TCJS Cites Fisher County Jail for Non-Compliance
Inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conducted a special jail inspection of Fisher County Jail on June 20, 2025. The Roby, Texas, jail was found non-compliant with three minimum jail standards. TCJS now includes Fisher County Jail on its website’s non-compliance list. All three violations are against life safety rules, and the TCJS inspector’s notes for each follow:
- The required monthly ”run” tests and “load” tests of the emergency power equipment have not been conducted since August 19, 2024.
- No fire prevention check has been completed since May 20, 2024.
- The last annual inspection by a certified fire inspector was on June 7, 2023.
Safety violations at the Fisher County Jail are repeat offenses dating back to January 2022, when deficiencies were also identified that directly impacted inmates’ well-being. TCJS inspectors found that during calendar year 2021, staff had not undergone suicide prevention training, which was a repeat violation from both the 2018 and 2019 annual inspections.
A jail’s neglect in providing suicide prevention training is a glaring violation because suicide is the leading cause of death in county and municipal jails. The best deterrent to suicide is supervision, yet failing to conduct face-to-face observations according to TCJS guidelines is one of the violations jails are most often cited for. That was one of Fisher County Jail’s areas of non-compliance in 2018. The TCJS inspectors noted the following:
- Thirty-minute face-to-face observation checks of holding cells and detox cells were reviewed, and it was discovered that staff exceeded the 30-minute welfare checks by 1 minute up to 20 minutes.
Fisher County Jail’s address is 207 N 1st St, Roby, TX 79543. The jail has a maximum detainee capacity of 24.
An Inmate Death Linked to a Jail’s Non-Compliance
A 66-year-old man was booked into Fannin County Jail in May 2018, and he exhibited medical problems during the intake process. Sadly, he died in Fannin County Jail in November 2018. The custodial death report (CDR) indicates that he received treatment at the jail for the condition that caused his death. According to the medical examiner, the man died as a result of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease associated with several other disorders, all of which contributed to his death.
A video captured the first sign of the detainee being in medical distress at about 7:39 p.m. His body began to convulse, and heavy breathing was apparent before he went limp. The CDR mentions several timely face-to-face observations of the inmate during this time. An officer finally observed that the man was in an unresponsive state at 7:53 p.m. Lifesaving measures were initiated immediately, but it was too late. The man, who was then 67 years old, was pronounced deceased at 7:56 p.m. that night.
The special jail inspection conducted as part of the investigation into the inmate’s death resulted in Fannin County Jail being cited for a violation regarding the supervision of inmates. TCJS inspectors’ notes indicated the following:
- After reviewing video evidence provided by the facility administration, it was determined that while the 30-minute face-to-face observation occurred prior to the inmate’s death, the previous round exceeded the 30-minute requirement by 49 minutes.
The address of Fannin County Jail is 2389 Silo Rd, Bonham, TX 75418.
Do You Suspect Jail Neglect Played a Role in a Loved One’s Death?
At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, P.C., we represent families who believe their loved one’s death behind bars was caused by neglect, abuse, or inadequate medical care. Our team has extensive experience investigating and handling these tragic cases, and we understand how urgent it is to act quickly when jail negligence is suspected.
If you think your family member’s death may have been preventable, don’t wait to get answers. We’re available 24/7—reach out for a free consultation by phone, text, or through our online form.
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