Willacy County Jail in Raymondville, Texas, is Cited for 2 Alleged Violations of Minimum Jail Standards
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) released a Jail Inspection Report for Willacy County Jail in Raymondville, Texas, on January 22, 2018. The jail was cited for two alleged violations of minimum jail standards. One involves identification and screening procedures and the other is for alleged failure to keep up with preventative maintenance in the jail.
During intake, when a prisoner is booked into jail, individuals are to be screened. The purpose is to identify prisoners who are either known or observed to be potentially suicidal and/or mentally disabled. If a prisoner is identified to be in one or both of these categories, certain procedures must be followed. When TCJS investigators reviewed prisoner’s medical files, it was discovered that members of the jail staff signed the suicide screening form which signifies that the magistrate was being notified. Such notification is a requirement. It was determined, however, that the magistrate had not been notified either in writing or electronically.
Jails are required to perform necessary repairs that ensure a facility is secure, sanitary, and safe. When investigators conducted a walk-through of the jail, the following preventative maintenance problems were identified:
- Low water pressure throughout the jail;
- In four male units, the air conditioning and heating were inoperable;
- Numerous lavatories/sinks did not provide hot and cold running water, as required;
- Numerous broken light fixtures, which makes it easy for contraband to be concealed; and
- In the padded cell, the padding is in need of repair in an area where a hole 12 inches in diameter exists, as a result of prisoner vandalism.
If a prisoner is injured or dies in a county jail in Texas, “special” jail inspections, similar to this one, are conducted. Investigators make determinations as to whether or not minimum jail standards potentially connected to the incident were in compliance when the related incident occurred.
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