After a Suicide Attempt and Involuntary Psychiatric Care, an Inmate in a County Jail Outside Texas Commits Suicide

In a June 2023 story published in a state outside Texas, a man had questions about how his son was able to hang himself in the county jail when he had previously attempted suicide plus was recently involuntarily committed to psychiatric care. The 26-year-old was not placed on suicide watch but, rather, was housed with the general population.

The sheriff’s captain at the jail said that when making the determination about whether an inmate requires a mental health alert, historical and present information about the inmate is used. If the inmate appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis, they are assigned to a mental health alert. Also, steps are taken to ensure they are safe from harming themselves.

These steps include medication, restricting the inmate’s access to certain items, counseling, restricting privileges, and, if there is an acute threat, increased monitoring by staff.

The hospital told the father of the inmate that it looked like his son had spent a lot of time hanging before he was cut 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, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, and Part 22 of this 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