Washington County, Texas Jail Fails State Inspection
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has recently listed Washington County Jail in Texas as a Non-Compliant Jail on the TCJS website. A Notice of Non-Compliance was issued on October 4, 2023. It provides the specific minimum jail standard the jail was cited for in a jail inspection report issued on the same date. A TCJS inspector alleges that the Brenham, Texas, jail violated 1 minimum jail standard.
The address of Washington County Jail is 1206 Old Independence Rd, Brenham, TX 77833. The Washington County Jail has a housing capacity of 176 detainees. Details on alleged noncompliance follow.
Rule §273.3- Health Instructions
Washington County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §273.3- Health Instructions. All medical instructions of designated physicians shall be followed.
- Complaint #33777 was being investigated when it was discovered that the orders of medical providers were not being followed. Medications and vital checks were not distributed or completed according to provider orders. Medications that were not distributed correctly were identified as “as needed” medications by the provider. However, the documentation does not support this response. The additional provided information regarding vital checks indicates that these checks were not conducted as ordered.
After a March 20, 2019, special jail inspection of Washington County Jail, TCJS inspectors cited the jail for failing to comply with Rule §275.1-Regular Observation by Jailers. This special jail inspection report was conducted and signed by TCJS inspector Wendy Wisneski. The rule states that every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day. Observation shall be performed at least every 30 minutes in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined.
- The TCJS inspector’s notes say that documentation and video evidence were reviewed in conjunction with self-reporting by facility administration. It was determined that the face-to-face observation, prior to the detainee being discovered hanging in his cell, did not occur due to the inmate obstructing the view of the jailer by placing a blanket over the cell door. While the jailer made a round within the required time period, the jailer did not view the inmate face to face as required by minimum jail standards.
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