Brandon S. Wood, Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS), sent a memo dated December 2, 2021, to all sheriffs and jail administrators. The memo is in regard to TCOLE #2831 IDD Training for Jailers and 4901 Suicide Prevention for Jailers. The memo advised recipients that HB2831 (87R) mandated TCJS to create a training program to help meet certain requirements related to mentally ill inmates.

More specifically, the training must provide techniques that equip jail personnel with the ability to assess and interact with inmates in county jails who have been determined to have intellectual development disabilities.

The 4-hour class is free of charge to county jails. Any jailer who completes the training course may earn continuing education credits through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). It is noted that the credit applies to TCOLE course #2831.

Mr. Wood also states that additional suicide prevention training continues to be made available to county jailers in Texas. This 4-hour course is also free and, he said, should meet the requirements on suicide prevention detailed in each jail’s Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan.

Any jurisdiction interested in accommodating TCJS in setting up a regional training for either course is asked to please contact Melvin Bowser, the Mental Health Trainer, whose email address is melvin.bowser@tcjs.state.tx.us.

Asserting that any person or organization has been a participant in wrongdoing is never intended on this website. The purpose of posts is to benefit inmates now or previously incarcerated in a county jail in Texas by way of providing helpful resources.

–Guest Contributor