Shelby County, Texas Jail, in Center, Texas, Fails State Inspection

The Shelby County jail is now listed as being non-compliant by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”).  The TCJS conducted an inspection on May 4, 2020 and found that the Shelby County jail, presumably operated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, is in violation of Texas minimum jail standards.

The TCJS inspector found that the Shelby County jail was in violation of a minimum standard which requires appropriate procedures for intake screening to identify inmates who are known or observed to be mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal, as well as procedures for compliance with Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 and referrals to available mental health officials.  The TCJS inspector noted, after reviewing medical files, that Shelby County jail staff were not properly completing the Screening Form for Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments in its entirety and making required notification.

Our Texas constitutional rights law firm has significant experience with this form, as we have handled a number of cases in which Texas county jail inmates have committed suicide and/or have died as a result of medical issues after what we believe to have been an inappropriate jail intake.  This is just our general experience, and we are making no comment on whether the Shelby County jail or any of its jailers caused any injury or death to any person. 

It is not only important for Texas county jails to comply with TCJS standards because they are required to do so by law. It is also important that they comply with minimum jail standards, including protection of inmates from themselves and others, to comply with the United States Constitution.  The 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of pretrial detainees to receive reasonable medical care and mental healthcare.  If an inmate does not receive appropriate care, and he or she suffers serious injury or death as a result, then the inmate, if alive, or his or her family, if the inmate is deceased, may be entitled to bring a lawsuit for violation of constitutional rights. 

Written By: Dean Malone

Dean Malone

Dean Malone is the founder of Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., a jail neglect civil rights law firm. Mr. Malone earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA, and from Baylor University School of Law with a general civil litigation concentration. Mr. Malone served in several staff positions for the Baylor Law Review, including executive editor. Mr. Malone is an experienced trial lawyer, trying a number of cases to jury verdict and also handling arbitrations through final hearing. He heads the jail neglect section of his law firm, in which lawyers litigate cases involving serious injury and death resulting from jail neglect and abuse. Lawyers frequently refer cases to Mr. Malone due to his focus on this very complicated civil rights practice area.