The county where the jail outside of Texas that this series is about resides hired consultants to conduct a study. It was revealed that of the inmates booked in that jail between the months of May and November 2019, 1/3 had either substance abuse problems or serious mental illness. Those inmates were housed in the jail 77% longer than other prisoners.

A criminal justice coordinator in the area said that she and her organization have been urging the county to have a diversion center. She said that it is well known that jail is not the right place for people with drug addiction and mental illness. With a diversion center, she stresses, the population in jails would be much lower.

With regard to the nine custodial deaths within 11 months, the fatalities led to an investigation by several intelligence agencies. There have also been multiple lawsuits over inmate abuse allegedly at the hands of officers and the deaths.

Among the changes at the jail has been a requirement to give each inmate a health screening during the booking process. Also, healthcare was shifted to a different jail medical care company.

Read Part 1, Part 2, and this ongoing series to learn more about the jail conditions and events contributing to an out-of-state jail being subjected to inspections every month for over a year.

This and all posts on this website are informational. There is no intention to denote misconduct of any kind occurred on the part of an individual or institution.

–Guest Contributor