Prevention of custodial suicide is among the crucial responsibilities of city and county jails. A county jail outside of Texas is currently under scrutiny due to recent custodial suicides. In August, a 38-year-old inmate was found lifeless in his cell 10 minutes after officers reportedly had a chat with him. The officers’ attempts to revive the Inmate were unsuccessful.

When the inmate had been admitted into the jail, he was wearing a bandage that was wrapped around an injury he had before his arrival at the jail. It was the bandage that the inmate used to commit suicide.

The deputy in charge of oversight at that jail said that the facility had taken “so many steps” to attempt to safeguard the inmates in their care. He said that when someone is absolutely determined to take their own life, the prevention of custodial suicide can be extremely difficult. He further said that, under most circumstances, jail staff would not remove a medical device such as an Ace wrap because it would interfere with medical care that the inmate was receiving.

See this ongoing series to learn more about suicide at the county jail in question.

Inmates have constitutional rights that must be upheld. For instance, they have the right to be protected against cruel and unusual punishment. In addition, jails must provide inmates with a minimum standard of living.

This post is provided as a helpful source of information for detainees and former inmates in Texas city and county jails and their families who believe that their civil rights have been violated. It is not intended to imply that actions of wrongdoing have occurred on the part of any entity or individual.

–Guest Contributor