Swisher County Jail is Found Non-Compliant
Swisher County Jail in Texas is currently listed as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. The latest non-compliance correspondence was issued on June 7, 2024. Following a June 5 jail inspection, Swisher County Jail was determined to have violated two minimum jail standards. Swisher County Jail’s address is 136 E Broadway Ave, Tulia, TX 79088. The jail has a housing capacity of approximately 27 inmates.
Swisher County Jail is Cited Again for Failing to Establish Two-Way Communications
In the chapter on the supervision of inmates, Swisher County Jail has been cited for a repeat violation. First in December 2021 and more recently in June 2024, no two-way communication between detainees and jailers could be established on either side. Two-way communications between jailers and inmates are supposed to continue without ceasing. The following are among the reasons continuous communications are vital:
- Jailers are easily able to listen in on conversations in jail cells. This type of monitoring can prevent planned acts of violence against jailers and fellow inmates.
- In emergency situations, it is vital for everyone concerned to be able to receive perfectly intelligible, clearly audible announcements from the jailers.
- If an emergency arises inside jail cells, inmates can use the two-way communications system to make outcries for help.
How Can a Lack of Two-Way Communications Do Harm to Inmates?
The inability of detainees to communicate with jailers can create any number of dire situations. The constant monitoring of inmates is a mainstay of TCJS requirements in Texas jails, the same as in prisons. An interruption in communications puts the protection and security of officers and inmates at risk.
Two months before Swisher County Jail was cited in December 2021 for failing to ensure two-way communications, one of the detainees there was found unresponsive in his cell. He was still breathing and had a pulse. Emergency medical services (EMS) transported the 55-year-old man to a nearby hospital. The man was discovered to have no brain activity, and the initial prognosis was diabetic ketoacidosis and issues related to his liver. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The results of the autopsy showed that the initial prognosis was correct.
Although there is no mention that the December jail inspection was a special inspection and follow-up to the custodial death, it is conceivable to think that a lack of two-way communications may have affected the deceased. In general, death from diabetic ketoacidosis is unlikely unless the deceased failed to receive necessary medical attention in a timely manner.
Contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone for Help with Jail Neglect Cases
Don’t hesitate to seek legal assistance if you or a loved one is possibly a victim of jail neglect. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we have an experienced team working with families whose loved one has died while in the custody of a Texas jail and jail neglect is believed to have contributed to their death. We would also like any former Texas jail inmates to contact us if they are suffering serious life issues as a result of jail neglect or abuse.
Reach out to us today to schedule your free case review via phone, text, or our online form. We are available 24/7.
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