Travis County Jail Cited After Inmate Death

A special jail inspection was conducted at Travis County Jail in Austin, Texas, on April 8, 2024. The following day, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) sent the jail a notice of non-compliance. Travis County Jail was cited for allegedly violating 1 minimum jail standard. The address of Travis County Jail is 500 W 10th St., Austin, TX 78701. Two correctional facilities are part of Travis County Jail, and the combined inmate capacity is 2,908.

Travis County Jail was Cited for a Breach of Supervision After an Inmate Death Occurred

The supervision of inmates is an important factor in helping to prevent harm. History shows that chronic noncompliance with supervision requirements in jails leads to increased violence and deaths. Custodial deaths may occur from a failure to provide medical attention in medical emergencies resulting from natural causes or physical violence. Sadly, suicide is the leading cause of death in Texas jails. Strict supervision is the best way to prevent inmates from committing suicide.

In the special jail inspection report dated April 8, 2024, a TCJS inspector references the death of an unnamed detainee at Travis County Jail in connection with a violation of minimum jail standards, as follows:

The documentation and video submitted after a custodial death were reviewed, revealing that the observation round conducted at the time of discovery of the inmate exceeded 60 minutes.

A 30-Year-Old Commits Suicide at Travis County Jail on 3/1/2024

More than one custodial death occurred in the time just preceding the special jail inspection of Travis County Jail on April 8, 2024. It is possible that the death referred to was the tragic suicide by hanging of a 30-year-old man. He had only been incarcerated for 10 days when, on February 29, 2024, he was discovered unresponsive in his cell. He was hanging by his neck from a bedsheet, which had been fashioned into a ligature.

After lifesaving measures began and EMS arrived, paramedics revived him to consciousness. He was transported to St. David’s South Medical Center, where he died the next day.

If this was the custodial death that occurred at a time when observation rounds were late, it is conceivable that the time exceeding 60 minutes may have made the difference between life and death for this man.

Help with Jail Neglect when a Custodial Death Has Occurred

If a loved one in your family has died in a Texas jail and you suspect it was the result of some type of jail neglect, such as medical neglect, contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone as soon as possible. It is helpful when investigation begins sooner rather than later. If you were previously incarcerated in a Texas jail and suffered a life-altering injury while there because of jail neglect, we may also be able to help you.

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