Robertson County Jail Again Fails to Provide Timely Observations
Inspectors from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conducted an inspection at Robertson County Jail on July 25, 2024. The following day, a notice of non-compliance was issued to the Franklin, Texas, jail for the alleged violation of one minimum jail standard. In the chapter on the supervision of inmates, at-risk detainees, including those who are suicidal, must be observed by jailers face to face in staggered increments not to exceed every 30 minutes. Inspectors discovered that jail staff exceeded the 30-minute face-to-face observations by 1 to 23 minutes.
Robertson County Jail has a recent history of failing to provide proper supervision to the inmates who have been identified as the most vulnerable to suicide. In local jails, suicide is the leading cause of death among detainees, and suicide prevention is an essential role of the jail staff. The following are notes from TCJS inspectors when citing Robertson County Jail for violations of the supervision of inmates under two of the rules covering 30-minute observations. The notes are from inspections on the dates shown:
- October 4, 2023: A review of 30- and 60-minute observations revealed that staff were exceeding the rounds by anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours;
- October 26, 2018: Observation logs and video indicated that jail staff are not observing inmates confined in a holding cell or detoxification cell within 30 minutes as required by minimum standards.
- June 26, 2018: There was no documentation to verify that observations were conducted every 30 minutes in holding and detox as required by minimum jail standards.; and, also, a review of observation logs indicated that jailers are exceeding the visual face-to-face observation of inmates as required by the administration. The observation log utilized by staff indicates that ALL jail checks are to be conducted within 30 minutes and printed on the log. Jailers are exceeding the 30-minute limit from 12 minutes up to 29 minutes.
Robertson County Jail’s address is 113 Deckard Street, Franklin, Texas 77856. The jail’s bed capacity is 53.
Texas Inmates in Local Jails Are at Risk for Suicide
A study in 2015 found that of 501 inmate deaths that occurred in county Texas jails since 2009, 140 of them—nearly one-third—were by suicide. Most were by hanging. Detainees had used bed linens, trash bags, telephone cords, electrical cords, and clothing to fashion ligatures and hang themselves. According to a case report on the topic, death takes only a few minutes to occur during a suicidal hanging. This alone is enough to stress the importance of the supervision of inmates according to TCJS guidelines.
Around-the-Clock Support for Jail Death Cases
Jails are responsible for ensuring the well-being of everyone in their custody. If you were detained in a Texas jail and suffered serious injuries due to neglect, including medical neglect, don’t hesitate to contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone. With extensive experience asserting inmates’ rights, we are committed to providing legal support whenever possible. If you have lost a loved one in jail due to suspected medical neglect or abuse, we may also be able to offer our assistance to you. A dedicated team at our office works exclusively on jail death cases.
Reach out to us as soon as possible. We are available 24/7 via phone, text, or our online form.
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