Shelby County Jail Detainee Jose Goevava Dies by Suicide
Jose Goevava was booked into Shelby County Jail on October 5, 2024, at 8:20 PM. Tragically, he was pronounced deceased 90 minutes later. The 24-year-old used his jail-issued jumper to commit suicide. The custodial death report (CDR) prepared by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department about Mr. Goevava indicates that he was discovered hanging from a partitioned area. He allegedly made no suicidal statements during intake, nor did he exhibit mental health problems.
In January 2024, another Shelby County Jail inmate died, and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) followed up with a jail inspection, which is standard procedure. After the February 26 special jail inspection, TCJS sent Shelby County Jail a notice of non-compliance. The following is information from the inspector’s note about the violation:
- The documentation and video received after a custodial death was reviewed, and it revealed that there had been a breach in the supervision of the deceased. Although jailers made observation rounds within the timeframe mandated by minimum jail standards, the jailer failed to view the inmate face-to-face as required.
The address of Shelby County Jail is 100 Hurst Street, Center, Texas 75935. The bed capacity of the jail is 66.
An In-Depth Report Concludes that Half of Jail Deaths in 2016 Were Preventable
More than 1,000 individuals died in local U.S. jails in 2016 alone. A report found that “at least half of these deaths are preventable.” History continues to show that local jails are unable to provide inmates with effective medical care and mental health treatment. An investigative study found that substandard healthcare provided by a third-party health service provider resulted in at least 70 preventable deaths in local jails between 2014 and 2018.
Suicide Causes Most Local Jail Deaths Yet is Often Preventable
Even with an awareness that suicide causes more deaths in U.S. jails than anything else and even though jails are required to train jail staff in suicide prevention, suicide is the cause of most jail deaths every year. The rate of jail suicide is much higher than it is in state prisons or among the U.S. population in general.
Jail neglect can and often does contribute to custodial suicides. When jail abuse or neglect is a contributing factor in preventable detainee suicides, jails can and should be held accountable.
Assistance for Jail Medical Neglect
If you suspect that a loved one died due to neglect or abuse while in the custody of a Texas jail, securing knowledgeable legal representation is essential. The Law Offices of Dean Malone are dedicated to asserting the rights of detainees and their families. We have a team that focuses specifically on cases involving jail deaths. With extensive experience in this field, we are here to help.
If, while previously incarcerated in a Texas jail, you suffered abuse, neglect, or inadequate medical care and are now facing life-changing injuries, we encourage you to reach out. Contact us any time—day or night—for a free case evaluation. You can reach us by phone, text, or through our online form.
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