Sarah Elizabeth Reeves died at age 32 on August 5, 2020. This was just two days after being booked into Montgomery County Jail in Conroe, Texas. When she began suffering a drug-related emergency, NARCAN® was administered but had no effect on Ms. Reeves’ downward health spiral.

Continuing from the previous segment, the following are some details of HB 1307, which was recently signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott and goes into effect on September 1, 2021. The law reflects the principle that inmates have a right to receive medical care that is needed while incarcerated in Texas.

Information on H. B. No. 1307

This new law relates to the care of pregnant women in Texas county jails as well as those in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s custody. The following are duties that follow a miscarriage or the sexual or physical assault of a pregnant inmate:

• After a report of a miscarriage or the sexual or physical assault of a pregnant inmate, the department must, as soon as practicable, ensure that a mental health professional plus a gynecologist or obstetrician promptly do the following:
  • Review the medical care services that have been provided to the inmate; and
  • As appropriate, order additional medical care, including mental health and gynecological or obstetrical health services.

 See Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

When posts are provided on this website, it is in an ongoing effort to provide helpful resources for Texas inmates now or formerly in county jails. There is no intention to imply that persons or organizations have been involved in wrongdoing.

–Guest Contributor