Ward County Jail is Non-Compliant in Classification of Inmates
Ward County Jail in Texas is currently listed on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website for non-compliance. Notice of non-compliance correspondence was sent on July 17, 2024, the day after the jail was inspected. TCJS inspectors found that Ward County Jail is in violation of one minimum jail standard. The rule the jail was cited for is in the chapter on the Classification and Separation of Inmates. An inspector noted that 5 of 12 inmates were classified improperly utilizing current offense or conviction, offense history, and prior convictions.
Ward County Jail’s address is 300 E 4th St, Monahans, TX 79756. The jail has a housing capacity of approximately 68 inmates.
What is the Importance of Correct Inmate Classification?
The classification of inmates is a system of assessment in which the risks and needs of each detainee are objectively considered to determine the most appropriate placement for each. The sheriff’s department in a county in Oregon has published details of its policies and procedures regarding inmate classification, and it provides a great deal of insight into the importance of classifying inmates correctly.
The jail’s purpose with their policy is to protect the inmates, jail staff, and the public. The fair and consistent guidelines are for jailers to assign custody levels, special handling needs, proper housing assignments, and appropriate program activities. Under “custody level,” for example, inmates are identified by a ranking system with 8 levels to accurately place them according to the specific degree of staff supervision and physical control an inmate might need.
Handling Classification Correctly Protects Jails Against Litigation
In a statement about their policy, the Oregon jail states that the classification system is to protect the jail against litigation. This aspect of classifying detainees properly is proven to be a real concern in the tragic death of a detainee who committed suicide on his sixth day in a California county jail.
Some of the facts are that the inmate was disoriented and distressed when he went through intake. He asked for mental health attention. Within the week his mother died. None of these things initiated the action of placing the inmate on suicide watch. Some of the jail staff acknowledged that the man’s death was a direct result of a “classification error.”
Another way a classification error could have deadly results is, for example, by placing a non-violent individual with no criminal background in a cell with a detainee who was previously convicted of a violent crime.
Reach Out to the Law Offices of Dean Malone for Jail Death Cases
Do you suspect that a loved one passed away in jail due to neglect? Or have you endured serious injuries while detained in a Texas county or municipal jail due to medical neglect or abuse? Your legal support must be thoroughly familiar with these types of cases. Law Offices of Dean Malone has extensive experience in cases of jail neglect, inmate abuse, jail suicide, and other jail-related deaths. We offer reliable legal representation. Contact us immediately. We are available 24/7 through phone, text, or our online form.
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