Texas Police Misconduct Lawyer – The Texas Commission on Jail Standards Cites Hill County Jail in Hillsboro, Texas, for 3 Alleged Standards Violations Involving Incorrect Classification and Housing of Prisoners
A Jail Inspection Report released on April 16, 2018, by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) details ten alleged violations of minimum jail standards, each of which can expose prisoners to greater danger than if standards were adhered to. Improper classification of inmates is the subject of three of those alleged violations.
Minimum jail standards dictate that inmates be classified and housed in the least restrictive housing available while at the same time not putting staff, prisoners, or the public in jeopardy. Risk factors to be considered in the classification of prisoners include offense history, current conviction or offense, history of escape, prior convictions, history of institutional discipline, stability factors, and abuse of alcohol and/or drugs. A review of files on inmate classification at Hill County Jail showed that prisoners are being incorrectly classified and, therefore, improperly housed.
Another specific requirement is that minimum and maximum level prisoners must be housed separately. If prisoners of different custody levels simultaneously participate in program and work activities, there must always be direct, visual supervision by jailers. Upon reviewing classification files, TCJS inspectors found that numerous minimum and maximum level prisoners were housed together.
The third custody-related alleged violation at Hill County Jail is that required custody reassessments have been incorrectly completed. Staff allegedly failed to include disciplinary actions and changes in legal status when completing custody reassessment forms, which must be completed every 30 to 90 days for each prisoner.
Since people with no criminal history or record are sometimes wrongfully arrested or end up in jail for something as innocuous as failing to buy auto insurance, it can be dangerous and terrifying for such individuals to be housed with maximum security prisoners. This type of potential endangerment is a serious issue that jailers should be thoroughly trained on, and strict adherence to minimum jail standards should be enforced.
As with every post on this website, we are only providing information in this post and do not make any allegation or assertion that anyone acted inappropriately or engaged in misconduct.
–Guest Contributor
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