A 55-Year-Old Ector County Jail Inmate Commits Suicide on 10/21/22 Continued

The custodial death report (CDR) makes no indication that the inmate in Ector County Jail was suicidal. But it shows the means of death was hanging, or strangulation. The following is information about a minimum jail standard the Ector County Jail violated. They were cited for the October 2022 violation in a special jail inspection report dated May 25, 2023.

§275.1- Regular Observation by Jailers

In relation to this suicide, Ector County Jail was cited for violation of Rule §275.1- Regular Observation by Jailers in the chapter on the Supervision of Inmates.  Every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day. Facilities shall have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all inmates by jailers no less than once every 60 minutes. 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.

• After reviewing documentation and video evidence of an in-custody death that occurred in October 2022, it was determined that nine (9) face-to-face observations did not occur due to the inmate obstructing the view of the jailer by placing a sheet over the cell door. While the jailers made rounds within the mandated timeframe, the jailers did not view the inmate face to face as required by minimum jail standards.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 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