The Texas Commission on Jail Standards Cites San Saba County Jail for Alleged Procedural Violations Related to Suicide Prevention
On March 1, 2018, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) released a Jail Inspection Report showing findings from a routine inspection at San Saba County Jail in San Saba, Texas. The jail was cited for four alleged violations of minimum jail standards. Three of those standards are related to jail suicide prevention, which has been the subject of recently enacted state legislation.
Per Texas jail standards, intake procedures must be in place in every county jail so that jailers can recognize when a prisoner appears to be mentally disabled or potentially suicidal. It was found by TCJS inspectors, however, that no jailers had received the required suicide prevention training in the year 2017.
When prisoners are identified as potentially suicidal or mentally disabled, a magistrate is supposed to be notified, leading to possible referrals to available mental health officials. Inspectors allege that screen forms show the magistrate has not been notified regarding prisoners who are potentially mentally ill.
Investigators also found that the bottom of suicide screening forms are not being completed by jailers, as a form of proof that the magistrate, medical, mental health, and/or supervisor have been notified.
In the summer of 2017, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation known as the Sandra Bland Act into law. The law was named after Sandra Bland, who committed suicide in Waller County Jail after being arrested following an encounter with a police officer who pulled her over for a minor traffic violation. The law provides additional protections for people who are incarcerated and may be in danger of harming themselves.
This law and basic jail guidelines are rendered ineffective if jailers don’t follow the standards they are given.
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