Uvalde County, Texas Jail Fails State Inspection
Inspectors with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) conducted an inspection of Uvalde County Jail on January 10, 2024, and found that the jail was noncompliant with two minimum jail standards. A notice of noncompliance was sent to Uvalde County Jail on January 17, 2024, indicating that corrective action must be completed upon receipt of the notice. The address of Uvalde County Jail is 339 King Fisher Ln, Uvalde, TX 78801. The jail has a 739-bed capacity.
Rule §263.55-Inspections, Maintenance, Testing
Uvalde County Jail allegedly violated Rule §263.55-Inspections, Maintenance, Testing, which is among the life safety rules that pertain to life safety and emergency equipment. The purpose of the requirement to inspect, maintain, and have the equipment tested by a qualified person annually is to ensure that the equipment is at all times fully operative. A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is among the equipment jails are required to have.
- During a walkthrough, inspectors observed that the fire panel was in trouble mode. In addition, the blue tag from November 23, 2023, indicated that the panel was red-tagged. A service tag was not present to indicate that the deficiency was repaired.
Rule §273.5(c)(2) – Mental Health/Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities History Check.
Uvalde County Jail also allegedly violated Rule §273.5(c)(2), which is part of the Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan. The rule specifies procedures related to identifying and making notifications regarding detainees with mental disabilities.
- A TCJS inspector reviewed the CCQ and Mental Health Screening forms, and on two occasions, was unable to determine if a CCQ was run and whether the magistrate was notified.
The guidelines for the operation of Texas county jails set out by TCJS generally have a potential impact on the safety and well-being of detainees. You can take action when you believe that jail neglect has caused your loved one harm or has tragically resulted in their death.
Family members can advocate for their loved ones incarcerated in Texas jails. For instance, you can follow up on their mental health history by calling the jail administrator or the medical staff at the jail. Urge the importance of the medications they need for continued treatment. Because of privacy laws/HIPPA, it may be necessary for you to obtain a medical release. Steps to get the medical release authorization form are at this link: Medical Release Forms.
Year after year, most complaints about Texas county jails are in regard to medical care. A report on the medical issues of detainees in U.S. jails revealed that more than one-third of detainees in jails reported having a current medical problem. Inmates have a right to receive needed medical attention. That right is not surrendered, though jails may have trouble addressing inmate health problems due to the sheer volume of inmates in need of medical care.
If you suffered harm in jail or had a loved one who died in a jail and believe that it happened due to the jail’s negligence, please reach out to us. If you were incarcerated in Texas or elsewhere in the United States, we will do our utmost to determine whether we can be of help.
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