Terry County, Texas Jail Fails Inpection
The Terry County jail, in Brownfield, Texas, recently failed an inspection by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (“TCJS”). The inspection occurred on March 4, 2021. The Terry County jail is now listed as being non-compliant.
The Terry County jail failed to comply with TCJS minimum standards. First, the TCJS inspector, when reviewing inmate health records, determined that Terry County jail staff failed on multiple occasions to notify a magistrate judge as required by the mental health form. It is very important that jails communicate with outside authorities, whether MHMR and/or local judges, regarding inmates who have severe mental health issues. The failure to do so can lead to inmate self-harm, up to and including suicide.
Second, the Terry County jail was cited for not performing appropriate inmate observations. The TCJS inspector noted, during a review of 30-minute face-to-face observations in separation cells, that Terry County jail staff, on numerous occasions, exceeded the 30-minute requirement from as little as one minute to up to ten minutes. Appropriate prisoner observations are critical to assure that inmates remain safe.
Dean Malone
Dean Malone