News stories about inmate suicides in city and county jails in Texas and across the country are not unusual, but they should be. Mandatory steps are supposed to be taken to identify inmates who are potentially suicidal, and, yet, a common violation of jail standards in Texas involves neglect of those steps. In addition, when an inmate is on suicide watch, additional steps are required by the jail staff to help prevent suicide from occurring. When a custodial death occurs, investigations into the incident revolve around determining whether jail policies and procedures were being followed when the custodial death occurred. Related training is also required.

On May 18, 2020, Zavala County Jail was cited for an alleged violation in a Jail Inspection Report prepared by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). Allegedly, Zavala County Jail failed to provide training related to documenting, supervising, recognizing, and handling inmates who are potential suicide risks or who have a mental disability. TCJS specifically alleges the following with regard to the required 80 hours of suicide prevention training for jailers as part of the state’s Suicide Prevention Plan:

• The administration has allegedly never provided staff members with training and supplemental training in accordance with the approved operational plan. During the 2019 annual inspection of the jail, Zavala County officials received technical assistance on that very issue.

Certain paperwork is to be filled out for each inmate, and the procedure is designed to “flush out” signs that an inmate being booked into jail may be a suicide risk. In a May 4, 2020, Jail Inspection Report by TCJS for Shelby County Jail in Center, Texas, it is alleged that screening procedures designed to identify potentially suicidal and mentally disabled individuals have not been followed as required. Specifically:

• Upon reviewing medical files, it was discovered that the Screening Form for Suicide and Medical/Mental/Developmental Impairments were not properly filled out in its entirety by the jail staff. Also, required notifications are allegedly not being made.

Texas counties and cities owe constitutional duties to inmates and can be sued if an unconstitutional policy, practice, or custom is determined to be the cause of an inmate suicide or any other type of custodial death.

–Guest Contributor