Two Prisoners in Bexar County Jail in San Antonio, Texas, Attempted Suicide on Saturday
In separate events on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Bexar County jail in San Antonio, Texas, two prisoners attempted suicide. In both cases, deputies with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) interrupted suicide attempts. A 32-year-old prisoner tried to hang himself in his cell at approximately 6:30 p.m. The unit officer intervened and contacted members of the medical staff, who began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The prisoner was later transported by emergency medical services personnel to a local hospital. As of Sunday morning, authorities said his health condition was critical. A 33-year-old prisoner attempted suicide about an hour later, at 7:29 p.m. An officer was successful in stopping the prisoner, who was taken to a hospital for evaluation and then returned to the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. Authorities with BCSO have not released the identities of the prisoners.
Suicide attempts in county jails have become all too common, and the problem has been widely recognized as one that needs to be addressed in meaningful ways. In 2017, Governor Greg Abbott signed the Sandra Bland Act into law, which provides new guidelines meant to ensure that prisoners with mental health issues get the type of help they need, as opposed to being thrown into the general population in county jails.
BCSO also seems to be taking a lead in addressing jail suicide. A Bexar County Detention Mental Evaluation Team was recently appointed and got to work providing additional jail staff training and jail oversight with the goal of preventing prisoners with mental health problems from committing suicide.
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smchugh