2024. His 21st birthday was 12 days later. Tragically, he died in the jail’s custody after 33 days of incarceration. Under the direction of Sheriff David Soward, a custodial death report (CDR) was filed by the Atascosa County Sheriff’s Department on November 25, 2024.
The summary of how Mr. Perez’s death occurred sheds no light on the cause of the tragedy. It says that he laid down on his bunk, which was in a multiple-occupancy cell. Soon after, several inmates asked guards to check on him. The guards found that Mr. Perez was unresponsive. He was moved to the booking area and ultimately transported by ambulance to a hospital. Mr. Perez was pronounced deceased at 1:43 AM on November 3, 2024. An investigation found no signs of foul play.
The Atascosa County Jail is located at 1108 Campbell Avenue, Jourdanton, Texas 78026. The facility has a 138-bed capacity.
Atascosa County Jail was Cited for Non-Compliance After a Custodial Suicide
A 34-year-old man didn’t live three full days after being booked into Atascosa County Jail on June 28, 2023. The man hung himself with a towel and died by suicide on July 1 last year. However, the CDR about the man’s death was filed on July 17, 2024—a year late, as the deadline for filing is 30 days after a death. Because of the death, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conducted a special jail inspection on August 28, 2023. TCJS inspectors discovered the following:
- A video that was submitted after a custodial suicide revealed that a detainee was placed in the ‘dress out’ room to shower and change into a jail-issued uniform and was not observed for 61 minutes.
Can Jails Be Held Accountable for Neglect Related to Suicides?
Suicide is an extremely serious matter in jails because it is consistently the leading cause of inmate deaths. Suicide prevention measures are part of the mandatory training for all jail staff. Supervision is recognized as the greatest deterrent to suicide.
County and municipal jails often struggle with understaffing. One of the unfortunate outcomes of staffing issues is that they lead to violations of minimum jail standards related to the supervision of inmates. Statistics show that about 23% or more of all custodial suicides occur within the first 24 hours of incarceration. New inmates are also at an increased risk of suicide for the first two weeks, based on research and statistics.
Neglecting suicide prevention measures could arguably be presented as evidence of deliberate indifference toward this threat to detainees’ lives.
Legal Support for Jail Neglect in Custodial Suicides
If you believe your loved one’s death in a Texas jail was caused by neglect or abuse, it’s essential to seek knowledgeable legal representation. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we are committed to protecting the rights of inmates and their families. Our team handles jail death cases, including those involving custodial suicides, and brings extensive experience to these challenging and sensitive situations.
Additionally, if you are a former inmate who has suffered serious injuries due to abuse, neglect, or inadequate medical care while incarcerated, we may be able to help. Reach out for a free case evaluation, 24/7 via phone, text, or through our online form.
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