Myths about Inmate Suicide Continued

An Inmate Hangs Himself in Travis County Jail

• There was no height in this hanging incident nor was there even a partial suspension, but the inmate did not survive. Records show that no one had checked on him for a full hour. On February 9, 2022, an inmate at Travis County Jail in Austin, Texas, took his own life. An officer discovered that Jared Jon Bell hung himself by wrapping a telephone cord around his neck and sitting down. He was pronounced deceased at the scene of the hanging.

A significant number of hanging victims will experience a spinal fracture and, therefore, spinal immobilization should be taken into account at the scene. There should be easy access to a rescue tool, such a as a seatbelt cutting device, to lower the person to the floor for emergency CPR intervention.

When inmates in Texas die, a custodial death report (CDR) is sent to the Office of the Attorney General. When a suicide by hanging has occurred the “summary of how the death occurred” frequently mentions that a cutting device was used to cut the inmate down.

Also learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, and Part 12 of this continuing series.

Providing help to inmates now or formerly detained in a Texas municipal or county jail is one of the purposes of this website. There is never an intention of implying that misdeeds have occurred on the part of individuals or institutions.

–Guest Contributor